Getting the FIRST PERIOD is a milestone for every girl! And every girl needs to be aware of this milestone before she reaches there. So what can you do to prepare your daughter for her first period?

1. Ask her if she is aware about periods
   At 6 or 7 years of age, most kids understand basic fundamentals. When a child starts asking questions about how a child is born, or when they ask about changes in our body, it is the right time to talk to them.
   Do not shout at them for asking. You can simply answer their question without any hesitation and without making it sound bad. If the child does not ask you anything, it could be possible that your child is receiving information from school or friends or books/media sources. So as to ensure that the child does not develop wrong notions, you should ask if she is aware and have small talks about periods (just do not share everything at once).
2. Make her understand what exactly period is and burst all myths
   You can always tell her that as a girl develops into a woman, her body undergoes certain changes so that she can give birth to a child. A hormone called estrogen rises in the body, making the lining of the uterus thicken. This lining nourishes a fertilized egg (embryo) if pregnancy occurs. If the pregnancy does not occur the lining of the uterus sheds through the vagina as the level of hormones goes down. This is a period.
3. Common symptoms
   Every girl has different period experiences. So, remind her not to worry when her friends share different experiences. It is very common for teens to have irregular periods.
   Share facts such as it takes three to six years post your first period to form a regular period cycle. Cycles often range from 21 to 45 days, longer cycles are common for the first few years of menstruation.
   Most girls get their first period when they’re between 10 to 15 years old. Although there is no right age for a girl to get her period. There are symptoms that it will start soon. Since the development of breasts starts, within the next two years, girls get their first period. Another sign is vaginal discharge (mucus-like) that a girl might see on her underwear. This usually begins about 6 months or a year before a girl gets her periods. Talk about menstrual cramps, mood swings, and also give her tips on how to overcome these issues.
4. Share points of concern
   Share everything with a girl, so that she can keep a check if something is not going right with her periods and you can act upon it.
   Here are some things to consider:
   I) She is 15 yet does not have her periods
   II) Breast development started 3 years ago yet she does not have a period.
   III) Has heavy bleeding (has to change sanitary pad or tampon every 2 hours) or has excessive cramps and does not get relief despite having prescribed medicine.
   IV) Goes 3 months without a period after beginning menstruation
   V) Periods occur more frequently than every 21 days or have periods that last more than 7 days.
   VI) There is bleeding between periods.
   VII) Suddenly gets a fever and feels sick after using a tampon.
5. Introduce her to menstrual products
   She also needs to understand how to use menstrual products. Make her comfortable about the whole period thing, by showing her directly how sanitary napkins work. So that she gets comfortable sharing with you any discomfort she undergoes. Give her an idea about all the products available such as synthetic pads, pads made with natural substances, tampons, menstrual cups, etc. Once she gets comfortable, she can pick her preference as per her own comfort. Make sure to teach her how to track periods and ensure that she always carries an extra pad with her in case of emergencies.

Communication is the best way to end this taboo of menstruation being bad. Educate boys too. A girl should never feel uncomfortable by a boy asking about periods. In this way you can teach them gender equality and remove the taboo from periods.
If you wish to get more tips on how to educate girls about their periods, or if you wish to try out Staygreen Biodegradable Pads, contact the Staygreen Team.

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