Sleep is essential to most women, yet finding restful slumber on your period may prove more challenging than expected. Mood swings, cramps and menstrual leaks may interfere with restful rest as well as potentially stain clothing or bedding with bloody leakage.
But there are steps you can take to prevent staining during sleep. Learn how to sleep through periods so as to avoid staining.
Maxi Pads
Period leakage at night can be extremely distressing, making it impossible to get any sleep at all. But there are steps you can take to help stop this from happening and ensure a better night’s rest.
Before bed, use a new pad, tampon or menstrual cup with maximum absorbency potential to ensure it won’t leak or rip through the night. For added protection if your flow is heavy, double up on protection by wearing period underwear along with your pad or tampon during the night – this will catch any leakage that escapes and stop it reaching sheets!
Choose an accommodating sleeping position. Some women find that sleeping in the fetal position (on their side with legs squeezed together) helps decrease period leaks; this may be because this position reduces movement within their uterus and pelvic muscles, which could otherwise cause leakage.
Changing positions periodically throughout the night to prevent movement that could cause leakage is especially important if using an extra-absorbent pad that absorbs lots of blood.
Wash your bedding frequently with stain-fighting laundry detergent to eliminate stains before they become permanent, or consider investing in a waterproof mattress protector to guard against accidental leakage or accidents.
Always opt for pads with built-in wings and antibacterial layers to help maintain clean skin during your period. Special tampon holders or menstrual cups can also help hold pads securely in place and ensure they stay put.
If you are having difficulty affording periods products, ask family and friends if they could lend any to you, or look into stores offering discounted options. Some schools and colleges also have period supplies available specifically to students – ask your teachers if they could assist.
Overnight Pads
Sleep can be hard when on your period. Cramping and bloating may keep you up at night, while leakage could leave stained sheets in their wake. To avoid leaks and stained sheets it’s essential that you use appropriate overnight pads.
One way to keep your sheets clean is with the use of pads with gel technology. These pads help to lock in blood, protecting you from leakage even if your sleeping position changes throughout the night. Plus, their soft cushioning makes these pads very comfortable to wear – these can usually be found at drug stores and pharmacies.
Keep your pad or tampon fresh throughout your period by switching it every three to four hours; when using tampons it should be every four to five hours. Doing this regularly will help avoid menstrual toxic shock syndrome (mTSS), which occurs when left in for too long.
Leaks tend to occur more often at night because your uterus moves less when sleeping. Furthermore, it may be harder for you to recognise when your period starts due to PMS symptoms like bloating and other PMS-related discomfort, making it hard to anticipate the start of it all.
If leakage from periods is keeping you up at night, sheets and mattress covers designed to block period stains may help ensure better restful nights of restful rest. A pillowcase also serves as extra protection.
Gynecologists generally advise using tampons or pads paired with reusable period underwear as an additional way to protect against leaks. For the best results, apply new pads, tampons or menstrual cups before going to bed so they can absorb your flow as quickly as possible – this may help avoid accidental leaks during the night, especially if sleeping in different positions than usual or using products that have reached maximum absorption capacity.
Leakproof Underwear
No matter the menstrual hygiene product of choice for you, sleeping through your period without leaks or cramps should never be an issue again. One such option is period underwear; these reusable underwear pants look just like regular underwear but can absorb up to an equivalent amount of blood than an ordinary pad can accommodate. They even feature front and back gussets which make these ideal for stomach or back sleepers who tend to pool blood outside its confines of an ordinary pad.
Underwear is intended to be worn up to 12 hours at a time, though more frequent changes may be necessary depending on individual circumstances. You’ll know it’s time for new underwear if it has wetness, odor or blood on it; many brands also feature light-up alarms to alert users it’s time for replacement.
Period underwear may cost more than disposable menstrual pads, but they can be washed and reused up to two years or longer. You can buy a pair online or from most major retail stores; be sure to choose an underwear brand certified OEKO-TEX as this ensures all fibers have been tested for harmful chemicals before purchasing anything.
Sleeping through your period requires comfort-oriented protection that fits you just right, but there are other strategies you can try for added ease: beginning to take ibuprofen or naproxen a few days beforehand to alleviate pain and cramps, showering/bathing before bedtime, using scented products and stretching your abdomen before lying down are also all ways of increasing comfort levels.
Another helpful tip when starting your period is waking slowly in the morning instead of leaping out of bed quickly, to prevent sudden bursts of bleeding that might wake you up and stain your sheets or underwear. Sleeping in the fetal position may also help ease cramping by relieving pressure from abdominal muscles.
Dark-Colored Sheets
If period leaks are disturbing your sleep, try sleeping with dark-colored sheets to cover any blood stains that might occur or invest in waterproof mattress protector and sheets to stop liquids seeping through and staining either sheets or mattress.
Another way to prevent stains is by changing your pad, tampon or menstrual cup just before bedtime. This ensures you receive maximum absorption from whatever method is selected; if you prefer back-sleeping positions try placing your pad nearer the back of your underwear in case any discharge starts running down from behind your back while you sleep.
Cycleliners, bed-pads that provide period-proof protection while you sleep or relax, come in dark colors like burgundy and black for discreet use and can be washed along with your regular bedding for maximum freshness and cleanliness even during your period.
Not only should you use the correct menstrual products, but ensuring good sleep hygiene and sleeping in the optimal positions can also help minimize period stains when sleeping. Avoid lying on your stomach as this puts additional strain on the abdominal area resulting in more blood loss; opt instead for side or fetal sleeping positions which relieve cramps while decreasing bleeding.
In case of a blood stain on your sheets, try soaking a stained area in either cola or club soda to ease removal when washing your sheets. Alternatively, bleach or stain remover can work just as effectively.
If you want to keep your sheets free from period stains, ensure you use proper protection, wear dark-colored clothing and bedding, and frequently wash with stain-fighting detergent. By following these tips you can sleep soundly throughout your periods! If you have any additional period-proof sleep tricks you would like to share in the comments below!
