Growing Up for Girls: Everything You Need to Know

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Overall, more information and research is needed on this topic so we can fully understand these patterns and the possible reasons behind them. My daughter is worried about gaining weight during puberty. Is weight gain part of normal puberty? Brittany Allen, MD, FAAP, is a board-certified general pediatrician and provides specialty care to transgender and gender nonconforming youth. She is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Section on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Health and Wellness and the Wisconsin Chapter.

WebMD Stages of Puberty Explained in Pictures - WebMD

It's much better for your daughter to be informed about her body early on in the process of puberty than to be surprised or even scared as these changes happen. It can also be helpful to have sanitary napkins available ahead of time and explain how to use them before her first period arrives. Don't share razors . Sharing a razor can spread bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus and cause skin infections. While some girls will have bright red blood with their first period, other girls may only have spotting with red-brown discharge―both are normal! While some people will have periods once a month, periods may be irregular in the first few years as the body adapts to rapid physiological changes. Also, normal cycles of periods can be as short as 21 days or as long as 35… so even people with regular cycles might not have a period every single month!Coarser hair will begin to grow in the genital area, under the arms, and on the legs. In some girls (about 15%), pubic hair may be the first sign of puberty―showing up before breast budding starts.

for Girls - FamilyEducation The Best Books About Puberty for Girls - FamilyEducation

Teenage girls generally do not need to perform breast self-examsbecause they are at extremely low risk of breast cancer. Also, their breasts are likely to change as they grow, and the development of tenderness and swelling can be normal during changes in the menstrual cycle. These normal changes can sometimes lead to anxiety for girls who are performing regular breast exams. Research also has not shown a benefit from breast self-exams in the diagnosis of breast cancer. Currently, we do not recommend routine breast self-exams for pediatric patients, and there are differing guidelines for the recommendations for adults. We bought this for our nine-year-old and she has devoured it and feels quite empowered by her knowledge I think. It covers periods, tampons/towels, physical changes, emotional changes, friendship, moodiness, tearfulness, and touches on the biology of sex without too much detail. We both felt it was just enough info and opened up good discussion. I would recommend.”Puberty often begins earlier than parents think―especially in girls.* You can help your daughter navigate this time by learning about these changes and starting conversations about them early.