Life feels like the never-ending hand of short sticks. The one I hate the most is a monthly visit from Aunt Flo. I’ve never been a woman who just doesn’t even know the time of the month is coming because my body hates me. My body loves to let me, and the world around me, know “hey, this lady, she’s menstruating.” It means I’m full of attitude (and more than just normal, because I struggle with PMDD). It says my face looks worse than a teenage boy on a hormone surge, and it means I’m curled up in bed with pain and discomfort.

Probably too much information, but hey, fellow period sufferers let’s unite in misery and take back the five days we loose to unbearable pain, discomfort, and mood swings. 

Because of  10 years of misery, I like to think I know a thing or two about making my menstrual cycle a little less sucky. I’m super excited to partner with Pink Lemonade Shop for this post and the giveaway below.

Disclosure: not only did Pink Lemonade Shop send me some pads to review and giveaway but I also have an affiliate link in this post. 

5 Super Simple Tricks to Help Menstrual Cramps.

I’m not a doctor, and if you have severe medical concerns, please consult your healthcare professional. If you’re just looking for some honest mama-to-mama talk about ideas that might help, here’s a few ideas I embrace every single month to beat the Menstrual Cramp torture. Because that’s right, I’ve spent many hours and days in bed crying unable to go to work or school because they are just that bad. 

Ditch the Disposables

You need mama cloth, and you need quality made products like the menstrual cloth pads made from Pink Lemonade Shop. Most of the discourse is anecdotal around the menstrual products and the menstrual experience. But, the voices of many women sing the praises of reusable menstrual products for your improving your monthly cycle.

It’s more than better for the environment; it’s better for you.

There are so many options for choosing the right menstrual product, but at the end of the day, this mama is a hardcore MAMA CLOTH lover. I’ve been mostly using the same cloth menstrual pads since 2009 I purchased from somebody on Etsy. I gave them up for a few years and spent a ton of money of organic cotton disposables, but now I am back in the game and try some amazing products like these fluffy clouds of perfection made from Pink Lemonade Shop. 

Pink Lemonade Shop is the shop to buy your reusable cloth menstrual products in the United States (dont worry, they ship to Canada too!). These ladies are making the most beautiful products you have ever experienced. You need to try them, and I know it’s daunting thinking about where to start with Cloth Menstrual products, but that’s why they have an amazing chat group to walk through the basics and help you find what works best for you.

Pink Lemonade Shop has options varying from tiny (6″) to Post Partum (13″) and everything in between. Start with a few and then settle on your favourites because it takes time to know your flow, knows your body, and know what you need.

What do I have?

Pink Lemonade Shop sent me three pads: 8″, 9″ and 11″.

My favourite is the 9″ for every day, and then 11″ was great for nights. 8″ is a tad small for me, in regards to the coverage I prefer and I just never really reached for this pad. I’m not entirely sure why, but there tells me I need to buy all the 9″ pads.

I loved them. Pink Lemonade Shop pads are way more comfortable than the random Etsy buyer I purchased from almost ten years ago. They were up so easy and  were like sitting on a dream. I rarely realised they were there and my vulva was in vulva heaven all day.

Check Into some HEAT

If you haven’t already discovered the power of warmth on your aching abdominal and lower back, girl you need to get it.  My grandmother might suggest a hot water bottle, but I’m not even sure where you would buy one of those today. Instead, I try these heat worthy suggestions:

• Purchase a Vehicle with Heated Seats and make any excuse to go for a car drive, or be driven around.
• Those Icey- Cool Packs often have microwavable instructions to for heating up. Just remember to wrap in a towel before applying.
  • Rice bags are another alternative.
• Take an hour to have a nice warm bath, even if it means bringing your children with you; anything is better when trying to cope with pain.
  • Hot Shower’s work too.
  • Better: Find a Friend with a hot tub. 

Swap in some Red Raspberry Leaf Tea

You might know Red Raspberry Leaf Tea as a desperate plea to force a baby eviction, but Red Raspberry Leaf Tea is more than just for pregnant ladies. I’ve been drinking Red Raspberry Leaf tea during my cycles for years.

I remember a desperate day at work, running to the grocery store and scoping out the homoeopathic section. Traditional western medicine wasn’t cutting it anymore and I needed to try anything. And there it was, in the fancy organic section next to other herbal remedies: a pretty pink box saying “to aid with the pain of menstruation.

What does it do? Red Raspberry Leaf (not raspberry flavour, you want the nettle) is chalk full of good things from calcium, Vitamin C, E, A, B and good for you minerals. I recollect RRL being recommended it for helping support iron levels, and just make my uterus happy and healthy.

Try it instead of coffee. It’ll give you the boost you need to survive your week.

Enjoy some Chocolate

Chocolate is a food group, and because I’m a blogger on the internet, I can make it so.

I truly believe in the healing power of chocolate and fully recommend a health dose during your menstrual cycle. This isn’t science; this is the just everyday reality.

Embrace Pain Relief

If nothing else works, and you just want to function as a regular adult human dont’ forget about pain relief medications. I’m no stranger to chronic pain, and sometimes you just need to dose up a combo that works for. I will leave this to you and your healthcare professional for the best recommendations.

Tell me how you survive your menstrual cycle every single month?

What is your biggest challenge, and share how you conquer it because knowledge is power?

Today, Pink Lemonade Shop is giving away a $25 credit to the shop. This means you can pick something out that works for you and your preferences for reusable menstrual products. The giveaway is open to USA/CAN and closes March 31, 2018.

MamatheFox and all participating blogs are not held responsible for sponsors who fail to fulfil their prize obligations.

check out these other giveaways