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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

DD bleeding too heavily

51 replies

tilliebob · 14/03/2014 07:24

My DD is 13 later this year and started her periods last month. She bled very heavily, but I told her this would settle down in time. However, she's started again pretty much exactly a month later and the same thing has happened again.

We were out at a family do last night so she was late in bed -about 11 rather than 9.30 - and when I went to wake her today, she's soaked her pants, PJ bottoms, and the bed Sad. It looks like a blood bath and she's a bit freaked (so am I tbh).

So my question is, will this settle down? I can't think back that far for myself and none of my friends have girls at this age yet. DH (who officially doesn't know any of this as DD doesn't want him or her brothers to know yet) is all set to storm A&E with her Wink. Do I sit tight and wait for a few more months or do I get her to the docs now?

OP posts:
MrsDavidBowie · 14/03/2014 07:32

Dd took tranxamic acid to stop heavy blood flow.
I do think it odd that you can't tell dh.

Stricnine · 14/03/2014 07:36

it doesn't take very much blood to soak pyjamas and bedding so it probably looked a lot worse than it was... but if she's at all upset by it I would go to GP just to confirm there's nothing wrong... she'll probably just have to have blood test, so nothing too stressful!

you don't mention if she cramps badly or not or if it's 'just' blood...

(speaking as one who's fairly frequently managed to soak sheets etc...)

Original poster
tilliebob · 14/03/2014 08:34

He does know, but DD is still at the embarrassed stage - she's finding growing up a real challenge and has become quite clingy and tearful. She also doesn't want her bigger brother (14) to know either, so I am taking my lead from her at the moment. She's just soaked through the pad she put on at 6.30 in less than 2 hours Sad.

OP posts:
Original poster
tilliebob · 14/03/2014 08:36

She does suffer with cramps, I remember that myself as a teen, but I don't remember this volume of flow. She's away dosed up on painkillers and will probably be buzzing as she's a slight thing. I can't keep her off every month for 5 days although that's just what I want to do tbh.

OP posts:
bakerbun · 14/03/2014 09:37

DD had really heavy periods when she started and very irregular too - at worst she was having one every two weeks. She put up with it for about nine months with no real improvement and then we went to the GP. He said to monitor it for another three months and then come back. This time we saw a different GP who was great with her, said it was intolerable to have to live like this and put her on a low dose pill, Loestrin 20. She now has her life back, with very light, regular periods and does lots of sport and swimming again. She is now 15 btw.

Madmog · 14/03/2014 09:48

My friend took her daughter to the doctor as she kept getting heavy periods. She was using two pads a night and still have accidents. He gave her some tablets, and she takes one right at the start of her periods and it reduces the flow.

We all have different ideas of what's acceptable, most of us will find blood on the sheets at some stage but hopefully just a few drops.

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 14/03/2014 09:55

My friends 11 year old has the same thing and was refusing to go to school when she has her period as she doesn't want people to know and is very worried about changing pads at school.
She was taken to the doctor and given the pill and has been much happier also her mum times her not taking the pill so she gets her period at the weekend so not missing school.

TeenAndTween · 14/03/2014 10:29

Go to the GP

GP may well try tranexamic acid (sp?) to reduce flow. it helped a bit for my DD but did make her feel a bit sick.

At 14 and a half DD has now been put on the pill to ease and regulate her flow, as has one of her best friends who sounds similar to your DD. GP was reluctant to do this before age 14 though.

Original poster
tilliebob · 14/03/2014 12:14

The amount of blood last night was through her pad, pants, PJ bottoms, and about an A4 sized patch on the bedclothes. Too too much for a 12 year old to lose I think Sad. I can do that but am in my 40's and only started bleeding so heavily after 3 kids.

OP posts:
Catswiththumbs · 14/03/2014 12:26

I had heavy periods like that through my teens (thanks mother for saying its normal and I'm lazy for not getting up 3 times in the middle of the night to change, instead of getting me to the GP)
I wore super plus tampons, the biggest pad I could buy and changed hourly on heavy days and still flooded

Went to the GP at 16 who put me on cerazette. Light short periods before they stopped completely. I came off the pill last year and honestly my periods are so easy now, if slightly heavier than "normal". I bought a mooncup which helps with cramping and stops the irritation from tampons (shoving bleached fluff up there is bound to do that(!))

specialsubject · 14/03/2014 12:50

not A and E, but GO TO THE DOCTOR. This is not normal and there are treatments.

periods should be a minor inconvenience. This is not!

mathanxiety · 14/03/2014 15:23

Take her to see the doctor.

There is no need to go through this and there is also the risk of anemia. Really, it can be made completely normal so easily. Don't wait.

Original poster
tilliebob · 14/03/2014 15:47

Thanks folks. I'm just waiting for her to come in from school and see how today has gone. At least it's the weekend and she can cuddle up with a hot water bottle and take it easy. We have holidays coming up so will take her to the GP then as there's no way she'll go with DH about this, although he'd do it no problem. She does seem to find this growing up business a bit scary - I don't remember being like that, I just remember wanting to be grown up, and fast!

OP posts:
Original poster
tilliebob · 14/03/2014 16:11

:( She's come in with blood through to her coat (3/4 length, thankfully). Her trousers are stained so much it's visible as she walks. She's off into the shower to clean up. My poor wee lassie!

OP posts:
WTFlike · 14/03/2014 16:16

You sound like a lovely mum. Smile

Startliteangel · 14/03/2014 16:24

DD had similar problems with heavy periods ...from the age of 10 ..she's 13 now . Took her to the docs and she's been on the pill ever since ...no problems at all now ..very lite period and she remembers to take her pill with no prompting from me ..

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 14/03/2014 16:25

Poor wee thing, my friends dd is terrified of this happening. She's only 11 so still in p7, so feels its only her this is happening to. She is also not happy about people knowing, and not happy about this growing up business either.
hope things get sorted for your dd.

exexpat · 14/03/2014 16:27

Mine were always quite heavy even as a early teenager - I think I ended up using a super size tampon plus pad at night. The pill made things much lighter, but I only started that in my late teens when I needed it for contraception too. DD is 11, started her periods a few months ago and also looks like she's going to be having heavyish ones Sad.

Bloodyteenagers · 14/03/2014 17:18

Get her to the doc's. There's many different meds that can help a lot. Some of the meds we have found (both dd's and myself have heavy flows) also help with the cramping which is a double bonus.

It's also good to get it formally noted because of some schools toilet policy and they are stopping teens from going during class time. And sometimes when you are this heavy you need to be able to go, without getting into an argument several times a day.

In the mean time more than one pad is needed so that all the pant area from front to back is covered. The size of pads are great if you have light bleeding, but cannot cope with heavy flows. At night add a third pad to make a T at the back. The really cheap ones are good for the 3rd pad. Also, pads really do differ.

MamaDoGood · 14/03/2014 17:36

Book a doctors appointment !
Poor girl ??
You sound like a lovely mum btw, I didn't have one to talk to about periods and whatnot so suffered in silence for 5 years!

Original poster
tilliebob · 14/03/2014 18:07

Thanks folks - I don't feel lovely, I just want to take the mess and the pain on her behalf! She is so clingy just now and a bit bewildered by it all. We're a pretty open family and since I had DS2 5 years ago, DS1 and DD found out about the whole conception/pregnancy/birth/breastfeeding thing as it happened, in language they could understand. My mum was open with me and I want to be able to talk to my kids about anything. I'd hate for her to be going through this feeling she couldn't speak about it or ask questions. I do understand about her not wanting to tell her dad and big brother at the moment but they both do know and just want to help Wink

OP posts:
OurMiracle1106 · 14/03/2014 18:16

I agree with doctors.

But can I suggest over the weekend getting her maternity towels to make her a bit more comfortable? Hopefully she won't bleed through them as quickly and will therefore feel less conscious of it (not saying it will work tho)

Plenty of chocolate always helps too though of course she might not feel hungry.

mathanxiety · 14/03/2014 18:55

While you wait for her appointment, get some really cheap towels that can be bleached and hotwashed, and use them all in her bed.

mathanxiety · 14/03/2014 18:57

And there is no need for anyone to tell a dad or brother about every single ache or pain or heavy period or whatever. Do dad and brother share when they have a wet dream or some other issue that women and girls don't experience?

goodasitgets · 14/03/2014 19:00

If she's using more than one pad, tell her to try wearing two pairs of knickers for now. Sounds daft but feels more secure and stops them moving
A towel on the bed can help protect the sheet/mattress

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