Period help!!

[mummc2]

Hi my daughter has just started her first ever period and we are on holiday abroad!! I obviously wasn't prepared and so question is what should I do about the pool?
She has only had a small amount and I've bought her some pads but she wants to use the pool tomorrow. She doesn't want to try tampax and said her friend wore a pad inside her shorts when they went away with school??? Is this ok??

Oh good lord I don't know, I just didn't want to read and run. Poor DD!

Can you not ask her again about tampons?

I would say either tampon or don't go in the pool apart from to paddle etc but I know others will disagree.

You can't wear a pad, it will swell up and and the blood will leak out. Either go with tampons or don't swim. If very light I'd perhaps risk a swim in the sea but need to be prepared for the embarrassment of leaking when getting out. My flow tends to stop in the water but restarts with a vengeance when I get out!

I agree, for hygiene reasons I wouldn't let her go into the pool without a tampon. Also if you get a pad wet then they go huge and you get those little crystals everywhere.

I'm wondering if you could fashion something using a swim nappy inside normal pants and then her costume/shorts over the top?

What a shame for your dd.

A swim nappy doesn't hold liquids as far as I was aware just poo so I don't think they would be any good for a period situation. Why is she reluctant about tampons?

Did anyone else genuinely have a real period as their first though? I never did, it was a smudge of browny red. DD had similar, one or two days of a discoloured discharge, it was months and months before they settled down into a proper period. I wouldn't advocate a Tampax for a first period in what is potentially a very young girl.

She has pale blood discharge but is leaving a good stain in pants/pad so not really enough for a tampax either and abroad not sure I will be able to get a teen slim one??
She lives in the water so hopefully will just last a day or so

They have slim teens abroad. Tampon or no pool!

If it is very light then I think she could just go in the pool as usual, as long as she is comfortable with that. Perhaps with a towel on the pool edge just in case.

For people being pearl-clutchy about this: you do realise that people's arses are getting a good rinse-out in the pool? Plus any other discharges, skin infections, bleeding haemorrhoids etc. A tiny bit of menstrual blood is the least of your worries if you're sharing a public pool. And the chlorine is there to minimise any problems.

If the flow is as light as you say, then I would just put a panty liner in her swimming costume. It won't swell up, just stops any staining really. It doesn't sound as though the flow is very heavy, so do you think that might be sufficient? If she leaves her towel as close as possible to the pool then she is able to wrap up when she gets out, just in case, and that might make her feel more secure.
My daughter was some months before she considered using a tampon, and it took many attempts to get it right. It is something best done in a very relaxed environment, so I wouldn't think it's a good idea to pursue that option right now.
Hope you all have a great holiday.

Did anyone else genuinely have a real period as their first though?

Yes.

Availability of tampons will depend on the country you're in, I should think.

As for the pool - depends on the flow. If it's heavy, then tampons or no swimming.