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Original poster

Help - 11 year old started periods and I don't know what to do

50 replies

Moneypennygb · 02/11/2005 18:31

I can't quite get my head round it but my 11 year old has started her periods. She's had the discussions at school and we've talked about it at home so she was more prepared for it than I was and has taken it in her stride but this is her second month now and she is feeling sick and has slight stomach cramps. Not sure what pain relief to give I can't imagine Calpol will work its wonders on this one and having used it for the last 11 years I'm completely lost. I don't want to start over loading her with paracetomol at this age Any advice?

OP posts:

OldieMum · 02/11/2005 20:42

I started my periods at 11. My father toasted my womanhood, bless him.

Gobblediguy · 02/11/2005 20:42

Oh custy - you really are a star! Mwah!

soapbox · 02/11/2005 20:46

Custy - wish you'd be my mum

Flum · 02/11/2005 20:51

aHH BLESS. Custardo you sound a great mum.

When I started I rang my Mum in a panic as didn't know what to do. She was at work and I was at home. I had the Tampax slenders free from school but was too scared to use them.

Anyway my mum bless her came home with one packet of every available towel on the market. But by the time I got home I had managed the tampon thing and was totally 'cool' with it.

Those towels languished unused in my Mums cupboard for 20 years until she had her menopause and finally 'threw in/out the towel' bless her.

Flum · 02/11/2005 20:52

I do remember period pain was much worse when I was teenager mind you.

soapbox · 02/11/2005 20:53

I was only 10 when I started and Mum hadn't got round to having 'that' chat yet! I had no idea what the feck was going on!!!!

flamesparrow · 02/11/2005 20:54

My mum was baffled by pain - she has never really had any, and my sister has always been completely crippled by it (now times her pill so herbad part of period is when she is off work at the weekend). She did dose us up though, and went with our honesty as to how bad it was.

Both of us have always been fairly anti-medication, so she knew that we were only asking for it if we really needed it.... we were both about 13/14 when we started.

bobbybob · 02/11/2005 20:55

Custy I needed you when I came on while my cleaner was here, wearing WHITE trousers (in my defence - I had just finished cleaning the car).

I would have needed two jumpers though, one for the front and one for the back.

JanH · 02/11/2005 20:57

I let my DDs have their ears pierced when their periods started.

soapbox · 02/11/2005 20:59

Jan - was that a diversionary technique then??

'So you think your tummy hurts - here stick these needles in your ears, thats what pain really is'

flamesparrow · 02/11/2005 21:00

pmsl

JanH · 02/11/2005 21:01

That would be I made my DDs have their ears pierced, soapy!

gigglinggoblin · 02/11/2005 21:06

dont be too antidrugs - agree for many people its not an illness but i was sent to school several times when i really wasnt up to it and almost passed out with the pain, actually did pass out a couple of times. my dad would have to come and pick me up and then i would throw up in the car. it can be that bad, and a mum doesnt have to have bad periods for her daughter to have them. if she gets pains every month it might be worth a visit to the doctor to see if she can be prescribed something appropriate? although pharmacists can give lots of good advice.

laurenholly · 02/11/2005 21:30

i was 10 when i started having periods

Batters · 02/11/2005 21:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

motherinferior · 02/11/2005 21:42

Wow, Custy, you're wonderful.

I started at 11 too.

ToshyTinker · 03/11/2005 00:27

I was 11 as well. Think my eldest may start earlier.

bumptobabies · 03/11/2005 07:48

i was 91/2 and still a child i hated it but my mum was great really honest and supportive.my dd is 11 and starting to get headaches and tummy pains so i give her a few months. you have had some great advice good luck.

RosiePosie · 03/11/2005 08:20

You and your mummies all sound really nice. My mother was brought up by her grandmother and as such, thought the whole thing was dirty and called it the curse. She didn't tell me about it, and has always been deeply embarrassed by all things womanly. The whole thing was shrouded in mystery and embarrassment and when I started I was too ashamed to tell her. It was about 4 months of periods before she finally found out - because I'd been hiding my bloodstained knickers under my bed . Silly woman. I've totally gone the other way and am extremely open about it all with my kids.

QueenEagle · 03/11/2005 08:21

dd started at the beginning of this year. She had just turned 13. She was so excited she came running downstairs and said "Look!" and pulled her knicks down to show me!!! I must admit to having a tear in my eye that my baby girl was now a woman! It was an amazing moment.

That night we had a bottle of wine and let her have a glass to mark the occasion. Having said the wine was only for the grown-ups at the table, her two younger brothers were very bemused to say the least!

teeavee · 03/11/2005 09:01

custardo, I wish I'd had you as a mother when I started! My mum was pretty crap, she bought me humungous dr white's pads with loops on either end and a belt and was basically too embarassed to talk about it at all!!! (I was 12)

I survived of course, but I'm determined to be more like you if ever I have a daughter

Original poster

Moneypennygb · 03/11/2005 13:27

Thanks everyone you've been great. Can't believe how much it freaked me out. Though she appears to be taking everything in her stride and has told a couple of her friends in school who were suitably impressed.

I sympathise with Rosie Posie we had loads of sex/living & growing educations at school so I was quite prepared for it but when I started my periods at 12 my mum did discuss them as though it was the dark shame that woman had and introduced me to the ST with the hoops and the belt. Highly attractive .

OP posts:

MrsFogi · 03/11/2005 15:29

I used to pass out at school I got such bad period pains at that age (and for years after). The best thing I have ever found is a tablet called Spasfon (I found it in France and don't know if you can get it here but worth getting anyone you know who goes to France to pop in to a pharmacy and bring you some back) it works a treat and seems to be quite mild as Drs in France seem to even prescribe it during pregnancy. + easy to take at school as it doesn't taste of anything and the tablets just melt on your tongue.

magnolia1 · 03/11/2005 16:03

I was 11 and had awful pain, still do at 31 I certainly wouldn't worry about giving paracetamol every month for the 1st couple of days of a period.

My eldest is 10 and has had tummy pains etc... for ages along with Acne already So wont be long.

hunkermunker · 03/11/2005 16:24

Glad you aren't my mum, Custy... My periods were awful, and I've had three operations for the pain (I have endometriosis).

But agree, ordinary periods, take a painkiller and don't whinge. If they're worse than labour, mention it to your doctor

As for the rest of your advice, Custardo - spot on

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