Help Your Child Manage Period Cramps at School
Period cramps are no fun - and especially when you have to get up and go to school. Let’s face it, staying tucked up under the duvet has never felt more tempting! But here at WUKA we know only too well just how big an impact skipping school can have on a young person’s education. So with this in mind and with the Back to School season now in full swing, we’ve put together a quick guide on how you can help your child manage period cramps at school. Read on to find out more.
Too many girls are missing out on experiences due to their period
In the UK, one in three girls are missing school regularly due to their menstrual cycle, with 66% saying that period cramps are the reason why. True, getting through the school day can be a challenge when you’re on your period and dealing with cramps - but with 36% also saying they struggle to catch up with missed learning, and two thirds saying they don’t feel able to take tests or exams as a result, its clear that something needs to change.
Our motto at WUKA is to make every day the day that you Wake Up and Kick Ass, and while we totally understand that there are some days it’s just not happening, there are things you can do to make your child’s period a little easier to manage.
Ultimately, time off for period pain accounts for up to up to 3 lost days of education per term, compared with colds or flu (2.6 days). This adds up to 54 days per year, or 11 academic weeks. And considering the school year is only 39 weeks long, that’s a sizeable chunk of time lost each year.
So, how can you support your child through the new term if period cramps are an issue?
Speak to a doctor for advice on your child’s period cramps
If your child’s period is very heavy and cramps are severe, it’s always a good idea to make an appointment with the GP to discuss the reasons why. Extreme pain and heavy bleeding can sometimes be a sign that something isn’t quite right.
Help your child track their period, and make notes on their pain level. This is handy for when you speak to the GP, who will ask questions about their flow and other symptoms.
Speak to the school
It might be a good idea to speak to your child’s teachers if painful period cramps are an issue, and especially if they’ve already had time off school because of them. Cramps can also affect concentration during class, so it makes sense to keep teachers in the loop if this is the case.
There could be certain accommodations made to make your child more comfortable at school - for example, a toilet pass, or a more flexible approach to bathroom breaks etc.
If your child needs support from school, request a meeting so that you can discuss this, and make sure plans are put into place quickly.
Helping your child manage period cramps at school
Taking a day off school here and there might not seem to be a big deal in the short term, but they all add up. And empowering your child to take control of their cycle can be a really effective way of managing time off for period pain.
There are some practical steps you can take to make the school day a little easier:
Pain relief
Pain relief such as paracetamol is essential, but make sure your child understands how many tablets they can take. It might be a good idea to administer a dose at home, and pop one more dose in their school bag to take at least four hours later. The next dose can be taken at home.
Hot water bottle
One of the best ways to soothe period cramps is with heat, and our wearable hot water bottle was designed specifically for this. It’s extra long, so reaches around to ease any pain in the lower back too. Your child can secure the water bottle in place so it can be worn handsfree under school uniform - it even has a pocket for their phone!
Check with your child’s school to make sure it’s ok to take a water bottle in to ease cramps. Alternatively, you can buy small heat patches that can also be worn discreetly under clothes. After school, a warm shower or bath is also a great way to soothe cramps.
Staying hydrated
Period cramps are caused by muscles in the uterus walls contracting. This is so that the uterus lining can be shed efficiently, which is partly what period blood is made up of.
These uterine contractions also squeeze the blood vessels that line the uterus, cutting off the blood and oxygen temporarily and releasing prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are responsible for triggering a pain response, which in turn triggers more contractions.
So where does drinking water come into it? Like any other muscle in the body, the muscles in the uterus will cramp more if they’re not properly hydrated. And the bad news is that we tend to lose more fluids during our period too, meaning dehydration is more likely at this time. So while drinking plenty of water won’t exactly eliminate period cramps, it will help to ease them a little - and can reduce bloating too.
Encourage your child to take a refillable water bottle to school, and to avoid sugary and caffeinated drinks which can make dehydration worse.
Wear loose clothing
There’s nothing worse than a tight waistband digging in when you’re on your period, so loose clothing is a must. If your child wears a uniform for school, the right underwear is essential and of course, our Teen Stretch™ period pants are perfect!
Not only will they provide all day protection against leaks and doors, even on really heavy days, but our Teen Stretch™ pants are designed to adjust gently with your body and it’s changes throughout the menstrual cycle. So if your child experiences bloating with their period, these pants will not dig in and make cramps feel even worse. Instead, they’ll gently support and mould to the body, moving with them and not against them.
Our Teen Stretch™ range now features seamless briefs for heavy flow and super heavy flow, and our new Boxer Shorts for heavy flow - available in black, blue or red and light nude colour. We also have two pocket wash bags which are great for storing spare pairs during the day, plus you can save with our School Sets too.
Gentle stretches
We get it. Exercise, and probably PE lessons, definitely don’t seem appealing when your period is heavy and cramps are painful. But gentle stretches can actually be really helpful when it comes to easing period pain.
Some gentle stretching exercises, such as seated twists or gentle forward bends, can be effective, and can be done quietly during breaks to release tension. There are also certain yoga positions that can be helpful too - find out more in this post, Yoga for Painful Periods - and you can help your child practise these at home too.
Breathing exercises
Gentle breathing exercises can also be done discreetly, and at any time to relieve period cramps. It helps to be sitting in a comfortable upright position. Again, you can practise some breathing techniques at home with your child, such as Box Breathing.
Box Breathing: As you inhale, count slowly to four, then hold for another count to four, then exhale for four. This helps to slow the mind and calm the body, reducing stress which can exacerbate pain.
Repeat this for a few rounds, until you feel calmer and more grounded.
The bottom line on period cramps at school
Your child won’t be the first young person experiencing period cramps at school, so speak to the teachers to let them know the situation, ask to have considerations put into place. It’s also a good to idea to speak your GP too, if the pain is very intense and your child misses school because of it.
There are natural remedies that you can try to ease period camps at school, and over the counter pain relief is also effective. Cycle tracking can be a great way to empower your child to take control of their period. Knowing when their period is due, and what stage of their cycle they’re at currently can be a huge help, and will enable them to prepare for an upcoming period better. There are loads of apps out there to try, but we really love Luna for helping young people understand their cycle better.
Related posts
Natural Remedies for Period Pain
Surviving Your Period at School
