Year 7 girls, how are they getting on with puberty?

[Madmog]

Just wondering (probably being nosey) how other 11/12 years olds are coping with puberty. I know they are all different and some will be well into it, some haven't started.

My daughter had no signs of puberty at all last September, but in January all the early signs were they - breast development, hair growth. She's worn cropped tops for a while anyway, but they were looking a bit grey, so recently bought her some little starter bras which fit her well and she seems happy with. She's had a whitest discharge in her pants for a few months which comes and goes - I think I've got a little while to go before I worry about periods but have bought a couple of packs for her just in case. I'm going to suggest she carries a little bag with a couple of pads and pants around soon just in case though.

She has a friend who'd started her periods in Year 6 who has very heavy long painful periods and now has some tablets from the doctor to reduce the flow. Her other two friends haven't started. The one who really needs a bra out of all of them hasn't even got a cropped top to cover up and I really feel for her.

[Madmog]

Forgot to say she's grown 12cm since September.

[ItsDecisionTime]

My DD started her periods right at the start of Year 7, although several of her friends started in Year 5 and 6. She's had a bad time of it. One period after another, one particularly bad acne breakout all over her body for which she's had a course of antibiotics (and they've helped). Consequently, she has some scaring on her face and back which I'm hoping will fade over time. 9 months later and things seem to have settled down a bit. Only recommendations I can give you are stay prepared, make sure she washes her face and body regularly with the appropriate products and at the first sign something isn't right, go to the doctor as it can take weeks to get an appointment with a specialist and you can always cancel it if things work themselves out.

[foolonthehill]

The one who really needs a bra out of all of them hasn't even got a cropped top to cover up and I really feel for her.....or perhaps her poor parent is desperately trying to get her to wear one and she won't?

My daughter is right in the thick of puberty (year 6) and resents and loathes it...won;t deal with her periods appropriately, denies she has them, won't wear a bra/crop top/secret support vest. It's heart breaking to watch her deny what is happening to her and to push away all sources of help and support.

I am hoping that the more grown up atmosphere and attitudes of High school might help her.

[Notmyidea]

major changes done and dusted by the start of year six.
Still struggling with moods and telling lies though:(

[Bunbaker]

DD is nearly 13 and has only just started wearing a bra. No sign of any periods yet either (and I am in no hurry for her to start).

[Roma2013]

My 12 yr old started periods last month. She'd resisted my preparing her but once it happened, took it all in her stride. She like moulded bras as they get embarrassed by their nipples showing through the soft material ones (mixed school). Moods are the toughies for us. But she will still come and cuddle afterwards with a bit of persuasion (ie. chocolate)

[Madmog]

I have to admit I'm lucky and my daughter takes most things in her stride.

ItsDecisionTime, thanks for your comments. We are all different, but my periods were every two weeks, lasted for 8-9 days, where so painful I would faint with them and so heavy I had to change every hour. I had lots of major accidents at school as I knew I'd leaked and didn't want to stand up. I certainly don't want this for my daughter, so will bite the bullet soon in the event of any problems.

foolonthehill, hopefully your daughter will come around to the idea of growing up before she moves to secondary school. My daughter's secondary school dealt with the question of puberty and there was a in science lesson about menustration and dealing with it, so this may get her thinking. In Year 6 they have a limited number of girls they are in regular contact with, so it could be that many haven't started periods, don't have bras, but moving on there will suddenly be a 100 or so girls around them, as well as the older ones.

[ripsishere]

My 12.2 DD has breast buds and armpit hair. Whitish discharge and a slightly hairy fanny (all her description BTW).
She is desperate to start her periods. She has bras but refuses to wear them because they are too hot. She also has crop tops. All are cotton, all are rejected.