Your Daughter’s First Period: How to Help Her Through It

Adesua Iyoyojie

That early Saturday morning when I woke up,the first thing I saw on the bed was blood. I was supposed to resume school that morning in January but I was scared something had happened to me. That was my first period.

My mum gave me one pad, told me to go wash up, sat me down and told me I am now a woman, if any man touches me, I will get pregnant.

I learnt how to wear pad from the always ultra pack, I couldn’t wear it well, it always fell off and embarrassed me.

On average, we get our first period between the age of 12 and 14. Some girls start as young as the age of 8. Other girls are 18 years old when they get their first period.

We get our first period when our body is ready. It usually arrives during puberty.

READ ALSO: MENSTRUATION: What to Tell Your Pre-teen Daughter Before & When She Starts

Some mothers have no idea on how to help their daughter deal with their first menstruation.

So here are some tips to help you:

1. Let her know it is natural and perfectly normal

If you can remember when you started, share with her about that day, If you’re a Dad having this talk with her share a funny or embarrassing story about something you went through at her age or. It will help put her at ease.
Remind her that a lot of girls her age may be having their period soon, if they haven’t already. ,

2. Talk to her about different types of ways to protect the flow

It is either pads or tampoons, whichever will be best for her

3. Talk to her about different flows

When I started i had light flows that comes with serious pains, some of my friends had heavy flow .
As I grew older the flow became heavy.

Teach her to monitor her flows, so she can take note of any changes

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4. Teach her ovulation and how to track her cycle.

I never learnt this from home, I had the internet teach me how to track mine which wasn’t ideal.
Ovulation occurs on the 14th Day of cycle for most women, an average woman cycle is 28 days, other women experience ovulation during period, so she has to keep track of it.
She could download a app for period on her phone .
Teach her how the cycle starts again and when
Don’t be ashamed to browse to learn more.
If you need more knowledge, go ahead to get it

5. Teach her it is okay to have irregular periof at her age

I started my period at age 13, it got to a time, I didn’t see my period for 3 months, it started all of a sudden again .
Sometimes my cycle starts and end at 19 days.
Some time if is 28daya.
As I grew older it became normal.
So tell her if she experience such it normal

7. Make sure she is always prepared

To avoid embarrassing herself in public,buy enough pads or tampoon for her and let her always put it in her bag especially when she knows Her period is approaching
Let her also avoid wearing clothes that stains are so noticeable
Buy more underwears for her.

READ ALSO: PUBERTY: How I Helped My Daughter With Her Growing Concerns

8. Physical changes

During ovulation, her breasts might become big and painful. Explain to her why it is that way.
She might even begin to grow pimples on the face, her waist and legs might hurt

9. Mood changes

Sometimes the mood changes during ovulation or period.
Tell her it is completely normal.

10. Hygiene

Teach her that no matter how busy she is, she must bathe twice daily, wash her underwears and change her pad occasionally .

It is a wonderful phase in a woman’s life.
If she comes to you with a complaint änd you can’t handle it.
Please visit a doctor together.