Daughter's first period

[Tigerblue]

If your daughter has started her periods, can you tell me what age she was. Was she light or heavy? Did she have all the signs, breast growth, pubic and underarm hair? My daughter is 12 (and I think I have a year or so) but my friend told me her daughter had no hair so she didn't expect it. Also, I was so heavy for the first couple of years, so wondering whether this is fairly common as well.

I'm sure it will all fall into place as and when, but just good to know others experiences.

[DeepRedBetty]

Hi Tiger

This thread was running recently and goes off sideways to cover a lot of the questions you have.

x DRB

[sandyballs]

My DD started in jan just before her 12th birthday. Has only had two more periods since then, quite light. DD suddenly changed from a skinny girl to a much more curvy shape at the end of last summer, curvy hips, little boobs, not much hair.

She has a twin sister who is showing no signs of puberty as yet, still very skinny.

[BackforGood]

14
Yes,yes, and yes.
Don't know what is medically true and what is myth, but 2 things I read on MN as signs are that they tend to begin to get a little discharge for some months before their first period starts, and the other being that they have to be a certain weight - so the skinny-minnies don't tend to start until they are older. Both true for dd

[Tigerblue]

Thanks for your replies.

BackforGood, my daughter has been having a discharge for quite a while now. She is small for her age (was when born) but not underweight, so I'll have to see will see if anything happens over next few months.

[monikar]

If I recall correctly, girls have to be a minimum weight before their periods start - the idea being that periods mean that they are fertile and so a minimum weight is needed to carry a baby. I think it is 6.5 stone but I am not sure of this.

I found with my DD that for several months before she started, she would have 'period pains'. I thought this was strange at the time but other friends have confirmed this happened with their DDs too. I just gave DD a couple of paracetamol which did the trick. I didn't want to convey the message that it was an illness, just one of those things we all have to deal with.

She carried a little 'period pack' in her bag at school - spare knickers, couple of pads, disposable bags and also 2 paracetamol in case she had cramps at school and it wasn't convenient to go to the nurse. Also, in DD's school they have to ring a parent every time they hand out paracetamol even if you have given permission in writing beforehand so this can be a bit of an inconvenience and embarrassing for them when they are young.

Hope that helps a little.

[Witco]

Tiger, my DD is 12 and a half and has become more curvy over the past few months. She has been having phantom period pains too and also has a period pack just in case, although her teacher keeps these things if they are needed. Some of her friends have started and others haven't - it all seems a bit random. I started at 11 and my Mum was 17, so I don't buy the story that you follow your Mum's starting point! Good luck!

[bigTillyMint]

DD was 12. She is petite, but had boobies and hair by then.

[scherazadey]

I think its 7 and a half stone. DD1 started at just 14 which was late compared to all her friends but she is very slim and slight built. DD2 is 12 and hasn't started yet and shows none of the signs, discharge, pain etc which DD1 experienced for a few months before starting so I think we have a while to go yet.

[bigTillyMint]

scherazadey, I'm not sure it's as definite as that - I guess DD was about 7 stone and 12. My friends DD was easily 7 stone aged 12, but started aged 14 at 9 stone

[scherazadey]

Obviously its not definite, none of the indicators are definite! Its pretty safe to say that on the whole the heavier girls start their periods before the tiny slim girls do