Not too long ago, we did a post on ways that women could deal with unexpected visits from their period. The responses we obtained through the site, our Facebook and Twitter pages showed that visits from Aunt Flo are even bigger burdens for women than we thought. Some folks who commented said cramps get so bad that they have to take the day off of work, and others spoke on horrific leaks in public on public transportation and more. But not only is it a big issue for many women of what to do about their period when they’re out hitting the streets, but it also can affect the possibility of getting a good night’s rest. And it’s not that you CAN’T fall asleep, but how do you fall asleep without feeling like you’re wearing a pair of Depends, going through labor and without making a mess on yourself? Before you have a “Code Red” in your bed, here are a few tips to help you get better sleep while on your period.
Take a Shower Before Bed and Turn to Granny Panties: A hot shower (or cold, whatever) definitely does wonders for a person’s ability to go to bed comfortably, but when you’re on your period, the power a shower (or bath) can have on your mood makes it an outstanding source of relief after running around not feeling your freshest all day. I also recommend every few days of your period, turning to a feminine wash to clean things up big time, and once you’re out, throwing on your most ratchet underwear–that’s right, the granny panties, aka, big ‘ol briefs. Now, if you live with your man and don’t want him to see you in your garbage bag drawers, that’s cool, bikinis work too. But let’s be real, you want to feel as comfortable and free as possible, and we all know granny panties are good for that. Plus, it’s best to preserve your best panties for the time outside your period because of possible leaks.
Have Back Up Sheets or Make a Pallet on Your Bed: Throwing a sheet under yourself often times doesn’t work, and enough leakage can go through a towel and stain your good sheets. Therefore, it’s a good idea to invest in a pair of “throwaway” sheets. Not sheets you literally throw away, but ones you count on when you’re on your period, that you won’t care about if they acquire a few stains. Maybe some old sheets from your parents house? If that’s not your thing, you can also make a pallet under yourself on top of your sheets (NOT your cover, any stains on that will leave you SOIL) in the hopes that a mess will be minimal when it’s time to lie on your bed thanks to a few layers of blankets.
Be True to Your Flow: Buying pads sucks, I know. If I could sleep in a tampon without fear of toxic shock syndrome, you bet I would. But since we’re not talking about sleeping in contacts, it’s best to reach for your pads at night. When shopping for a new batch, don’t play yourself. You might want to feel as light as you can, but if you know your flow is anything but “regular,” go on ahead and grab those supers. A pad that’s too light for your flow will fill up fast and leaks will be even more likely.
Invest in a Hot Water Bottle or Heat Wraps: Cramps shooting up into your lower back and they’re keeping you tense and unable to rest? Tough break.
Just kidding! You can go the old school route and buy a hot water bottle to lay on or have lay on you, but know that eventually the water will cool down while you sleep. A more modern idea is to try out the popular ThermaCare brand thermal heat wraps for your menstrual cramps. If you’ve had a full day of downing ibuprofen to alleviate the pain and don’t want to toss and turn through the night, options such as these (including generic thermal heat wraps–it all works!) help out a great deal.
When You Wake Up, Get Up SLOWLY: You made it through the night with no mess. WOOP WOOP! Now it’s time to get up and make your way to the bathroom, take another shower and get ready for work. But I’m pretty sure I’m not the only person this has happened to: So you stand up after holding yourself together all night only to have a rush of your friend Aunt Flo come down without warning. And just like that, you’ve managed to do in two minutes what you avoided in six to eight hours–make a mess of yourself. That’s why when you wake up, whether you do so in the middle of the night or when you’re up for the morning, be cool and get up slowly. Especially since people’s pads move at night, which could leave you with a lack of coverage once that backup is ready to let it rip.
Spandex IS Your Friend: I’ve never done this, but a friend of mine said wearing spandex is the way to go. While I’d prefer loose sweatpants or shorts, spandex shorts are a good look because they keep your pad in place while you sleep. Really loose clothing often causes movement down there, but spandex, not tight to the point of extreme discomfort, will help to keep you dry and actually can feel like a second skin for some, and help you get better sleep while on your period.
If You MUST, Double Up: For those with heavy flows and periods that last longer than most, an option you can try if you just can’t seem to keep dry is wearing two pads to sleep. Some encourage trying two panties also, but that just seems like WAY too much. If you were wondering, we’re definitely not talking about wearing one on top of the other. Instead, you’d wear one in front of the other for more leak coverage all around. Pads with wings are the best options for doubling up because they’ll have a better chance of staying in place through the night.
Keep Your Legs Closed…Seriously Though: As nice as it is to spread your long limbs out on your bed and stretch out, doing so on your period will make you vulnerable for uber-leakage. To prevent that, we encourage the idea of sleeping with your legs closed or crossed (at the feet of course). That way your pad doesn’t move and any leakage stays in that designated area, which is much better than letting it find its way through your bottoms and onto your bed.
