Puberty is a sensitive stage in girls' lives, which requires equipping them with sufficient awareness before reaching menstruation to prevent it from becoming a painful or traumatic experience.
Experts emphasize that awareness can help girls accept this significant change in their lives and deal with it maturely, but talking about this stage remains a difficult challenge for many mothers.
What are the signs of the first period?
Before discussing the best ways to educate and prepare a girl for her menstrual cycle, it is important to first review the physical signs that her period is approaching.
The Health Shots website confirmed the difficulty of predicting the start date of your menstrual cycle, but it did discuss a number of signs, the most prominent of which are:
- Age: Menstruation typically begins around age 10, but this can vary from girl to girl. Some girls may experience early puberty , while others may experience late puberty . This can be influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, hormones, body composition, health, and environment. It can occur anytime between the ages of 8 and 14 and marks the transition from childhood to adulthood.
- Breast growth: Breasts begin to grow and enlarge at least two years before their first menstrual period. Girls may experience a sudden growth spurt at least a year before their first period. These changes are primarily due to increased estrogen levels. They may also begin to feel pain in the breast area.
- Skin changes: The onset of puberty can lead to certain changes in the skin. A girl may notice more pimples or acne problems due to increased production of sebum, an oily substance that can clog pores. This can lead to skin problems.
Mood swings: When a girl is about to experience her first period, she may experience mood swings and fatigue, which are premenstrual symptoms that most women experience throughout their menstrual cycle. She may also experience increased anxiety, sadness, or disturbed sleep patterns.
What are the normal symptoms of menstruation?
It is normal for a girl to experience some symptoms as part of premenstrual syndrome before, during, or after the start of her period, as mentioned by the Healthline website:
- Abdominal cramps: Abdominal cramps, also called primary dysmenorrhea, are a common menstrual symptom. They may begin in the days leading up to your period and last for several days or more once your period begins. The severity of cramps can range from mild to severe, interfering with normal daily activities.
- Bloating: If you feel like your belly is heavy or you can't zip your jeans a few days before your period, you may have period bloating. Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels can cause your body to retain more water and salt than usual. This results in a bloated feeling. Many women recover from these symptoms two to three days after their period begins.
- Lower back pain: Uterine and abdominal contractions cause muscle spasms in the lower back. Some women experience severe lower back pain during their menstrual cycle, while others experience mild back pain.
- Difficulty sleeping: Menstrual symptoms such as cramps, headaches, and mood swings can affect sleep, making it difficult to fall asleep or stay asleep. Body temperature can also rise slightly, affecting sleep quality.
How and when do I talk to my daughter about her first period?
Some mothers are anxiously wondering: How and when should I talk to my daughter about her period?
Super Mama offers several tips inspired by mothers who have gone through the experience, making it easier to bring up the subject and make it easier for your daughter:
- Talk to her early: Some girls start their periods as early as age 9, so it's best to start talking about menstruation around age 8. Don't be afraid to bring up the topic at this age. On the contrary, children are more open and receptive to information before the onset of adolescence. When you start talking about menstruation as a normal occurrence, it will be easier.
- Graduating information: It's important to talk to your teen several times. Take advantage of opportunities and bring up the subject to make it easy for her and not embarrassing. Don't give her all the information at once, but rather in several installments. Graduating makes the process easier, unlike a single information session, which can be traumatic.
- Sanitary pads: Your daughter may ask you about the sanitary pads she sees on TV and their uses. Tell her that they absorb bodily secretions and that she will soon begin using them as she enters puberty. She also notes that a female body releases secretions for several days each month upon reaching puberty. Reassure her that all girls and mothers have their periods.
How does menstruation occur? When you sense she wants to know more, tell her that a woman's body has a system that produces an egg each month to enable her to become a mother, and that the egg turns into secretions each time, until the girl grows up, gets married, and has children.
Talk to her about menstrual symptoms and the possibility of pain. Don't hide the truth from her, lest she be shocked the first time she experiences it. Make sure she's mentally prepared for the pain associated with her period and that there's no need to worry. Also, tell her that menstruation increases her appetite for sweets and chocolate, causes mood swings, and can also cause headaches.
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