Before I got my period, I often wondered what it would be like. I wasn’t sure if I was excited about it, or scared and nervous. A friend of mine that was a little older had mentioned it but didn’t really say too much.

Getting your first period

Getting your periods…

Most girls will get their first period somewhere between 9 and 16. About six months before your first period you’ll start getting a white-ish discharge, which you’ll keep getting between your periods.

I got mine when I was 13…I wasn’t quite sure what to do, what to use, or who I could chat to about it. In fact, I even wondered if it was really my period because it didn’t actually look like blood. Now I know that sometimes your period doesn’t look or feel the way you might expect — it might look like blood straight away, or it might start with a pink, red, or brown discharge.

If you’re wondering whether you’re really having your period too, talk to your mum, the nurse at school, or another female adult you trust. Don’t feel awkward, they’ve all been there too and understand EXACTLY how you’re feeling.

Getting sorted…

My period wasn’t very regular to start with — I was surprised my second period didn’t come for six months! A menstrual cycle can range between 21 and 45 days, but the average is around 28 days.

In the beginning, it can be so hard to predict when you might get your next period, and it can come anywhere at any time. So, it’s a good idea to be prepared. To start with, I bought a few different types of pads so I could see what I liked best, and I always kept a couple of liners, pads, and tampons in a small purse in my school bag, just in case. The more I got my period, the more I noticed signs…you might get cramps, headaches, tender breasts, or have mood swings to warn you your period is coming. I wrote a little note each day of my period on my calendar to keep track of things. This helped me know what to expect and when. These days you can keep track of your period using an app on your phone…even easier.

Period tip — put together your own period kit…

Basically, a period kit is a small bag that holds the stuff you might need for a period. Pop into your kit a couple of liners, pads, and tampons and don’t forget a spare pair of undies in case of leaks…it’s going to happen, you know it’s going to happen, it has happened to everyone at some point, so keep a couple of pairs of good undies ready (not bad ones you’ll dread having to use). If you have room, you may want to pack an extra outfit in your kit…an especially good idea for surprises at school. Keep your period kit somewhere close, like in your backpack, purse, or locker. And, if you’re going to stay the night at a friend’s house, take your kit with you.

After all the nerves about getting my period, I got that being prepared made it much less nerve-wracking. And, despite being a little scary, the changes are really quite exciting, and a sign that your body is healthy and growing and moving into a new part of your life!

xxx
Team Wonder

Photo by Katarzyna Grabowska on Unsplash

 

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