What Do You Mama's Do at Night When on Your Period?

I'll second the diva cup--I always am heavier at night and it has been a really, really nice way to not have to deal with as much of a "mess" in the morning.

I have resorted to using a depend at night. It got that bad before I had my endometrial ablation (cotoraztion of the uterus). Worked like a charm, I also got a much better night sleep.

If you type Diva cup into the search here you'll come up with LOTS of other people's questions/answers. I know I've answered a few. (I LOVE mine.)

tampons are safe for 8 hours. I have used them at night for over 20 years and never had a problem!

I had to laugh outloud. When I saw your topic I thought it was going to be something along the lines of...."I can't have sex with my husband when I am on my period...what do you do on those nights?"
I told my husband...I sleep!

Yes, see your Doctor.

Maybe try an "adult diaper" over your night time pad.
There is that brand "Depends."

I use a tampon and a pad! Honestly, if I put it in right before bed and take it out first thing in the morning, it usually has been right around 8 hours anyway. I don't know what else to tell you other than try using both!

I am so relieved to know that someone else was scarred for life by the mention of TSS!! Plus i have tried tampons and they are just uncomfortable!

I was going to suggest the towel, but i see you know about that trick. It's not a question of the pad slipping right? because you could get tight biker shorts to keep it in place, but if it's just super super heavy, hmmmm, I think kotex came out iwth a new overnight pad, that is huge. Also i don't know what an incontinence pad might do something like POISE?? I've been able to get a lot of pads free from company promotions, that might help if you want to try out something new. Does midol help? do you take that during the day but not at night??

Obviously check with your dr. I just had my gyno and mentioned that could soak through a pad, in four hours but it was only for one day of my period and she told me that was in the normal range. But again, don't take that as gospel.

good luck, i hope you get some great advice. and Yahoo!! for mamapedia where you can ask questions that are way TMI for everyday conversation at the dinner table.

Are you using just regular pads at night or extra long overnight pads? Also, I find that I leak if I lay flat on my back, but not if I lay on my side at night.

I use tampons sometimes, but I also really like the new pads that Always came out with---the Always Infinity. I buy the overnight ones, they really work great at soaking up the flow, instead of it all just sitting on the top of the pad and then leaking all over. Give these pads a try. I would take a trip to the doc though--maybe you have fibroids or something, your flow sounds really heavy.

I would guess if it is only a couple nights and goes away and it is how your periods always are then it isn't a problem for a doctor to be concerned... I have found a tampon (super) and a normal pad at night to be helpful. I believe the TSS can be a problem but mostly if you go without changing your tampon regluarlly.. To wear tampons you will just want to make sure and change the tampon at least every 3-4 hours and every time you go to the bathroom. To have one in all night has never been a problem for me and you just change it first thing in the morning.

during the heaviest part, I use a tampon and a pad! I've never had any problem.

I have always used the super plus tampons over night when I have a period.
never had any problems.

Since you asked... I use a tampon. Have for 20 years.

I wear adult diapers (no pad or tampon with it) at night. I get the thickest heavy flow diapers that I can find. Personally Depends have the best fit & are the most comfortable. I have alway had leaking problems at night no matter what pad I wore & adult diapers work really well. Sometimes on really heavy flows I do wear a pad with the diaper.

God bless!

I used to leak. I use the overnight with wings and I'm usually good now. They are super absorbent, and, you just have to make sure it is positioned "just right" or else you will leak. Also, I put it in right before I got to bed, and, change it right when I get up. Also, I have to get Stayfree or Always in the overnight with wings. The store brands just do not cut it at all. Sometimes I do wear a tampon at night. As mentioned below, it is the amount of time you wear one that poses a risk, not the overnight thing. Also, I recently saw on Dr. Oz that the risk was worse before because they actually had invented like an "all day" tampon a long time ago, and, it had some ingredient in it that was causing TSS. Now, they don't put that ingredient in it, and, TSS is almost unheard of because of tampons.

To the poster below, if it hurt when you took it out, it is probably because you took it out too soon or used the wrong absorbency for your needs.

I do want to try the diva cup though. I think I am going to for my next cycle.

Good luck!

I use tampons at night too, no problems because I RARELY sleep a straight 8 hours w/out waking up once. If I was that heavey I might try a tampon & a pad at night.

TSS has been extremely rare since they removed the Rely tampons from the market. I've always worn tampons at night, I never buy pads.

I don't have a flow remotely this heavy, so I'm not a great source of info. Could you wake up and change pads in the middle of the night, since it's only two times/month? But I'd talk with your doctor if you haven't already.

I always thought it was pretty normal for us ladies to overflow a pad at night. I used to put one in front of the other,to make it so i has a super dee duper long pad. That worked. One I turned 40 I finally gave up on pads and went to tampons around the clock.

Ps..that heavy flow I had in my younger days has gotten much lighter since i was about 37. And now I only bleed for 3 days. I doubt you have fibriods, like someone said. if you had fibroids you would be soaking through a pad an hour during your waking hours.

I have a rather light period (I go through only 10-15 tampons each time before I had my son it was only 5) but the second day its always heaviest so I always wear a pad and a tampon when I go to bed. TSS is a risk after you have had a tampon in for over 8 hrs...and how many of us moms get more than 8 hrs of sleep.

You really need to tlak to your doctor about this it sounds like you are bleeding wayyy too much. you can try birth control that helps alot

Well I haven't had this issue since I was a teen, but I will say that it is okay to use tampons at night! I did it for many, many years! You just have to be safe about it! I would talk to your OB. Anyway, you could double up on pads. Do they still make rubber pants?? I'm sure they'd be terribly hot, but maybe?? Are you on any BC that might help the issue? Once I got on the pill my periods stopped being so heavy. I have the Mirena now and I haven't used a tampon any time day or night in years b/c my flow is almost non-existent.

Hang in there! I remember those towel days and they are not fun! I would talk to your OB about your options!!

Always Extra Heavy Overnight Maxi pads with Flexi Wings, they are in a dark blue package.

http://www.always.com/products/detail/maxi-flexi-wings-ex...

I never had problems using tampons. Just change them frequently. Last few years I use a diva cup. It's very comfortable (but not everyone likes them) and I never have leaks at night.

My friend had this problem and used.....no joke..."depends" (yes, the adult diaper) over her long, nighttime pad.

Is all your period that heavy?
Normally my first day is the only one very heavy flow.
I normally use double pad (with wings) in that day, one in front of other.

I guess use Depends or other incontenence pads. I actually bought depends when my water broke and sister I had an ocean leaking out of me for at least and hour and I didn't leak. TMI but that's the way it goes.

Always nighttime extra long, try using two not on top of each other but one in front of the other. Also check with your doctor and see what his opinion on your heavy bleeding is. You may be anemic from all that blood loss.

Good Luck