Teenagers and Menstruation Advice Needed

BitterAndTwisted

Let your sister buy the tampons for her if that's what she wants to use, is that's possible. When I first started, being a virgin and all, I couldn't get them in comfortably and didn't use them until I was about 16 Still, if it's her first period she's not likely to bleed for more than a couple of days, I hope, so the whole holiday may not be totally ruined. If it's a very light flow she might even be able to do without anything at all.

iwilllearntosave

So no tampax or buy them and have my sister help just in case?

I feel a bit of a failure, I went from being a Hero at her football match this morning (ref didn't turn up) to being a bumbling mess. she is so brave and mature and I feel I am letting her down as cannot answer her questions.

she is asking how long it will last, will it get worse, will it happen again and when. we googled together and it says its so different for every one. Main site suggested 5-7 days that is when she got upset and the holiday was mentioned.

balletshoes

iwilllearntosave wrote: »

It is definitely her first, she was shocked and unsure. her friends have had theirs and she talks to her mother and is fully aware.

She asked not for tampax (sorry I know its a brand name but its all I know), she chose the ones she wanted and a lovely lady from Boots helped. She has some at home that the school nurse gave out and we went for those ones.

I don't really know if its heavy as I am gonna play the cop out that I don't know much about this. She has used 2 towelling fixtures today, she has no pain or cramps.

She is mature but devastated about the holiday, she is trying to be brave but I know she is gutted as I'm getting more cuddles than usual.

Neither myself nor her are sure about using insertion ones, are they safe, can she really use them at her age?

she doesn't need to be devastated honestly, my DD had her first period earlier this year. She may only bleed for a couple of days, so by the time you get to your holiday destination and get settled in, her period could be all over with.

Tampons are safe, they are just a bit fiddly but once she's used to them, she might prefer them (but obviously don't put any pressure on her, her choice).

I'm sure she'll manage to do all the things she was looking forward to on her holiday .

lika_86

Fosterdog wrote: »

I don't think she should consider tampons at this early stage, they are not the easiest to use and she needs to get used to her periods for at least a few months first.

I disagree, I felt horrendously self-conscious wearing pads, they're thick, uncomfortable and messy, they left me feeling unclean. Moving to tampons was a revelation.

Obviously it's down to the individual to find out what works for them though.

OP, check whether your daughter is experiencing any cramps or pain, a hot water bottle or painkillers may help.

I assume she understands what is happening (the science and realities), please make sure she does. You can print stuff from the internet if that would help her understand for example how long it's likely to last, what she can do etc.

peachyprice

Li-lets do teen tampons which are smaller than Tampax, however, if it's her first period and she's only used two towels today there's a good chance that she will be too dry to use a tampon and trying to insert one when there isn't much flow could make her quite sore.

As for a mooncup, yes wonderful invention, but for a 13yo with her first period? I think she needs to be far more familiar with her body before she tries one.

balletshoes

iwilllearntosave wrote: »

So no tampax or buy them and have my sister help just in case?

I feel a bit of a failure, I went from being a Hero at her football match this morning (ref didn't turn up) to being a bumbling mess. she is so brave and mature and I feel I am letting her down as cannot answer her questions.

she is asking how long it will last, will it get worse, will it happen again and when. we googled together and it says its so different for every one. Main site suggested 5-7 days that is when she got upset and the holiday was mentioned.

yes, but a first period isn't like the others she'll have - and it could take a few months once she's had her first period for her body to settle into any kind of cycle/flow.

You sound like a pretty cool Dad by the way .

Pechow

iwilllearntosave wrote: »

So no tampax or buy them and have my sister help just in case?

I feel a bit of a failure, I went from being a Hero at her football match this morning (ref didn't turn up) to being a bumbling mess. she is so brave and mature and I feel I am letting her down as cannot answer her questions.

she is asking how long it will last, will it get worse, will it happen again and when. we googled together and it says its so different for every one. Main site suggested 5-7 days that is when she got upset and the holiday was mentioned.

You could buy a small pack of tampons for her to try out if you wanted, or just ask her what she feels like trying.

It's really great that she feels comfortable talking to you about all this, most teenage girls would rather die of embarrassment-and if not them, then the dads would

iwilllearntosave

We are away for 7 days and fly at 3pm so have time in the morning and sis will defo help and her mother will have spoken to her by then too.

I just want to be able to give her options and have some kind of knowledge if she asks.

I will look at those caps as never heard of them

Yes I know its immature of me, but the words still make me feel like a 12 year old in sex ed classes however I need to use them and you are correct it won't help and I know I'm squeeming a bit over something so natural, I'm just a bit like a fish out of water right now.

lika_86

As for will it happen again and when, please reassure her that it may not be regular for a while so make sure she now carries something in her school bag etc in case it turns up unexpectedly, mine only really became regular when I went on the pill at 17 (for the purpose of providing me with some predictability).

cakeforbrains

iwilllearntosave wrote: »

We are away for 7 days and fly at 3pm so have time in the morning and sis will defo help and her mother will have spoken to her by then too.

I just want to be able to give her options and have some kind of knowledge if she asks.

I will look at those caps as never heard of them

Yes I know its immature of me, but the words still make me feel like a 12 year old in sex ed classes however I need to use them and you are correct it won't help and I know I'm squeeming a bit over something so natural, I'm just a bit like a fish out of water right now.

Sounds like you're doing a good job.