Daughters first period

[Beachdays44]

My daughter (age 11) got her first period a month or so ago...all was fine. She had her second one this week and it was really, really heavy. Heavier than any period I've ever had. And it went on for 5/6 days. Pads were soaked through a number of times (despite frequent changes) plus blood on clothing, etc. We had no plans fortunately. But later this month there are a lot of plans such as a week long water sports activity camp and a sleepover with friends. She's now really worried that her period will arrive that week. As am I!

I know that period pants are a thing now... How would these work? Can they be worn under a wetsuit? Or will we just have to forfeit the camp? It seems so unfair.

And she has said there is no way she is staying in her friends house overnight if she has her period or thinks she might be about to get it...she says she wouldn't be able to relax which I can understand.

Any tips? She knows about tampons but says she is not ready to try them...she is only 11. It all seems so unfair..none of her friends have their periods yet.

The period pants that are like little shorts are a bit more leak proof. My dd’s periods have got heavier recently on the first day, and she leaked through her period pants but it seemed to be partly due to them shifting around, so I am going to get her some of the shorty ones now. She has worn the swim bottoms under a wetsuit, it has been fine, but when she only had light bleeding towards the end of her period so probably not for heaviest days. Nothing would get through the wetsuit though, it just might be difficult changing later and dealing with any overspill.
When I had peri meno flooding the most absorbent towels were the washables, much better than a normal pad. So your dd could double up with one inside her period pants especially for nights when away perhaps ? Or get the sleeping shorts ?
I have two teenage dd and they both use ModiBodi pants and they work well apart from this month’s heavier time but she didn’t have the ones for heaviest flow. Dd2 has a few other brands too but the ModiBodi seem the best so far.
I use earthwisegirls website for washable pads as they have a v good selection. Mine are Charlie Banana.

Also, if it helps, my elder dd started at 12 and lots of the others started around then. My younger dd at 14 and a half was pretty much the last of her friends so your dd won’t be the only one in her group for long.

I tried period swimwear in the bath - glad I did, there is no way I could use it in a pool. Lying round a pool maybe.

www.cheekywipes.com/period-pants-uk.html

I can vouch for these period pants being absolutely ace for heavy days, and they are much more reasonably priced than a lot on the market (which was why I tried them, as an ‘introduction’ to the idea of period pants before investing in more expensive ones… but I’ve never moved on to anything else as these have suited me so well).

I see from the website they do period swimwear too, but have no experience of that to advise how good it might be.

My DD is 14 and only started 10 months ago. She tried pads and hated them, so I bought period pants and she won't wear anything else. The only brand we've found to be leak proof are Modibodi, she uses the shorts and has never leaked. She used Wuka knickers and they are OK for lighter days but she leaked out of the sides, on heavier days hence the move to shorts. I've heard bad reviews about Primark and M&S so we've not bothered with them. She has around 10 pairs and they are the 24 hour ones. I wash on their own on a 30 degree with no softener, they do take a while to dry though.

Not sure what to advise product-wise... but I do have the utmost sympathy for your DD. I started at age 11... first one wasn't so bad - then from the 2nd one onwards until my hysterectomy in my 30's, it was a monthly endurance exercise in surviving excruciating pain that painkillers wouldn't even touch, frequent fainting episodes from it, and trying not to look like an extra from a horror film because my periods were so heavy. I only lasted a few periods before I started with tampons and even then I doubled up with pads. Period pants weren't a thing then... nor were moon cups... although I'd have needed a moon bucket! From then on I spent 7-10 days every month using maximum absorbency everything and I wouldn't even think of going near a pool during that time - would've been like a scene from Jaws! I didn't have "lighter days" - ever. It was full-on for the duration then nothing.

It was only years later I found out what a mess my insides were - all I'd say is if your DD's periods continue to be so heavy, please get it checked out. I was very much dismissed and told to get on with it. I thought for many years it was my bad luck and I just suffered. It should've been checked out and possibly could've been made a bit more bearable. These days I think there are more options to make it a bit easier and so she can hopefully enjoy doing fun things regardless of what time of the month it is. Bless her - I hope she's okay.

Just be aware that if you go for the period delay tablet you may have trouble getting it as apparently there is a supply issue. I had a prescription for some last week but no chemist had any. Even online when it said stock available, as soon as I went to put in my details it said unavailable.

My daughter had a heavy flow and the modibodi period swimwear works very well. She’s never missed anything or not wanted to take part because she had a period. It’s sad reading how many girls have

Periods that heavy I would ask the GP for advice. I take tranexamic acid and it makes a huge difference.
My DD uses period pants for school - she has several modibodi pairs, expensive to start with but have probably recouped their outlay by now. I think both Sainsbury's and perhaps Primark do cheaper ones. I'd go cheaper if she's still growing. On heavier days you can start of with a pad in the pants and then discard the pad.

My daughter is 11 and recently started her periods (on her third one now, despite hopes they would be scant and far apart to begin with). She worries about not knowing when the next will start so insists on wearing period pants all the time (I bought the primark ones as they are cheap), gives her reassurance that she won't leak onto her clothes (though I'm hoping if we track her periods she'll eventually feel comfortable going back to normal underwear most of the month) but she prefers to use pads (with the pants as backup) for the period. I've been wondering about the swimwear too, she loves swimming but I don't understand how they can work well in water.

I don’t know how swimwear can work in water either but it does.

GP offered my dd tranexamic acid or contraceptive pill but she doesn’t want to try them atm. Modibodi heavy flow underwear works though.

Northisterone is a good call.

I took it continuously for years (prescribed!) before I finally had a hysterectomy and although it has side effects such as low mood that might not be too bad if she's enjoying a camp as it may counteract it?

She can take it 3 days before she's due until she's ready to have her period (or think a usual course is 10 days?)

It's early days. I would tel your DD to download flo the period app so she can plan ahead and knows when her periods are due.

For a heavy flow I would use Bodytime night time during the day. I find Always are nit as good anymore they don't seem to absorb like they used to.

agree m and s are good.

I use to wear a tampon, maternity pad and Tena pants (yes one were that heavy and I'd flood through it all in 20 minutes ).

The m and s pants were as protective as the Tena pants.

I love period pants I wish they had been a thing when I was really young. I often use a cup aswell but that's just because I dislike the feel of the blood coming out, I'm not sure I could have used a cup at a young age but 100% try the pants. They are also great if you're worried about your period coming, she will feel more secure. You do need a good 3 or so pairs so it is pricey. Mobi body most comfortable I've found.

Can I ask - do the period pants smell during the day? How often do you need to change them? I can imagine my DD getting into a flap at school having to take her tights off and change her pants in between lessons.

She hasn't started her periods yet but I am expecting her to soon. I am on the mini pill so haven't had a period for years!

I don't think they smell compared to pads but I mean, there is a bit of an aroma if you've worn all day. They do have different absorbant levels.

You can buy period swimwear plus pants, I have very heavy flow cycling shorts too (modibodi designed for bladder leaks too which are far more liquid. She can wear pads underneath them to extend wear

My daughter was 13 for her first period but swims a lot and was really worried about it. She decided she'd try tampons, and I got her some ky jelly to use which really helped.

DD(15) was using period pants (Cheeky wipes) and had reusable pads but prefers normal pads, . We bought her period bikini bottoms from Primark, but she ditched the swimming for a couple of days, which you can when away for 32 days (I’m not away that long, BIL and I are swapping kids on holiday, I have his now, he comes next week then I go, kids staying on with him)

My daughter was prescribed Tranexamic acid and it has been a complete game changer for her. She's 12, started her periods at 10 and they had become progressively heavier and hugely painful, with vomiting and fainting. It apparently doesn't work for everyone but my daughter's periods are now much lighter with hardly any pain.

My dd swims three times a week and she uses the modibodi red swim pants. She skips heavy days though as doesn't trust them enough. Unfortunately she will not entertain tampons at the moment. She's 12 but has been having periods for 2 years now.