First menses advice?

[gingerstar]

Due to hormonal issues (for which she sees a ped. endocrinologist) my 10 yo DD is in puberty (as in, actual breasts and full pubic hair). I do not need advice or comments on this, but what I am wondering and hope you wise and experienced mamas can help with is....
What will her first menstrual flow look like? (I cannot remember mine.)
Because she and I have talked about it, so that she is prepared, and a couple nights ago she came to me and said she had blood on her toilet tissue. She wore panty liners, but had no blood on them. She said she did have some on the tissue the next day as well.
Could this be her onset, or will it be more period-like, with an actual flow?

Thanks for sharing any advice/experience!

[Carma]

My first time it was just some spotting. If I remember right the 2nd time was about 2 months later and that was more blood.

Carma

[tessie]

My first was proper flow. And it started at night and I slept through it - nice.

[bvnms]

Stephanie's was not real heavy but not light either. She had to wear a light pad but it only lasted 2 days. When I had my 1st one, it was very light and then I didn't have another for 3 months.

[SAHDS]

If memory serves, mine was a very light flow/heavy spotting and a reddish/brown color (similar to the blood at the end of a normal cycle). As time went on, my flow got heavier.

[Jessy1019]

Originally Posted by Carma

My first time it was just some spotting. If I remember right the 2nd time was about 2 months later and that was more blood.

Carma

This was mine, too. Except the second time was during a really stressful time in my life, and I bled heavily for more than five weeks. I'm sure that's not normal, but starting with spotting and then bleeding more the next time does seem normal.

[gingerstar]

Thanks, mamas. I knew I could count on you. See, with nothing on the pad, and I didn't see the tissue, I wasn't sure what to think, was she confused, was it nothing and she thought it was something... and I also did mean to ask about timing, whether her second would be right "on time" or not, so thanks for letting me know about that too.

ETA: yikes, Jessy, that had to have been hard for you, I'm sorry you had that happen. Thanks for your advice, too.

[Elijahs Momma]

Originally Posted by Carma

My first time it was just some spotting. If I remember right the 2nd time was about 2 months later and that was more blood.

Carma

Mine was just like this. I don't really know how others' cycles were to begin with when they started. My guess is that it depends on the person and her body. (darn those hormones!)

[MilkTrance]

My first time was very light.

Even now, when I start my period, it is very light for the first day.

[PoppyMama]

My dd got her period earlier this year and had been in puberty for almost a year before that and she's 10. I thought this was somewhat common now and not a disorder....anyway, she has had at least medium flow since the first cycle and needs pretty heavy pads.

[Tinker]

I remember my first, it started out as light flow and brown but quickly turned to a regular flow period and I was regular from then one. Ironically more regular than I have been since my mother forced my on the pill a few years later. I've had erratic cycles ever since.

[gingerstar]

Originally Posted by PoppyMama

My dd got her period earlier this year and had been in puberty for almost a year before that and she's 10. I thought this was somewhat common now and not a disorder....anyway, she has had at least medium flow since the first cycle and needs pretty heavy pads.

I think it is early normal, at this point - she has been seeing her ped. endo. for about 3 years, (she has more going on than just early puberty) and he did mention something about that. And I think there is a girl in her class who is just as developed, with no health concerns. (I didn't start until 13, so from my personal experience, it seems frighteningly young.) I didn't mean to sound harsh, I just didn't want to go through the whole "boy, isn't that early? should she see a dr? do you use hormone-free milk?" discussion....
But thanks for sharing your dd's experience - that was just the sort of info I needed!

Originally Posted by Tinker

I remember my first, it started out as light flow and brown but quickly turned to a regular flow period and I was regular from then one. Ironically more regular than I have been since my mother forced my on the pill a few years later. I've had erratic cycles ever since.

Thanks, Tinker. I'm sorry for your experience. I worry about the power I hold, as the mother, with the choices I make for my daughters. Sometimes we mean well and can't see until much later what the consequences are, you know?

[Tinker]

Originally Posted by gingerstar

Thanks, Tinker. I'm sorry for your experience. I worry about the power I hold, as the mother, with the choices I make for my daughters. Sometimes we mean well and can't see until much later what the consequences are, you know?

I worry about the same things. It's hard to know what to do and what choices we make that they may resent later. How appropriate that one of the ads at the bottom of my page is about a girls first period? I didn't check it out but I linked it so you can.

[dubfam]

My first one started like what you are describing. I was on a road trip to California with my DAD!! It was AWFUL!!! It was one of the only times that I was away from my Mom on a trip, and of course that is when it would start!

I was 11.5 and I remember that some of my friends had already gotten their periods.

Gosh that has got to be a little overwhelming for you, mama, having your 10 year old starting her period when she is still a kid. Good luck!!!!

[MPsSweetie]

I was 10 and it SCARED me to death! My mom had given me books and such about it, but not really talked to me. I was at school and it was brown, not red, and I thought I had pooped my pants or was sick. I think I waited an entire day before I called my mom in the bathroom crying and showed her. Then I got to stay home from school!!

[sunflwrmoonbeam]

My first time came over night when I was 12. I woke up in the morning and my underwear was covered in red-brown goo. At first I thought I had messed myself, which had never happened, but realized it might be something more. Showed my mom, she told me I got my period. I don't remember much else about it.

[dogmom327]

My first (and all of them until I was about 18) was really heavy--crazy heavy. I remember there being blood everywhere. Thinking back, I probably should have seen a doctor at some point but then again we didn't have insurance, etc. I was terrified by the experience. My mother wasn't good at communicating and I think she said "it's your period" and that was about it. I was a VERY naive 12 year old.

[PoppyMama]

Originally Posted by gingerstar

I think it is early normal, at this point - she has been seeing her ped. endo. for about 3 years, (she has more going on than just early puberty) and he did mention something about that. And I think there is a girl in her class who is just as developed, with no health concerns. (I didn't start until 13, so from my personal experience, it seems frighteningly young.) I didn't mean to sound harsh, I just didn't want to go through the whole "boy, isn't that early? should she see a dr? do you use hormone-free milk?" discussion....
But thanks for sharing your dd's experience - that was just the sort of info I needed!

Ha! I started worrying about the milk a couple of years ago but if it would have helped it was too late by then. I mentioned the heavier flow because it seemed like everyone else was mentioning all this light stuff and I had to purchase my dd some of the nighttime pads because she was leaking at school. I had her wear two until I got her some heavy long ones and part of the problem is that they don't get enough bathroom breaks and are to shy to ask for "personal leave" at that age.

[MamaRuga]

It sounds like it could be connected to menses for your daughter. Thought I would just add my personal experience... When I was about 10 I had blood when I wiped. My mom thought it was my period (then my grandmother proceeded to tell all of my neighborhood friends.. embarrassing!!!). It turned out to be a UTI, though. I didn't really have any other symptoms. So, thought I might just mention that as another possibility.

My period did show up a few years latter. Dark brown and thick at first, like some other posters mentioned. I don't remember that there was any spotting before hand.

[Thursday Girl]

if it's just a tiny bit of blood, it could be something like she just had a very large bowel movement, that can occasionally cause a small (very small) amotun of blood on TP