- Periods
- First period
First period
Your First Period
One of the biggest steps you will take in your amazin journey from girl to woman is the first time you get your period. There is a lot of hype about this, lots of discussion at school about who has and who has not got their period, but in the end it is a rite of passage. The occasion is given its own scientific name called Menarche. Every girl might feel a different way about this change in their bodies; you might feel reassured that you are finally becoming a young woman, or you might feel a lil scared about the whole thing. Emotional reactions are perfectly natural, but having all the info about your first period should give you the confidence to take charge of the situation!
What is a period?
For those who don’t know; a period is a small amount of bleeding that takes place from your vagina. The bleeding will last for a few days and happens about every month.
Why do girls get periods?
We get many questions from gals all over Australia and a common one is ‘why do girls even have periods?’. The answer is actually pretty easy (easier than that last maths test at least). As women, one of the things that your bodies have been designed to do is have babies. The whole baby making process has been around for donkeys years and you are one of the billions of women around the world (and through history) who have got (or are about to start) their very own menstrual cycle. So what? Well getting your period means that your body has prepared itself to be able to hold a fertilised egg and make a baby. Women’s bodies are amazing, and the idea that they can grow a baby from nearly nothing is something that makes them special, so be proud!
Every month your body gets itself ready for the possibility that you might get pregnant. One of the biggest things that happens is your womb becomes all nice and cosy with its walls getting an extra fluffy coating so that the baby can live there. When you don’t actually get pregnant (which is most of the time), your body doesn’t need that comfy layer in your womb and it sheds it by gently sliding it out of your body in the form of your period. The lining is mostly blood and other tissues from your womb walls. If your body didn’t get rid of that extra layer in your womb you could get sick, so periods are actually good. It might sound a lil gross, but once you understand the whole process you can easily see that our periods are actually a clearing and certainly nothing to be embarrassed about.
How can you tell your first period is about is arrive?
You can get your period when you are as young as 9 or as old as 16 (occasionally up to 18) and most girls get their first period around the ages of 12 or 13. If your period is yet to arrive chances are you are on the lookout for some indication about its progress, so here are a few signs that your first period might be just around the corner:
- Hair growth under your arms and around your pubic area
- White vaginal discharge (it’s like white milky water coming out of your vagina). This is perfectly normal and nothing to stress about
- You might feel bloated and get some cramps in your tummy area or lower back
- Your mood may change without reason, so like being soooo happy the one minute and then very sad the next
- Being sensitive to emotions, pain and hot or cold temperatures
These are all the normal tell-tale signs that your period is on its way. If you notice any of these things happening or are just plain worried, you might think about having a sit down with your mum to chat about her first period. Most mums will be so happy you want to talk about period stuff with them they won’t even notice if you are a bit embarrassed!
What to expect from your first period?
When you first get your period it can be quite a surprise – especially if it is early, and you’re not expecting it (and let’s face it, none of us sit around ‘waiting’ for our period – we have lives!). Usually you will notice the arrival signs of your first period when you go to the loo. There may be some dark colouring in your undies, this is the menstrual blood of your first period – so congrats!
Menstrual blood is the lining of the womb that has done its job and is now clearing out of the body. The blood could look anywhere from bright red to dark brown so don’t be fussed if it’s not the colour you are expecting. The amount of menstrual blood you have is different for each woman but most have heavier bleeding at the start, and then it lightens up until it’s all done. Sanitary products like tampons, pads and liners come in a range of absorbencies. This is so you can use the ‘super’ absorbency products for heavy days, ‘regular’ for medium flow and ‘mini’ for light days. Often, regular or super products are best during your period when the flow is heavier, and ‘mini’ or lighter for the very beginning or end of your period.
Getting prepared for your first period
If you don’t want to be caught unawares by your first period it’s best to have a few things on hand – just in case! You don’t have to tell anyone if you don’t feel it’s right, but chatting with mum might be a cool first move; explain to her you think you might be getting your period soon, and that you want to be ready when it comes. She might have tampons and pads around the house, or she may add it to the grocery list for you.
If you’re the kind of chick who likes to take things into her own hands then bypass the mum discussion and head down to your local pharmacy or supermarket. Big stores like Woolies, Franklins or Coles will have a wide range of sanitary products you can buy, but you can also get them from convenience stores, petrol stations and chemists. When you’re at the supermarket it’s a good idea to grab a few different options. We recommend the U by Kotex® Ultrathin Pads (an easy option) or try tampons – starting with the smaller ones is usually easier as they tend to be less difficult to insert.
Before getting your first period it’s a good idea to practice with your new products. Use a mini tampon and see if you can insert it into the right spot, try wearing it around the house for a few hours (you know – like breaking in a new pair of shoes!). Normally when we use tampons during our period the blood makes it super easy for the tampon to slip in, however if you’re trying it out before your period then you might find it gets a bit stuck. You may want to use some Vaseline to help it ease in and remember if it is hurting or not feeling right then stop, there are plenty of pads that will do just as good a job! Sometimes the pads can feel a bit bulky and unusual in your undies, you might wanna try one out as a trial run (like getting your hair done a few weeks before your formal to make sure you are happy with it!) that way you can get used to the feeling of the pads before your first period.
Your period might also bring with it cramps and headaches, sometimes it’s best to take it easy on yourself at that time of the month. Getting to bed a bit earlier than usual and eating well is recommended. If you have to get out and about and your cramps are really bothering you grab an over the counter painkiller that is designed to treat period pain. Keeping a stash of tampons and pads at school, plus an extra pair of undies is a great idea – just in case your period comes while you’re not at home. If you find you get your period at school and don’t have anything with you, go straight to your fav teacher or the school nurse, they should be able to help you out.
Getting your first period doesn’t need to be a big drama – so get organised, not worried! Remember that you’re not the first or the last woman to go through rite of passage, even though it may feel like a big change!
