Menstruation – daughters first period #2
Your daughter may wonder what her period will be like and worry that it may start with a flood in the middle of the day. You can tell her that doesn’t usually happen.
She will usually notice a small amount of blood and mucus when she gets up in the morning. However she could take some spare underwear and a pad in her school bag or overnight bag if she is staying away from home.
Girls usually experience some period pain and sometimes it can be severe. It may be low back pain, pelvic pain and may radiate down the legs. Some girls have an upset stomach, feel nauseous or even vomit on the first day of their period.
These symptoms are usually caused by the release of prostaglandins. Medication is available to reduce the amount of prostaglandins released and is therefore more effective if taken 12 – 24 hours before the period starts.
Buy a supply of pads for your daughter so that she is prepared. She may wish to try using tampons after managing her first periods using pads. At night it is safer to continue to use pads, as tampons need to be changed every 3-4 hours.
A common misconception is that women cannot use tampons until after they have experienced sexual intercourse. They are able to use tampons even when their hymen is intact. The hymen is a piece of skin inside and partially closing the vagina. By puberty the hymen will often already be stretched open through normal physical activity.
