School swimming gala and periods - please help!

[overthehill]

My dd is 12 and recently started her periods. She's been using Natracare organic cotton pads, which have been fine so far and which I used as I never got on with tampons. This evening she burst into tears and said that they have a swimming gala on Friday for 2 hours and she wasn't going to be able to do it as her period had started yesterday evening. Swimming is the only sport she's got any aptitude for and she's really upset about the thought of not being able to participate. I suggested that her period might be light enough so that she could just take off her towel beforehand and put it on after, but they have communal changing rooms so that would be tricky. In the book I gave her about periods there was an example where a girl said she liked using tampons so that she could go swimming and dd homed in on this. I did think about buying some tomorrow so that she could try them out - but she seems very young for them, there's not much time for her to practise and I'd want to buy the organic ones, which don't come in a mini size. What would folks advise: should I buy some with and/or without an applicator, should I stick with plan A whereby she takes the towel off before she goes in or should I tell her she'll have to miss it?

[onepieceoflollipop]

Perhaps she just felt a bit pressurised with this deadline due to the swimming? It may all be different again in a few weeks. She is still getting used to the idea of having periods. For some girls it is a bigger deal than for others (it was for me for various reasons).

Agree with what bellabelly says - some schools seem to be in the Dark Ages still if this is going on.

[girlnextdoor]

My daughter had probs with tampons, but got on ok with tampax compact- small size- and Tampax mini- they really are tiny.

Buy a few sorts and let her practice at home. They are easier to ue when the period starts and is in full flow, as she won't be so dry, but encourage her just to keep trying.

[hellish]

Oh no overthehill, Maybe she could try non-applicator tampons, i find them much easier and somehow less invasive. Always used lilets.

Don't give up on them, i remember my first swimming session with a period, and my mum telling me over the phone "ask your sister how to do it". I lay on the bathroom floor with the instruction leaflet.

Have always used them, swam 6 times a week as a teen. no problems.
Encourage her to have another try - it would be a shame to miss the gala.

[bellabelly]

• I remember very unhelpful school rules and regulations making time of the month VERY hard work when I was still young enough to be a bit embarrassed about things like that. A couple of years later I had NO qualms about announcing loudly that I had my period and NEEDED TO CHANGE MY TAMPON but ugh, horrible to think back on and so sad that it's still made very awkward for young girls.

[overthehill]

Oh dear!!! As advised I duly bought a packet of Tampax minis and a packet of Natracare regular (they don't do minis), both with applicators as generally people seem to agree that they're easier and left them for her to try. Came back from my rehearsal & asked her how she got on. Response: "I couldn't face it." Me: "Couldn't face what? Dd: "Sticking something up inside me"... Oh well!!! I suggested she speak to the PE teacher "I hate her and she hates me" or go to the loo just before her race (she only has one, but the whole thing is 2 hours long) as period lighter now so she could take out pad, but she said that the changing rooms are locked. Honestly, I can remember the trauma of school PE - taking in notes excusing me from (communal) showers when had period & butch PE teacher 'supervising' us all running through shower - and in some ways things don't seem to have changed much.

[SmudgeyDoodle]

I would second the put it in at home rather than at the pool so not as rushed (although if it's a school even, maybe she's going from school?) Have you already bought some? I think they sell applicator ones now with a small amount of lubricant already on them. Also a little tip - prop one leg up on the toilet seat and aim back as you get a better angle. The leaflets are quite good and if it's in right, she shouldn't be able to feel it. Suggest to her, that she checks that the string is tucked inside her costume for reassurance!!! Good luck in the gala overthehill DD

[stealthsquiggle]

Not sure about other brands but I am sure there is still a leaflet in every box of Tampax which shows angle, advises on easiest way to put it in, etc - I used them from 1st/2nd period, I am sure.

[onepieceoflollipop]

There used to be (probably still is) a little picture diagram in the box advising of the angle to push it in.

[MrsTittleMouse]

Thank you lollipop.
The other thing that I did wrong - she does know to push back, not up, right? I had no clue and boy, it was painful!

[onepieceoflollipop]

Good advice from MrsTittlemouse.

I would also reassure your dd that it is normal to use quite a few tampons whilst "experimenting" as it can be hard to get the angle right iykwim.

She may want to put the tampon in at home, in the comfort of your own loo rather than feeling rushed at the pool.

[MrsTittleMouse]

Oh, and practising beforehand a couple of times would be great. Much better than what I went through!

[MrsTittleMouse]

I can remember this really clearly. There was a bit outing to the swimming pool and I was given tampons for the first time, and I was struggling so much, and my Mum was outside the toilet trying to hurry me up.
I would recommend getting applicator and non-applicator (I liked non, but it's a very personal thing). I would also recommend getting her some KY jelly (or similar). I found that a small blob on the end of the tampon really helped, and didn't affect the absorbancy. As it won't be her heaviest day, I would recommend it even more.

[figroll]

This is interesting as my dd2 is desperately keen on swimming and swims 4 or 5 times a week, sometimes more.

I was planning on getting her some tampons to try - tampax minis I thought of. I just hope that she can manage them.

[onepieceoflollipop]

Toxic shock (afaik) is more associated with poor hygiene and using a higher absorbency than necessary. Also wearing a tampon for many hours without changing it. Also as others have said it is incredibly rare.

I am sure you will already be advising your daughter re good hygiene, i.e. handwashing before insertion, changing very regularly etc. There is further information in the leaflet inside every box of tampons.

Hope she does well at the swimming gala - probably best not to say to her that you have been discussing this with us all on mnet!

[mylovelymonster]

I've read that Junior tampons are made with a very light absorbancy - probably not easily available...........I think Tampax do a 'Light' absorbancy one but seems only available in a mixed multipack.........they do minis as well which are reg absorbancy but slim.

Toxic shock is very rare and caused by a bacterial bloom generating toxins.

Use of tampons every now and then for swimming , whatever make, I'm sure would be no problem at all.

[mumblechum]

I think toxic shock is incredibly rare and it would be much less stressful for your dd if she could just use normal tampons.

Good luck to her for Fri!

[overthehill]

Thanks to all the people who've replied so far; any more opinions would be appreciated. Interesting to hear that you liked Natracare, mylovelymonster; it's just that I worry about chemicals inside the body, toxic shock syndrome etc - but it looks as though slender organic ones aren't made, so I guess she'll just have to try and range of products.

[bellabelly]

I started my periods very young and used tampax from the start - aged 10. If she is keen to try them you should definitely let her give it a go and maybe encourage her to move onto organic type ones later on IF she wants to do so.

[mylovelymonster]

I've used the Natracare tampons (just for swimming) and I thought they were really good and easy to use/comfy.

[ravenAK]

sorry, x-posted!

[ravenAK]

Buy her a choice of Lillets & Tampax to try tomorrow (in time for Friday).

I'm with you on the whole organic thing (in fact I use washables much of the time), but on this occasion, the thing for her to get her head around is inserting tampons if she wants to give it a go.

I used tampons from first period, no problem.

[ChasingSquirrels]

I would probably go for slender tbh.

[overthehill]

Sorry, I pressed it twice by mistake!

[overthehill]

Ok, it sounds as though the consensus so far is that she should try tampons, and I'm happy to buy her a packet of both applicator and non-applicator ones. Anyone think that standard size would be OK as I am keen on the organic ones?? Or perhaps I should buy some slender ones as well, in which case I think she'd be up most of tomorrow night trying them all out!

[overthehill]

Ok, it sounds as though the consensus so far is that she should try tampons, and I'm happy to buy her a packet of both applicator and non-applicator ones. Anyone think that standard size would be OK as I am keen on the organic ones?? Or perhaps I should buy some slender ones as well, in which case I think she'd be up most of tomorrow night trying them all out!