Getting your period is a big deal, and telling your mom can feel scary. Whether you’ve already started having your period or are still waiting, thinking about how you’ll talk to your mom can make you feel more stressed out than a math test.
Take a deep breath. You’ve got this. We’ll give you all the info you need to know about how to talk to your mom about your period. We’ll also go over some important facts you should know about getting your first period like:
- When will it happen?
- What it will feel like.
- What you’ll need to make sure you’re comfortable.
By the time you’re done reading, you’ll feel confident about your period, and about that convo with Mom.
When Will You Get Your First Period?
You already know practically everything about puberty. From breakouts to boobs, this transition into womanhood has been surprising. Getting your first period usually happens about two years after you start puberty, or about two years after you begin to develop breasts.
Most of the time, young women have their first periods around age twelve, but some girls will have their first period as early as age eight. Some of your friends may not get their periods until later, closer to fifteen.
If you’re between the ages of eleven and fifteen and you’re experiencing symptoms, you are probably getting close to having your first period.
Signs and Symptoms of Your First Period
It’s hard to know what to expect when so many changes are happening to your body all at once. Part of getting your first period is knowing the signs that it’s coming.
Here are some of the symptoms you might have before your first period.
- Breast soreness and tenderness. It might feel like you’ve been punched in the chest or like you forgot your sports bra during gym class.
- Cramps. The closer you get to having your period, you’ll likely feel cramps. Cramps feel a little like a stomach ache, but lower on your body. You’ll feel cramps on the lower part of your torso, below your belly button. You can feel cramps on one or both sides.
- Feeling tired. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel tired during the day, or don’t feel like going to practice. For a few days before your period, you might feel sleepy, or like you need to take a nap.
- Breakouts. A lot of women get pimples before their periods. It happens because of hormones that change in your body that help prepare you to have a period.
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Increased vaginal discharge. It’s normal to have more vaginal discharge as your period gets closer. You’ll notice a thicker, white-colored, odorless discharge that can happen when you least expect it.
If you’re having discharge, make sure you’re using pantyliners. Pantyliners are ultra thin, so you won’t even know you’re wearing them. They fit securely inside your underwear to protect them and keep you comfortable.
- Feeling extra emotional. Before your period, you could feel like crying, feel really happy, or even feel stressed out. Chances are, you’ll feel a little bit of everything; kind of like a roller coaster.
When you start noticing more and more symptoms, it’s a good idea to start planning for your period. If you’ve already gotten your period, you can expect to have some of these same symptoms every month. Don’t worry, it’s your body’s way of telling you it’s working right!
And now, it’s time to tell your Mom.
How To Tell Your Mom About Your First Period
We get it; it’s a little awkward. But remember, your mom went through the same thing when she first got her period. In fact, she probably had to figure out how to tell your grandmother, too.
If you haven’t gotten your period yet, it’s a great idea to go ahead and start talking to your mom about what’s on your mind. If you haven’t talked to your mom about puberty or the changes you’re having in your body, you can start by filling her in on what’s changing.
Telling your mom what’s going on before you start your period can help you both prepare. She can also make sure you have everything you need to have a great experience the first time.
If you’ve already started and are afraid to talk to her, here are some ideas to start the conversation.
Schedule a Mom and Daughter Date
Sometimes it can seem like our moms are incredibly busy, especially if they work and have other people that depend on them. Asking your mom if you can go to lunch together or go grab a smoothie is a great way to make sure you get her undivided attention.
Once you’re one on one, tell her you need to talk to her about some changes with your body. She’ll probably know exactly what you’re talking about and make the conversation really easy for you.
Write It Down
How many times have you texted your mom from the next room? Texting is how we talk to people, so it’s totally fine to tell your mom about your period over text message. If you’re nervous about saying it out loud, texting is a great way to say what you want to say without being interrupted or getting embarrassed.
If texting isn’t an option, try writing your mom a note. Writing down what you want to say can help take away any awkwardness you might feel talking face to face.
Just Tell Her
It’s easy to build something up in your head. We think of what could happen if we say the wrong thing, or how weird or embarrassed we might feel. Normally, the conversation goes much easier than we expect and we’re glad we had it.
When you start your period, you can be direct with your mom. Tell her you’ve gotten your period and you need to talk to her about it. Remember, she’s done this before, so you’re talking to a true period professional.
Getting Prepared for Your First Period
Once Mom is in the loop you probably won’t have to worry about period care products. If you still want to get some period care products by yourself (or give your mom some suggestions), we’ve got the ultimate first period checklist to make sure you’re covered.
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Pads. When you get your first period, you’ll probably want to use pads instead of tampons. Tampons can feel tricky to insert, and most women find pads a better fit until they’ve had a few more monthly cycles.
Pads come in different sizes that are determined by how much fluid they can hold. You should have at least two different sizes for your first period.
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Period underwear. Period what? If you haven’t heard of period underwear, we’ll fill you in. Period underwear are underwear that look and feel like your normal underwear, but have a special absorbent middle to protect you against leaks.
You can wear period underwear overnight and during the day. Period underwear give you more protection, so you feel confident against leaks and accidents.
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Heating patches. When you get cramps, they can be uncomfortable. Rael heating patches are natural patches that fit inside your underwear and provide soothing relief so you can have a great, pain-free day.
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Pimple patches. Pimples happen, but they don’t have to ruin your day. Pimple patches are small, invisible stickers you place over your pimples to help them shrink and disappear. When you see a pimple, resist the urge to squeeze it (it will only make it worse) and grab a pimple patch instead.
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Sheet masks. Having your period is a great time to start making sure you’re practicing self care. Self care means taking the best possible care of yourself so you are relaxed, stress-free, and healthy.
Sheet masks are a great way to practice self care, and if you use one every time you get your period, you’ll probably look forward to it. Sheet masks are placed over your skin for about 10-20 minutes and removed to reveal healthier, hydrated skin.
You can find everything you need to prepare for your first period at Rael. You can also find helpful info about having your period on our blog.
The Takeaway
Getting your first period happens to every woman. Even though it feels a little awkward, it’s completely normal to talk about it, especially with your mom. Every woman needs strong women in their lives who can help them understand and get ready for their first period, and your mom probably really wants to be that person.
You’re going to have your period for a long time. With the right period care products, your periods can be awesome. At Rael, we believe no woman ever has to have a “bad” period.
Sources:
When Will I Get My Period? (for Kids) | Nemours KidsHealth