Periods can be a nightmare for most women when coming in terms with the pain. Those cramps can be brutal and I know the feeling. The mood swings can lead to depression, I am no different when it comes to the pain and mood swings. And obviously the anger part, for small or silly reasons you just burst out. Yes that’s all a part of womanhood and infamous pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS). The focus here is your emotions, how it fluctuates during your periods, more like a roller coaster ride. But partly we are responsible for bringing in those cramp pains. Now you must wondering what? Yup there are certain factors that are human made and we end up causing those. Our lifestyle sort of contributes to those factors made. However genetics do play a role too, so don’t blame yourself completely when you get your periods. The reason I say genetics is because my mother has extreme bleeding during that time of the month and pain can be brutal, it was the same case with my grandmother but in my case I do have pain but it varies, some months it can be painful and some months I don’t feel a thing apart from the bleeding going south. So it’s different for everyone. You can avoid the pain when lifestyle factors cause it.
7 Things not to do during your periods:-
- The hygiene factor: Don’t use your sanitary pads for long hours, 5-6 hours is enough and then change to the next one. Similarly with tampons around 4-5 hours. Why this point is stressed is because prolonged use of these products can lead to infections down there, or urinary tract infection can be caused and skin rashes too. Even when your flow is light, you should change your pad or tampon, as the blood is already soaked in and leaving it for a long time there will still build up bacteria thus leading to infections.
- Say No to Salty Foods: Don’t binge eat salty foods during this time as it will only aide in bloating, this is because of the water retention taking place during your periods. Salty foods can cause period cramps. This is true actually, as I remember after my C-section of my daughter, the first thing that the doctor mentioned was, for two to three weeks cut down salt intake or don’t eat anything salty, reason being salt intake can lead to bloating especially after giving birth. Have you noticed after delivery your belly doesn’t become normal immediately, it takes time for the body to loose that water weight and hence salt shouldn’t be eaten at those times. The same applies to your periods too.
- Avoid caffeine: Drinking coffee can stimulate period cramps. It’s the same case with migraines as well. I am coffee person and whenever I consume a strong coffee, the next thing that follows behind it is a migraine. It’s sort of applicable when you get period cramps as well. So stay away from caffeine during this time.
- Avoid Consumption of dairy products: I have a sweet tooth, and my craving for sweet food is strong particularly during periods. I even enjoy a simple bowl of cereals during this time. However what follows after this is not cool. Yes it leads to cramps, how? Well you will feel gassy, yes that’s right “gassy”, eating or drinking dairy alone will cause this. And during your periods, the hormones go hay wire and it leads to cramping and an irritable bowl. So stay away from dairy products.
- Don’t Avoid Sleeping at Night: Now there are times while you are on your periods, that you just want to watch a movie at night, or simply do some activity if you are a night person. Please avoid it, as your period hormones can back stab you in the morning thus leading to mood swings and anger bursts. So try to get some sleep at night hours.
- Refrain from doing Intercourse: Now you must be thinking that, are you out of your mind, who does that during one’s periods? Well you will be surprised there are couples who don’t mind it, however if doing it, please use protection. Some women don’t mind doing it when the bleeding is less. So why you should not do it or at least make sure you use a protection because blood is a carrier for viruses and other bacteria hence when it travels from your lower part or rather transmitted from the cervix to the vagina it makes it convenient for the viruses to travel. Leading to infections or transmitted diseases.
- Don’t do waxing: I am pretty sure most women don’t do waxing during their periods, however there are some who do it, like me 😏. Well I technically do it on the third day but I heard some women do it even on their first or second days, but those women do not have that much period cramps. Now coming back to the point, why it’s best not to do waxing is because the pain receptors are very sensitive during this time, even a light pinch would drive you mad. So don’t wax at this time. In other words this time of your periods is a messy ball of emotions, one mistake, and let’s say the woman will pop out the guns.