Is anything more stressful than worrying about the possibility of a leak?  How can anyone focus on learning in class, performing on the field, or talking to your friends when a leak could happen at any time?

Whether you are getting ready for your first period, have had your period a few times, or have been menstruating for years the following tips will help you wave goodbye to leaks.

1)   Know Your Flow.  Be extra prepared on your heaviest days then relax once they have passed. (Not sure how to measure your flow – check out our Know Your Flow Infographic to decipher your level of flow.)

2)   In Your Hands.  Put your supplies in your purse, backpack or whatever you will carry in your hands into the bathroom.  Think about what you will probably need then add one or two more.

3)   Be on Time.  Plan to visit the restroom to change (or at least check) regularly.  Always set the time between breaks to be a little less than you think you need based on that day’s flow (and never skip a planned visit).

4)   Get Dark.  Of course you can’t see very well when it gets dark outside.  Dark colors do an amazing job of hiding any evidence of leaks.

5)   More is Merrier.  Layers are a fashion statement and so much more.  No one else will ever see if you leak on anything other than your outermost layer of clothing.

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When it comes to feminine hygiene supplies, there are almost as many questions as there are products!  Since your daughter will use approximately 10,000 pads, tampons and/or panty liners in her lifetime, it is worth investing some time to learn more about her options.

The Starting Line

Some girls start menstruating at age 9 while others don’t have their first period until age 15.  Whether your daughter starts before most of her friends, along with them, or is one of the last to get her period, the odds are good that she will start with disposable pads (or a mix of disposable pads and panty liners).  Pads are practical, easy to use, and highly effective.

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Swimsuit Season Swimsuit season has officially arrived!  If your summer is anything like mine, you will be in the water a lot this summer. And, more than once you may find the fun in the water is planned on a day when you are menstruating. Stressful Situations When it comes to swimming or even just being in a swimsuit during your period, many girls and women worry.  We worry about so many different things, including:

– How can I make sure no one knows I am menstruating?

– What swimsuit should I wear so I don’t feel so awkward?

– What if I have a wardrobe malfunction and people see my tampon string?

– Where is the closest bathroom and how can I escape there without being noticed?

– Who do I really want to share this part of my life with?

If you are a tween or a teen this is especially challenging.  Everyone has expectations of what you should be doing.  People know you love the water, but you may not want everyone to know when you are on your period (much less what feminine hygiene products you use or what products you are not comfy even trying). READ MORE… »

Are you screaming inside, “PLEASE…SOMEONE…help me with my teenager!” Do you ever get the feeling that your daughter hates you?  Or that once a month, you have no idea how to deal with her.  One minute the two of you are laughing and the next – your kindhearted jab about her clothes sends her reeling to her room in tears.

Help-me-with-my-teenager-PMSIf your daughter’s mood swings can sometimes give you whiplash, you might be experiencing what is called PMS: pre-menstrual syndrome.  And if you think its bad for you – you only know the half of how bad it is for your daughter.

Truth is, that PMS is real.

Due to hormonal surges before a female gets her period, she can suffer from a calamity of symptoms.  Often times, PMS comes in the form of physical symptoms such as headaches, fatigue, bloatedness, sore breasts, muscle aches, and food cravings.  And even more often, PMS serves up some pretty severe emotional reactions which can range from sadness and anxiety to anger, frustration, and difficulty focusing.

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The similarities between puberty and menopause are vast. Think about it. Teens who are reaching puberty deal with acne, fluctuating hormones, body shape changes, irregular menses, growing pains and fatigue. Similarly, women going through peri-menopause or menopause are sometimes afflicted with mood swings, joint aches, the inability to concentrate, skin eruptions and mind-numbing exhaustion.

hormonal-household-puberty and menopauseAs women wait longer to have children, their menopause is more often coinciding with the onset of puberty in their children. The question, then becomes who just slammed the door and began sobbing? was it mother or daughter?

Coinciding hormonal transitions can result in tiresome bickering and cause extra strain on the entire family. While it’s difficult to achieve complete serenity in a house where hormones are colliding, there are measures that can be taken by both mother and daughter to ease tension. The following are a good place to start:

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PeriodTalk

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SEATTLE— www.bepreparedperiod.com has launched what may be the only online community for women of all ages, developing girls and their parents, a safe place for questions and answers about menstruation, feminine hygiene, the female body and more.

 

PeriodTalk is free and open to anyone to ask and answer questions anonymously. www.bepreparedperiod.com founder Tara Bruley, a Seattle-area mom, said PeriodTalk is an accepting place for questions that women, parents, girls, “tweens” and teens may be uncomfortable asking about menstruation and physical development elsewhere. Other members of the community can offer their own insight, and PeriodTalk experts may also chime in with guidance and knowledge. READ MORE… »

A guest post by Jenn Leggett

Jenn Leggett - Earthy Crunchy MamaSo with fall comes back to school.  And something lots of young woman will be learning to deal with are periods, and not the punctuation type.  I mean that monthly friend that all women get once a month.  I remember back to being in middle and high school and wishing that it was a good enough excuse for a sick week.  My whole period was a nightmare for me as a young woman.  I never knew exactly when it was coming so when it got close I was constantly worried about getting it, being stuck in class, not being able to be excused and bleeding through my pants.  I used to wear a sweatshirt around my waist to hide the unfortunate spot on my jeans.  I also remember the dread of trying to hide tampons and pads in my hoody as we had a school policy of not carrying bags with us to class, I was horrified that someone would see them and make some snarky teenage boy comment in front of everyone.  I also remember the time spend in the morning finding the right jeans, that I didn’t think would show the bulky disposable pads I was wearing.  It was quite a process, and left me a ball of nerves for the whole week.

What I wish I knew. READ MORE… »