How To Prepare For Your Child’s First Period
I started to notice Sadies body begin to change around age 9 she had small breast buds and could no longer just wear a T-shirt. I also noticed a few pimples on her face, discharge on her undies when I did the laundry, and she had pubic hair by the time she was turning 10. Shes old for her grade, so none of her classmates were going through these changes. I talked to her doctor about it, and he said that within one year of noticing pubic hair, you can expect her period.
She was looking forward to this special day so much that the night before she turned 10 she said, Wouldnt it be great if I got my period for my birthday?! I knew she was excited to experience all we had talked about, but deep down I was thinking, F*ck no! Youre still my baby, and having your period actually sucks! I also thought back to the time when she was 5 months old and had to stay in the hospital for almost a month because she was having seizures that made her stop breathing. She made a full recovery, and here she was, almost 10 and talking about getting her period! I just smiled and said, Im sure you have another year to go.
Well, without me knowing, she was preparing! In her room one day, I noticed this little box she made, where she collected some of the things I got for her. She had a few pads, period undies, a couple tampons , and a little gold necklace thats actually a tampon holder. She was ready!
Myth: Dropping Down To A Lower Centile On A Height Chart Always Signifies A Pathologic Condition
The reality is that in many cases an adolescent who is falling off the growth curve will prove to be healthy but have a constitutional delay of growth and puberty. These late bloomers typically move to a lower height centile sometime before the age of 3 years, then remain on the same height centile throughout most of their childhood. At around 12 to 14 years of age for boys , which is the typical period of concern, they again cross downward to a lower height centile , due to the delayed onset of their pubertal growth spurt relative to their peers.
What Is A Normal Menstrual Cycle
When your daughter first starts her period, its important to be able to differentiate between normal and abnormal menses. In general:
- The interval between periods can range from 21 to 45 days, with an average of 32 days.
- Each period can last from two to seven days.
- Flow ranges from 30 to 80 milliliters a day, which translates into three to six pads or tampons per day.
- About three years after the first period , a girls period normalizes and becomes more like an adults with a cycle of 21 to 35 days, and duration of four to six days.
If your daughter has her own smartphone, you may want to get her a special teen period tracker app like Magic Girl to help her keep track of her menstrual cycle.
Read Also: Getting An Iud While On Your Period
When To Call A Healthcare Provider
Keep in mind, that there are some symptoms that should prompt you to see a healthcare provider so that they can assess the symptoms, make a diagnosis if an underlying condition is causing the problem, and recommend a treatment to help make regulate the menstrual cycle.
Some signs that you should talk to a physician include:
- The sudden absence of a period
- Regular periods that become irregular
- Periods that are very heavy
- Periods that last more than a week
- Periods that occur more than every 21 days
- Periods occurring less than every 45 days
- Spotting or bleeding between periods
- Severe cramping or abdominal pain
That said, if your teen is showing no other signs, like being extremely lethargic, getting sick to their stomach and such, just keep an eye on them. However, calling a healthcare provider to get an opinion is always a good idea.
My Daughter Got Her Period At Age 10
Im so glad I talked to Sadie about her period at such a young age, because one morning a few months after her 10th birthday, she called me from the bathroom to show me her undies. There was a dark red spot, and we just looked at each other and I said, Do you know what this means? You got your first period!! I hugged her and she was beaming with excitement! It was such a special moment that Ill never forget.
Then, my 8-year-old son, who happened to be brushing his teeth in the bathroom, yelled to my husband, Sadie got her period! I walked out of the bathroom, and my husband just looked shocked, and we both teared up. We instantly had a flashback to when she was sick in the hospital. Back then, we didnt even know if shed be able to talk or walk, and here she was, totally healthy, getting her period, and growing up perfectly. It was an emotional moment.
I was in shock, too, because honestly, I wasnt expecting this until she was at least 12 . But I knew from talking to fellow moms that many kids get their periods early, and acting happy and excited was key to making her first period a positive experience.
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What Can Dads Do
Dr. Horton said the first period can be a very emotional time for any girl, and it is important for the dad to stay calm. You should also make sure your daughter knows the period is totally normal, and you are there to help.
Having a plan in place for dad before her first period will help keep dad calm as well, Dr. Horton said.
Burke Miller said its also important dads remember to avoid using harsh phrases, such as It happens to all girls or You will be fine. Dads should stay supportive and understand that starting a period can be very emotional and uncomfortable for their daughter.
Finally, Dr. Horton believes this is a great opportunity for fathers to show they are there to help their daughters in all aspects of their life. It also lets them show they want to be involved in their daughters lives.
Fathers should feel confident helping their daughter through this time, Dr. Horton said. Making the subject feel less taboo and uncomfortable creates a healthy transition into adolescence.
Looking for more info? Visit the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website for some info dads can share with their daughter.
What Should I Do When My Daughter Starts Her Period
Starting her period is an important milestone in your daughters life. But although you may have seen signs that she is in puberty, her first period may still come as a bit of a surprise. She may be a little scared or embarrassed. As a parent, how do you help your daughter at this crucial time?
Here are 4 things to discuss with your daughter to ease her fears and prepare her for this new stage in her life.
Read Also: How To Not Get Your Period Without Birth Control
Vaginal Discharge Is A Sign That Their First Period Is Imminent
Whereas the development of breast buds and pubic hair can give you a sort of heads up that puberty is definitely underway, vaginal discharge is more like a bullhorn telling you to get ready. This is sort of the final frontier before menstruation, and is a great time to start making preparations and talking to your child about what the next few months may bring.
Many kids experience small to moderate amounts of vaginal discharge starting approximately 6-12 months before their first period. It may be clear, white, or yellowish in color, and is a sign that their body is producing more estrogen. It’s nothing to be alarmed about, although it may be a bit of a shock to some kids. If they’re experiencing more moderate amounts of discharge, panty liners can help.
How Will I Know When My Periods Are Going To Start
Signs that your period is on its way are if you’ve grown underarm and pubic hair. Typically, you’ll start your periods about 2 years after your breasts start growing and about a year after getting a white vaginal discharge. The average girl will get her first period around 12 years old, but it varies from person to person.
Also Check: Does The Birth Control Patch Stop Your Period
What Should I Talk About
What you talk about depends on your child’s age and level of development. Here are some questions that most kids have:
When do most girls get their period?
Most girls get their first period when they’re between 10 and 15 years old. The average age is 12, but every girl’s body has its own schedule.
Although there’s no one right age for a girl to get her period, there are some clues that it will start soon. Typically, a girl gets her period about 2 years after her breasts start to develop. Another sign is vaginal discharge fluid that a girl might see or feel on her underwear. This discharge usually begins about 6 months to a year before a girl gets her first period.
What causes a period?
A period happens because of changes in in the body. Hormones are chemical messengers. The ovaries release the hormones and . These hormones cause the lining of the uterus to build up. The built-up lining is ready for a fertilized egg to attach and start developing. If there is no fertilized egg, the lining breaks down and bleeds. Then the same process happens all over again. It usually takes about a month for the lining to build up, then break down. That is why most girls and women get their periods around once a month.
Do periods happen regularly when menstruation starts?
For the first few years after a girl starts her period, it may not come regularly. This is normal at first. By about 23 years after her first period, a girl’s periods should be coming around once a month.
What is PMS?
What To Do When Your Daughter Gets Her Period Too Young Or Right On Time
Stay calm.
If youre the parent of a girl, inevitably, at some point she will emerge from the bathroom or come home from school and inform you, in some probably unexpected fashion, that her menstrual cycle has begun. Its highly unlikely that she will use that particular genteel phrase, but whatever she says and no matter her age, Dr. Louise Greenspan, a co-author of The New Puberty: How to Navigate Early Development in Todays Girls, says parents need to normalize it. React in a calm way. Internally you may be freaking out that your 4th grader has her period, but externally you need to be calm.
Even if shes the very first one in her class, let her know that her body is doing what it should be doing, agrees her co-author, Julianna Deardorff.
The age at which girls get their first menstrual cycle varies, with anything older than 10 automatically falling into the normal category, while a periods earlier arrival is generally considered worth discussing with a pediatrician to rule out any medical problems. Most of the time, the menstrual cycle begins about two years after a girls breasts start to develop, If a girl has not had her first period by age 16, or if it has been more than two-to-three years since breast growth started, that, too, should be discussed with a doctor.
Before a Girl Gets Her First Period
When a Girls First Period Arrives
Whats Next
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Tell Her What To Expect
In your conversations, its also best to educate her on menstrual cycles and all the changes that puberty brings. There are tools you can use to help her have a better understanding, such as books and videos.
Talk to your daughter about what to expect such as a light flow during the first few years, the color of her blood , and that it will have a faint odor.
You can also let her know that she will likely experience some discomfort, like a bit of back pain or cramps in the lower abdomen, especially at the start of their period. Dont focus too much on period problems these symptoms will likely show up after your daughter has had her period for a couple of years. However, it is important that your daughter lets you know should she ever feel pain whenever she bleeds.
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How To Prepare For Your First Period
Its difficult to predict when your first period will happen, so its a great idea to be prepared. You can take steps now to make sure youre ready when your first period occurs. Some steps to take include:
- talking with a trusted adult and asking any questions you have
- carrying sanitary pads, tampons, or any other menstrual product you choose in your backpack, gym bag, or purse
- keeping an extra pair of pants, tights, or leggings in your locker, desk, or backpack
- looking for places in your school where you can get a sanitary pad or tampon if you need one, such as the nurses office, guidance office, or school bathroom
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Talking To Your Daughter About Periods
Periods? Ew Gross!
Dont be alarmed if this is the response you get when you decide to have the period talk with your tween. In fact, a good majority of you can expect it.
It seems like only yesterday when your little girl was playing with her Barbies and baby dolls. Now shes wearing braces, blasting the latest Justin Bieber song on her IPod, and wanting you to drop her off a mile down the road, and last night you overheard her talking with her friend about the hottest boy in school. What happened? Where did the time go? Remember when your mother told you not to blink
Well, the time has come.
Talking to your daughter about her period may at first be a little awkward. One of the main obstacles to overcome before you have the talk is getting comfortable with your own thoughts and feelings. Talk with your partner, your mother, or a close friend about how youre feeling. This may be just as difficult of a time for you as it is for your daughter. Acceptance sometimes doesnt come easy. Recognizing how youre feeling, and reasoning it out beforehand, will help you be more open and understanding of your daughters feelings.
Stress to your daughter that getting her period is normal and healthy and DOES NOT hurt. Tell her that periods are a sign her body is working properly and growing from a girls body into a womans body. Explain that getting a monthly period is her bodys way of practicing for a time to come someday when she may have a baby.
Show her a diagram
What Is The Average Age To Start Your Period
If you arent sure if your child has started going through puberty yet, dont put too much pressure on yourself. They probably wont want to answer questions about acne and discharge over their morning bowl of cereal.
However, knowing the average age that they might start their period could give you an idea of when to start speaking to them about their cycle. The average age is about 12 or 13, explains Dr. Twogood. Periods start when the body is ready, so remember that this can be at different times for different people. However, if your daughter hasnt started her period by the time shes 15, you should reach out to your health care provider for support. They may offer a blood test to monitor hormone levels.
A number of factors can impact when a first period comes, including:
- Hormone imbalances
- Intensity of exercise If your child is exercising to the point where theyre using up the energy thats normally reserved for maintaining their bodys natural processes , then it may result in their period stopping or a delay in starting.
- Genetics might not seem like the most obvious indicator of when your child will start their period, but studies have highlighted that genes may play a role in when people start experiencing puberty.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Make Your Period Come Faster
I Started My Period At Age 10 My Mom Made It The Best Day Ever
My first memory of my mom is of her chopping wood for the stove that heated our house. I loved to watch her stand logs on a stump in our front yard, and swing her ax cleanly through the center of each one with a satisfying thunk, come rain or shine or, in this particular memory, snow.
A stranger would probably have remarked on her surprising strength, but by the time I could form memories, I was already used to it. When my mom put her mind to something, from chopping wood to surviving poverty to becoming one of the first women on the local sheriffs department, she didnt care what people assumed she was capable of. She just did it.
My mom valued education in all its forms. Growing up as one of six siblings, in a small house in Kokomo, Indiana, college was a dream that was beyond her familys financial reach . But for me, her only child, she wanted nothing more than a good education. This included good health and sex education, which had been gravely lacking in her own childhood.
Less than 10% of girls in the U.S. start their periods before age 11. My mom was one of those few, and her experience was traumatic.
So, she made a point to educate me about periods from a young age, using simple, friendly language that she knew Id understand. She became an expert at quelling doubts and fears before they ever had a chance to settle in my brain.
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