[Madlock]

Please don't quote sections of my post as I plan on deleting it once i have some answers.

I received a phone call from my DD's school today saying she was in sick bay and I needed to get her. When I picked her up the office lady had to pry her out of the toilet, where she had been almost the whole time since she got to sick bay. We both assumed she had caught a bug or something similar, hense all the time on the toilet. When she came out she was very pale and was complaining about bad stomach pain. I bought her home, gave her a panadol and a hot water bottle and put her into bed. A few minutes later I received another call from the office lady at the school. She said she went to the toilet after we had left and noticed blood. She wanted to check in and maybe suggest that DD has her period. She explained she knows she is very young but thought she would mention it anyway.

Then it clicked!!

I got DD up to have a shower and it definitely seems as though she has her period

For the past year DD has had EXTREMELY bad body odour. She puts anti-persperant on everyday and still has big sweat patches under her arms. She has also started getting pubic hair in the last month and has been very testy...uncharacteristically testy. I know these are all signs of puberty but I never actually though she would get her period!! She's 8!!

She is now back in bed with the hot water bottle and she is sleeping.

How do I go about telling her about this? How do I explain it all? My doctor is not back until Monday, should I see another or just wait until Monday? Should I send her to school tomorrow so she realises that having a period is 'normal' or should I give her a few days to let it all sink in? Another mother I spoke to seems to think if I give her time off now then she will think it's a big deal and want the time off every month, I see where she is coming from but I think even though it's natural, it is a big deal...she is 8! Maybe that's just the mother coming out in me though?

Do you think the doctor will recommend some way of stopping her period for a few years? Gah! I'm so confused, I thought I was still many years away from having to deal with this

ETA - I thought I would mention that I asked DD why she didn't tell me she was bleeding. She has eczema and most of it is on her bottom, so it's an everyday occurrence for her to have blood on her undies. She had just assumed it was a lot of blood that had dripped down because of all the sores.

This post has been edited by Madlock: 29/11/2012, 10:45 AM

[Ianthe]

At 8 I would keep her home from school. Did she even know what a period is? Poor kid. 8 is really young-I have an 8yo daughter and I just cannot imagine her dealing with that yet

I do know that there are concerns about kids that are developing early but I am not sure at what point they intervene.

[mrsvee]

I am so sorry, how distressing for her and you when you were clearly not expecting it this early. My niece got her period when she was ten and I remember a frantic phone call from her about it. I would see how she is feeling and see how heavy it is and maybe give her another day at home, it is a lot to process in one so young. The fact she hasn't told you about the blood is also worrying, maybe she think she is unwell or has something wrong with her and is worried about dying, I have heard stories about this before when young girls didn't know what was happening to them. You really must explain to her fully what is happening to her so that she knows it is completely normal. I would also let the school know so they can keep an eye on her and give her someone to talk to at school if she gets it agagin there unprepared. There are some good books around I am sure.

I hope you and she are alright and that she settles with it soon

[Becky Thatcher]

I really have no idea. If she is more at the 9 end of 8 then I would say it was normal but at the 7 end of 8, early.

Very interested to hear what people who know this area have to say.

[Monroe]

I was 9 when my period started. My Mum had told me about it so it wasn't such a shock (her mother, sister & herself all god it between the ages of 8-10)
I went home 'sick' the first day & was freaking out. I eventually told mum after dinner that night, I don't know why and I still don't understand but she was so happy. She allowed me to stay home from school the following day just so I would understand how to deal with it all (ie, pads, cramps)

[~ Lucy's Mum ~]

I also had my first period at 8 years old but it was a one off and returned when I was 12 for good.

I remember getting it at school and was scared as I didn't know what it was. That night my mum talked me through everything and said that she thought it was early but was nothing to worry about. I can't recall ever going to the doctors about it but I remember being very sad and thinking I was different from all my friends. I'm glad that mum had a good conversation with me at the time, it did make me feel better.

Good luck.

[YodaTheWrinkledO...]

Have a chat with her later today and let her know what's going on. Tell her that is a normal part of life and once she gets the hang of dealing with it, life goes on. And then see how she is in the morning. It is a big deal for an 8 year old and a lot to get their head around.

Some girls will get intense cramps though. I know my sister was wiped out for one day each month. She didn't bung it on, she hated it, but she just had seriously bad cramps for the first day of her periods. In the end, it was easier for her to simply stay home (school would usually send her home anyway if she attended, she looked awful). It got better when she went on the pill, but that didn't happen until she was about 15/16.

[Madlock]

Did she even know what a period is?

No definitely not. They haven't even touched on it at school yet. She doesn't even know about sex yet, so I assume I would have to explain sex to be able to explain menstration?

[Guest_3Keiki_*]

OP I got my period at nine, and just nine and this was 30 years ago so yeah considered very early, I think you just need to give her all the info she needs and let it sink in, keep her home from school just to give her a breather, so young if any of the other kids get wind of it she might feel uncomfortable so let her just process it for a few days, I think there is no harm in discussing with your dr, it is 99.9% just early puberty but he/she may have some good resources to help you both.
Good luck to you

[mpjp]

Oh the poor possum. Yes periods ARE normal, but 8 years of age (I have an almost 8 year old) is so young.

My DD1 started puberty quite early, we went to the doc and it was explained to me that puberty can start as early as 8, and this is considered 'normal', so I dont think you'll find a doc that will explore delaying periods (if this can even be done once they've started). At 8 I'd probably do a visit to a ddoc though just to make sure there aren't benign (but hormone influencing) issues with the pituitary etc.

I get what the other mother is saying, but if it was my 8 year old, and she was feeling rotten, and in pain I'd definitely keep her home. My 8 year old barely understands what a period is, and so she would be really freaked. The 10 year old though....no, I'd probably try to manage her pain with appropriate meds and see how it all went. I think I'd take her age and emotional maturity into account.