Puberty - Lewisville,TX

There really is no hard and fast rule about what body changes will take place before getting her first period. My second oldest daughter didn't get hers until she was 14 1/2 and was nearly in a C cup when it started. I would have sworn that it would have started LONG before that. My third daughter got her first period at 12, had already had pubic hair for a long time, but no real breast growth until after she got her first period. I will say that the whole PMS/hormone thing started LONG before that first period came along :( I also didn't see any correlation between how old I was and when any of the girls got theirs (me - 11 yrs; them - almost 16, 14 1/2, and 12).

As long as you both are ready when I does come along, you will be fine :)

I think you are too worried about a perfectly natural body function. As long as you have talked to your daughter and she knows what to expect.She can have a discharge and some mild cramping as much as a year before she actually starts. The average age is 12.Have you explained that we all have our own biological clock and these things come in their own time and to not worry? Usually you have a cycle like your Mom did.

Dear K.,
There's really no way of knowing when she'll start. Girls start at such different ages. I'd had so many problems with endometriosis and my daughter was really afraid she'd have the same problems. She was very surprised when she started her period at 13 because she'd never had any cramps or anything. It just happened one day. And, fortunately, she has never had any issues with pain or anything. When she was about 15, however, the curse of PMS hit our house like a tornado. I knew everytime she was getting ready to start because she would get mean and viscious and slam doors. Once she started, she was back to normal.

Just be open with your daughter. Make sure you have pads at home, just in case. Make sure she knows that all girls are different and if she starts her first period on the 10th, it might not come on the 10th the next month, but that's okay. Very few little girls, including my daughter, had "regular" periods right at the start. I got my daughter a really cute little zippered coin purse that was the perfect size to keep a couple of pads in for her backpack in case she started at school.

I had mentioned to another mom that when I was 12, I got an ear infection. I'd never had one before and I was pretty sick. My mom sent my dad to the store to get a heating pad.
He came back with a box of sanitary napkins and a belt. God bless him. He must have been thinking, "Hmmmm. First ear infection. She must be getting ready to start her period." :)
I didn't start for 3 more years and I may be old, but for heaven's sake, they DID have pads that didn't require a "sanitary belt".

So...just be prepared and know it will happen when it happens. There's no point in worrying about it every day because it may not happen for another year. Or longer. Our bodies do things on their own time.

Best wishes!

No, there is no possible way to narrow down a date. I did not start my period until I was 14, though all those outward secondary sex characteristics were present. It would be unfortunate to be waiting for something like this to happen for a long time, so just let it go. Adolescent girls are already so very anxious about growing up. Let her know that nature works on her own time and when that time has come, it will be evident. Until then, go outside and play. :)

She is right in the time frame for the start.

My advice is keeping your lines of communication wide open so that she feels free to ask you anything without you judging her views, opinions, etc.

That has worked for me as mom of a 15 yr old daughter. One thing I always wanted my daughter to know was that I am here to support her. If I don't know an answer, I will find out. I will listen with no judgement toward her opinion.

There are so many questions the teens have... be open minded to listen to everything and asnwer as best you can. Let her know you have her back no matter what.

I'm sure you know the signs of PMS and like any woman before her period she may very well display those, even the first time around. I was sick and crampy the first time around too. I was older though, at 15.
Make sure she has a pad with her and knows to expect, but other than that it's just a matter of waiting. It will happen!
Good luck!

I worked as a nanney for a mom who was a Professor of Nursing at a local college. She kept Midol around and when the 5th graders, and older, came in from school a lot of times they were moody, crying, yelling, tempers flaring, etc...and she told me to give them a Midol as soon as they walked in the door. I did this a few times a month when they were obviously irritated and acting out and within 30 minutes or so they were back to being the lovable happy children I knew so well, so have Midol on hand and just keep the communication open. She could carry something in her backpack just in case....Summer time is coming too so if she goes swimming you might talk to her about noticing if something is...feeling odd?...wet when it's not supposed to be?...I remember a girl in High School at the pool during Gym having blood between her legs because she didn't know she has started that day and it was very humiliating for her.

Although there really is no way to predicate an actual start time, usually around 12 years old, is when major changes in the body and personality start happening. My 15 year old daughter started her period at 13. She had cramps on and off for about a year before actually starting her period. I encourage you to keep an open communication channel with your daughter about puberty. My mom never discussed any of that stuff when I was growing up and when I finally got my period, I was scared. Luckily, I started while I was at my SIL's house and she is a nurse, so she told me all about it. I've found that talking to my daughter about PMS, periods, having babies, etc. years before she started, made it much easier for her.

M

Hello! My daughter just turned 12 she started 2 months ago the sign was some discharge. good luck they grow so fast!:))

Mine began when I was 12. My mothers began at 10. So if e yours began early, hers might also, but theres really no telling. I didnt feel cramps, it really came as a surprise to me, maybe because I had never experienced it up until then.

She might get cramping but she might not realize what it is.
I remember being up in the morning for about an hour before I realized that I had got my period through the night...
I'd say this is a good time for a long talk about hygiene products, their use, keeping clean, etc. and have pads/tampons available to fend off that awkward "trip to the store" episode!

She sounds like her body is getting ready, but like everyone else has posted, there isn't a "calendar date" you can count on for this event. I have two dgtrs, ages 15 and 11, so we've been there once and are at the exact same place you are with my second and I've learned a thing or two...first of all, sit down with your dgtr and explain what all the changes mean and what to expect when she does start the first time. To help ease her mind, their first periods are not super heavy, so she doesn't have to completely freak out about starting at school and everyone noticing. Be prepared, buy some thin pads and it may be a good idea to have her begin carrying one with her if she carries a purse. Talk to the nurse at her school or her teacher, they are very experienced dealing with this and can help.

This is another thing I learned...talk to her dad and tell him not to make a big deal about it or to tease her about it. Also, my first dgtr didn't wear tampons until this year, so during the summer there would be weeks here and there when she didn't "want" to go swimming and my darling husband (clueless) would harass her about it, he honestly didn't know why she refused to swim until I had to whisper it to him and then my dgtr would be terribly embarassed. Which brings me to having an open line of communication between you and your dgtr, as the only person in our home that does laundry, I hate ugly surprises and a little stain treatment can go a long way with these types of stains...so, I requested the courtesy of warning me so I know to at least look for stains before its too late and they are already set.

Good luck to you both, she'll be fine :)