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Tips to tell someone who has just started their period?
My little sister has just started having her periods and I wanted to make a list of tips to give her to help her out. I don't live with her and she lives in a house full of guys (Dad & two older brothers) so it's pretty embarrassing and frustrating for her. The neighbor's have been trying to help her but they don't really take very good care of themselves so I'm afraid she's going to get lost with all of this.
What are some really good tips to tell somebody who has just started to have periods? What do you wish somebody would have told you? What have you learned throughout the years that you didn't know at first (but wish you had known or are glad you found out)?
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You should purchase her a copy of Lynda Madaras's book What's Happening To My Body: A Guide For Girls. There's also one for boys. I would get both.
They've been in print for decades and have all the information on everything she needs to know including menstruation and how to deal with it.
You should also look into [Link](Mouse over link to see full location) as it has scientific diagrams, articles, fact-sheets and other resources. It even has a message board staffed with professional sex-educators so you or others in her life can use what they have done to help talk to her better.
Finally, think in your head of all the things you never were taught that she needs to know and go from that. Definitely, a hard part is tampon correct usage, discharge etc. Also talk to her about feelings, masturbation etc that no male would ever discuss freely with her.
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Well, the most important to tell her, is to resist the urge to drink / eat cold things. Ex, Ice cream, Cold pop, things with ice, etc.
Trust me, if you eat too many of those, you'll get MAJOR cramps the next time you get your period. It's extremely hard in the Summer to not do that. :/
Tell her that it's okay. It's something normal. Every girl has their period. If she realizes she leaks, she should tie her shirt/jacket around her waist and go to the washroom. Any of her friends will always have a pad on them! Don't be embaressed. Even my friends ask me sometimes if they have anything on their butt.
Oh, and another tip. If she really doesn't feel well and doesn't want to do Gym class, then just tell the teacher. I just told my MALE gym teacher today. We caught on after, "I don't feel that well todaaayyyy..... ". Any adult will catch on, even though it seems extremely embaressing.
Also, just sitting around and moping on your couch watching TV definately won't help your cramps. Get up, and walk around for a little bit and rest. I know it's extremely hard, but it'll ease the pain a lot.
As for sleeping, wear a longer pad. For sure the night one. Its much more longer in the back, where the blood usually goes back there while you're sleeping. IF you have a heavy flow (usually around the night of the first day you get it, and/or the second day), then you should put a towel under incase you leak.
:)
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*Tell her it's completely normal and it's part of being a woman, and growing up.
*Tell her that she is going to be okay and everything is alright, and you will help her with anything she needs.
*Explain to her about pads and tampons and how to deal with her periods.
*Tell her the pain is normal, however, if she has really bad pain you may try getting her Midol if she is old enough, just to kind of relieve that pain for her.
*Tell her not to tell classmates or friends about this because they will only scare her and/or make fun of her -- so that will save her a lot of scares (kids can be so cruel).
If she has a computer, I recommend sending her to this website. I'm a lot older and I still find valuable information, haha.
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
More specifically, here is all about your first period, so I bet that this will help her.
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
Well friend, I hope that you can talk to her and make her feel better. I can understand it may be hard for her going through this with all men around her, so be sure to comfort her, visit her often and talk to her often to ensure her that everything is okay and what she is going through is completely normal. We all have to come into womenhood, and she is just growing up to be a mature young woman and we have all been through it so she is definitely not alone.
Best of luck, girl. :)
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I would start by telling her that having her period is completely normal, and it means she's growing up. I would tell her that for the first few years, her period may be irregular, like she may go a few months without a period, or it may come at different times on different months, but if her period lasts for a long time or she starts getting worried about it being irregular, it's always a good idea to check with a doctor. The biggest thing I wish someone would have told me is that when you go to bed, get overnight pads because the blood will run straight down and towards the back, so she'll need extra coverage.
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