Getting Your Period Over Christmas?
10 Ways to Support Yourself if your Bleed lands on the Christmas Holidays!
Are you due your period around the Christmas holidays but you’ve already signed up to be the chief cook and family chauffeur? Or are you in peri-menopause and have no clue when your next period will come, but your praying it doesn’t flow when all the in-laws descend on you for the day?
Environmental changes play a significant role in how we experience our periods. For sensitive people, being away from home, travelling half the country, time-differences - even if it’s just an hour – can all affect our bleed experience.
Visiting the relatives can take a LOT of energy and if it coincides with your bleed time, when you’re at your parents’ house or a friends’ place, it can deeply affect the quality of rest you experience. You may not be able to trundle off to bed with a hot water bottle to sleep in the way that you might in your own home. Especially if there are excited kids opening presents and your family is small enough that your presence will be missed.
Having your period right around Christmas can be a big issue if you experience any kind of pain, fatigue, cramps, a low-mood or energy. Or if you feel hyper-sensitive to noise and being around people while bleeding. And Christmas is THAT time when big groups of people get together, make a lot of noise and eat a never-ending buffet of very rich food. Socialising and eating lots of food is probably the last thing you want to do!
Bleeding when away from home or in someone else’s environment can be a great opportunity to explore your boundaries – are you able to say ‘no’ if you don’t have the energy to engage? Do you feel comfortable letting people know that you’re menstruating and that you may need to take some personal space for a breather?
A couple of Christmases ago, day 1 of my period landed right on Christmas day. Luckily, I was at my parents house and it was just the three of us, so we had a quiet one. However my mum had gone to the effort of preparing some good food. My natural inclination is to fast on day 1 until around 4 or 5pm, so the thought of eating a three course meal didn’t appeal. I ate super small portions, skipped dessert and then flopped in front of the fire for a nap. That meant there were plenty of leftovers for the next few days, so no cooking and less dishes to wash.
Depending on your situation, it may not feel at all easy to let people know that you’re on your period. And there may be no ‘getting out’ of a big family Christmas. If you need to travel or are going to be in a big group - then think about the little things you can do for yourself to make your experience more comfortable.
10 Ways to Support Yourself if your Bleed lands on the Christmas Holidays:
Try to ‘wrap up’ (excuse the pun) as much as you can beforehand so you’re not frantically running round at the last minute - get organised so you can let it all go later.
Arrive prepared with all the things you know make you feel better when you have your period…like comfy clothes, lavender oil, magnesium supplements, rescue remedy, a pouch of raspberry leaf or mugwort herbs to make into tea - whatever soothes, comforts and relaxes you.
Bring a hot water bottle and a thick scarf to wrap around your wombspace to keep your lower back and womb warm - if there’s a fire place/wood burner, claim your spot right next to it to stay cosy.
Practice the art of asking. Ask someone to take over the cooking for a while so you can lie down for a nap and ask your partner/friend/family member for extra support to clean up, do the pick-ups, etc.
Keep food portions small - and serve yourself if you can so your Auntie doesn’t pile every single thing on your plate.
Find some breathing space - anywhere! Even if that means staying in the bathroom until people wonder where you are - or go for a short nature walk, step out to the park if you can - if you need to cry, scream, kick something, do it, let it out; you’ll feel much better. Most of all, be kind to yourself and ask others to do the same (not always easy if there’s fraught relationships).
Keep things simple where possible - cook less dishes, buy it in, get everyone to bring a pot luck dish.
If there’s kids around (also if there’s not), make a cushion fort, bring hot water bottles inside and pretend to be Gulliver the sleeping giant who will get very angry and destroy the fort if awoken - i.e. create imaginary games that benefit you!
Go Scandinavian! - In Scandinavian countries (as well as many others), they celebrate and exchange gifts on the 24th on Christmas Eve.
Take Christmas off! Honestly, if you don’t want to or need to go anywhere, stay home and rest, the turkey/nut roast will still be there tomorrow.
The same applies if your period lands on New Years eve which mine has done in the past. Standing out in the freezing cold, watching fireworks and drinking champagne until after midnight when I’ve got cramps and can barely stay awake is not my idea of a fun time.
Instead, you can create a cosy celebration at home, whether it’s just you, or with your partner and dog or a friend. Light a candle, reflect on your year, eat a mince-pie, make a hot toddy and toast to life, then…go to bed.
Wishing you all a cosy Christmas,
Jane x
Has your period landed on Christmas Day or New Years Eve before? What did you do? And what would you do differently now? Share your thoughts in comments below.
Dear Jane thank you for this article! I notice it's still a bit of a taboo to not be in top shape during our periods especially during the festive season.. Though it's only very real to honour our cycles no matter where we're at. Your writing helps with this ❣️ much love to you
Thank you for this article -- it's a gift for me as I'm likely going to be on the airplane when my period comes. I appreciate your practical and gentle advice. Merry Christmas!