Mother to Daughter: A Guide to Handling Your Child's First
Period
Mother to Daughter: A Guide to Handling Your Child's First Period
By R.L. Fielding
Adolescents often receive their facts about puberty from a
variety of sources, such as friends, teachers, and the media.
When faced with this storm of information, it is important for a
girl to be able to turn to someone with whom she feels
comfortable talking, who she can trust to provide good advice -
in most cases, that person is Mom.
The transition from childhood to adulthood can be nearly as
difficult for parents as it is for their teenage children.
Mothers of adolescent girls may find themselves struggling to
explain the extensive physical and emotional changes their
daughters are going through. To help with the parent-child
dialogue, here are some answers to common questions about female
puberty:
What is puberty?
Puberty can be a confusing and awkward time for young women. It
is the time in life when a child becomes a young adult and
sexual reproduction becomes possible.
The easiest changes to identify happen externally. Most children
begin to experience large growth spurts around the age of
eleven. Girls may notice their waists becoming narrower while
their hips grow wider. From ages seven to thirteen, female
breasts begin to grow, usually resulting in some soreness.
Coarse body air may spring up in the pubic area, the armpits,
and other areas. You should be certain to reassure your daughter
that all women go through the same changes as they grow.
Less obvious, but much more important, are the internal physical
changes. Before the signs of puberty even become apparent,
hormonal alterations will have been taking place for several
years. The hypothalamus in the brain and the pituitary gland
begin to send signals to the ovaries. The ovaries then begin to
"ovulate" as they release a mature egg. This egg can either
become fertilized and produce a baby, or it will disintegrate
and leave the body during the menstrual
period.
First menstruation, also called menarche, often occurs close to
the age of thirteen. This monthly discharge of tissue and blood
from the uterus through the vagina is commonly known as a
"period." This is a sign of a normal, healthy reproductive
system. Mothers should take care to prepare their daughters for
the arrival of their period by explaining what will occur, why
it happens, and how to handle it.
When will I get my first period?
It is impossible to pinpoint when a girl's first menstrual period
will occur as it is dependent on hormone levels and physical
development. In some cases, girls as young as ten have begun
their periods. To prevent embarrassing accidents, teenage girls
may want to begin carrying sanitary pads to school with them, in
case their period begins while they are away from home.
How long will my period last?
A typical period lasts anywhere from two to seven days. During
a menstrual period, a woman's body may gradually discharge up to
one-cup of blood and tissue. Over the course of a lifetime, a
woman can release 400 eggs and have this many menstrual periods
if the ovulations do not lead to pregnancies. Illness or
pregnancy can bring a temporary halt to monthly menstrual
cycles. A woman's periods will eventually stop completely as she
reaches menopause around the age of 50-52.
What is "normal" menstruation like?
At first, it is "normal" for adolescents to notice an
inconsistent vaginal discharge and an irregular period during
their initial menstrual periods, but these periods will
eventually become more regular, occurring every 28 days or so.
Young women may want to use pantiliners to discreetly cope with
any spotting that occurs in the meantime.
How do I prepare for my period?
Women can track their menstrual cycles using a calendar.
Mothers can show their daughters how to mark the first day of
their period on the calendar each month and count the number of
days until the next period is due. This way, young girls can
learn to prepare for their period in advance.
Sanitary Napkins vs. Tampons
During the menstrual period, girls have the option of using
sanitary napkins, also known as "pads," or tampons to absorb the
flow. Pads are made of a soft, absorbent material that is
similar to that of a diaper. They are held into a woman's
underwear by adhesive backing. In recent years, manufacturers
have developed thinner, less conspicuous sanitary pads in an
attempt to save women from the embarrassment and hassle of
lugging larger pads with them and to make them less conspicuous
when they are worn.
Tampons are inserted directly into the vagina. Much like an
absorbent sponge, a tampon will gently swell as it becomes
soaked with blood. A string allows for easy removal from the
body. Tampons are convenient for swimming or exercising and can
be paired with a pantiliner, a type of thin pad, for extra
protection. When using tampons, women should change them every
4-6 hours to minimize the risk of Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS), a
rare, but potentially life threatening reaction to a certain
bacterial infection of the vagina,
Will my period hurt?
It is not uncommon to experience some discomfort during
menstruation. The blood flow does not hurt, but women may
develop cramps as their uterus contracts. There is some pain
from period cramps, but
it is not unmanageable. These abdominal cramps vary in intensity
and are different for each woman. Some women experience cramping
with every period while others never feel anything. It is easy
to purchase over-the-counter pain relievers that can help combat
this nuisance. For severe period cramps, a doctor's
consultation may be needed.
What is PMS?
PMS, or Premenstrual Syndrome, refers to a set of symptoms that
many women experience around the time of their menstrual period.
Common effects of PMS include: bloating, cramps, fatigue,
moodiness, headaches, or pimples. Again, there are
over-the-counter medications that can ease these symptoms. To
find relief while experiencing PMS, women should try wearing
loose clothing or placing warm compresses on their stomach.
Mothers can share with their daughters their own tricks for
coping.
During puberty, many parents will notice a natural tendency in
their daughters to seek greater independence but, no matter how
much they protest, young women need more support and guidance
than ever. Adolescent girls do benefit from having someone they
can turn to for support and answers to their questions. By
making yourself available to your daughter as a source of
emotional and intellectual support, the transition into
adulthood will be that much easier on both of you.
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