My mum said “ what’s the point about swimming pads!😝 pads turn into small pieces.” And I thought stores have them!?

Okay, so your mum is right about one thing: regular pads aren't made for swimming. They soak up water like a sponge and literally fall apart, so that would be a total mess and not helpful for swimming at all.

There aren't really "swimming pads" because pads are designed to absorb things outside your body. When you're in the water, a pad just fills up with the pool or ocean water and can't do its job, and like your mum said, it won't stay together. So yeah, don't try to use a regular pad for swimming.

If you want to swim on your period, you need something that collects blood inside your body. Your options are usually tampons or a menstrual cup. Both are perfectly safe for swimming and no one will even know you're on your period. Lots of people use them, and it's totally normal to swim, play sports, and do everything else on your period once you find what works for you.