Leaking around tampons??

[Zcahy07]

Hi, ever since I had my second child whenever I use a tampon I leak. But the tampons are not full, there is still plenty of white to be seen (sorry if this is tmi). I figure somehow I am leaking around the tampon but is that even a thing? Why is this happening? Should I try going up a size? Any ideas welcome.

For background info, my periods have not become heavier, they are about the same as they have always been. My second child’s birth was vaginal, he was a reasonably big baby and had shoulder dsytocia. So the birth was fairly traumatic physically (and mentally) but nothing out of the ordinary. I had some incontinence after but I’ve been working on my core and pelvic floor and that has improved dramatically. But I still get these annoying period leaks. I’m fed up with it.

Which tampons do you use?

I like tampax pearl as they expand widthways whereas the other tampax just seems to get longer rather than wider.

Lillets also seem to get wider rather than longer

I had this problem OP and I ended up using the menstrual cups and disks and they were so much better. Took some getting used to but eventually got there in the end with the right one for me. Have you tried them?

I have this with standard tampax. Lilets expand widthways, so no leakage at all. Plus they do a huge range of absorbencies.

You can get a reusable applicator for them, if you don't like the non-applictor style.

I have found the same as well. OP - worth trying lil lets or Tampax Pearl if you are using the standard Tampax/Tampax Compak which expand differently in my experience.

I get this and have tried everything. Different brands, cups. Nothing has helped. My second child was over 10lb. The first day of my period is very heavy so I have to wear a tampon, a pad and period pants and sometimes it still leaks through. I’d need to change the tampon every 1-2 hours too. I wasn’t stitched up post number 2 so I wonder if it’s just too baggy down there

How long post partum are you. I had this sometimes in the first six months, but it did stop, I assume as my body recovered and settled down.

Move to cups.

Lillets have the widest tampons. Sometimes I use 3 at a time!

^ this. Some brands of tampons are just not that good! I also haven’t had kids (and have had leaky tampons since I was a teen (with heavy flow on day 1-2) so it’s not to do with being ‘baggy’ - it’s awful that we would be down on our bodies in that way

i just use a liner as well. When I had really heavy periods and gushing for a few years, I found a moon cup much better than tampons

Tampax often don’t work after children. Lil-lets go width ways so better but I gave up entirely and use period pants mostly