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Daughter started first period?

9 replies

indianrani · 02/09/2012 08:37

My 11 yr old started her period yesterday, 3 days before starting High School! She was frightened by the initial find, but since then a bit better, gave lots of reassure but she seems still in shock - any advice on what to do to make this any easier or her? Also should i give her anything for the stomach cramps? Not severe yet! Thanks...

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OodHousekeeping · 02/09/2012 19:03

Paracetamol for cramps, make sure she has a little bag for pads in her school bag, teach her to check for bins in toilets when she starts school so she's prepared if they don't all have them

lilolilmanchester · 02/09/2012 19:10

As Ood says - give her a "period kit" for her bag. Would add a couple of spare pairs of knickers; intimate cleansing wipes; nappy sacks for soiled knickers; ensure she always has pads with her as periods may not be regular for a while; check out where she can get pads from in school if she gets caught out- it WILL happen..

my DD was in shock for about a day... then got on and dealt with it and am amazed at how more openly the girls talk about it now than back in "my day" ... maybe have a chat with her about how to approach situations where her period might interfere, e.g. swimming lessons if they do them at school.

indianrani · 02/09/2012 21:41

Thank you - all really good advice and yes we have talked about the kit in school bag! She seems better today and coping well. She is a little worried that i would have to excuse her from swimming at school- doesn't want teacher to know!

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lilolilmanchester · 02/09/2012 21:44

mm, persuade her that it helps for at least one teacher to know ... DD didn't thank me for telling her form teacher but it helped her out in the early days

indianrani · 03/09/2012 08:28

Form teacher is male, as is PE teacher! Think i might call school and explain, see what they suggest. Thanks for the tips!

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piratecat · 03/09/2012 19:17

my dd started in feb aged 9, and i have had to go to town on the explaining and preparing front.

black knickers, that's my best advice! The blood still upsets my dd, so the less she can see leakage wise the better. Maybe get her a book periods too?

DD has a paracetamol capsule, and an ibuprofen capsule. Much more quickly absorbed that a tablet. I but supermarket own brand ones.

The whole organisation of periods, down to, sitting down on loo before taking off pants, has taken a while for my dd. We went thru lotsof different pads too. The thin ones (and they are most common) tend to leak on the first heavy days, so we have settled, once again on supermarket own brands ones, the puffier type, like they had when i was a teen.

my dd asks for painkillers, i told her from the start that periods can hurt and to go as long as possible before taking one. She is very sensitive to pain, so i had to help her over the months do a think before taking something, so that she only has them when it's a bit much.

we have had some bad pains, but the last two periods have been normalish to my mind.

TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 06/09/2012 10:15

totally agree about black knickers - less worry about stains etc (was always embarassed as a teen putting underwear in the wash during period - ever thought to get black underwear!)

TheLaineyWayIsEssex · 06/09/2012 10:17

oh piratecat your poor dd starting at 9 - must be hard when they are that young and not used to worrying about personal hygeine etc

indianrani · 07/09/2012 21:27

Sympathy for you and your dd piratecat, that must be hard at the age if 9! My dd has coped well this week, new school as well, she seemed happy with the kit bag too- tho a little intimidated by the 'big' girls in the school loo's.
Black knickers, great idea thanks, will invest in those. Not given any painkillers for school, will wait and see how the cramps unfold, don't want her to become dependant. Have you tried evening primrose oil? Someone suggested that may help, will look into that too.

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