Hi IM's. Just wanted some advice. My 10 year old girl (will be 11 in 4 months) has come home from school yesterday with slight spotting. I believe this is the start of her first period. On one hand I feel proud of her as I know it's a sign of her growing up but I am also a little sad that it's started so early. Just wanted to know how other Mums have dealt with it and what to expect now. She is very small in height and has not really developed breasts yet. Is this normal? Everwhere I have read say that the period normally comes after breast development and a growth spurt. We had 'the talk' a few months ago and she knows what to expect and we talk openly to each other. I just wanted some advice and thoughts please. TIA.
4 Replies
It could be her first period, but it could be breaking her Hyman, which can happen doing sport etc
Just because she has a period doesn't mean she will have another one for ages.
My sisters and I ALL got our periods at 11 (we are now in our late 30s and 40s). There were a couple of my peers who were 10.
Things that worked for us was just not making a huge fuss about it. It was just a fact of life that periods happen. And beyond needing some pain relief occassionally and needing some thought put into swimming because none of us were comfortable with tampons at that age it just wasn't a big deal.
Mum just made sure she spoke to our class teacher (quietly) and we kept pads and spare nickers in our bag.
I remember getting spotting a couple of times around that age but I didn't have my first period until I was about 12. Perhaps just wait and see if a proper period follows or not. It's great that she is open to talking about it with you, my daughter is not at that age yet but I do hope she feels that she can talk openly about it with me!
I remember having to wait an entire day to tell my mum as she was at work and my brothers and I were at home as it was school holidays, I was freaking out all day and didn't know what to do and thought I would get into trouble for the 'mess' in my undies. When she finally came home I just started crying and told her. She just hugged me and said welcome to womanhood. My friends and I had all talked about getting our periods and we all got our first ones around the same time so we thought that was great and we all were able to talk about it.
Get her a little pack together including some spare undies and just chat openly about it. If she didnt end up having a full on period she may have broken her hyman which could be from sport, impact or even sex if she is active (yes some kids do expertiment at this age even just by themselves). If you havent already now is defiently time to have the safe sex talk even if she isnt interested in boys right now. You dont want to leave it too late and have her accidently get pregnant or an std. Tell her about pms and sometimes she will just want to have some alone time which is okay (and extra megically with a heat pack, tub of ice cream and chocolate).
I would avoid tampons for a while as they arent really great for small girls and instead teach her how to use pads.
I got mine when I was ten as well. We celebrated by ordering pizza my mum was proud as well as her baby (I'm the youngest) was becoming a women. She will be fine, just depending on her stomach cramps and how she hanldes it. I had bad pains and always ended up home from school the first heavy day curled up in bed (let her do that if she needs to). I think the only thing that I guess Su led about getting it so young none of my friends had yet gotten then so I had no one to talk to. Also not sure what the schools situation with the bathroom and how many have the sanitary bins in there. Mine only had one and that was a little embarrassing have to wait for that one cubical. She will be fine, it is young but not abnormal. It will take her a few months to get used to them. Good luck and congratulations to your daughter, she is becoming a women.