What just happened?
Who does not remember that fateful day or night?
That one – time unexpected event which embarks every girl on an arduous long journey of being a woman. It starts the science and nature inside our human body which quintessentially differentiates a woman from a man.
Known as Menarche and a major sign of puberty in girls, the embarrassing and pitiable moment of arriving at 1st Period becomes a funny memory after some years and it is often laughed over amongst girls and women.
Every girl will have her own unique first period story to tell. The first bleeding of periods is as new as thinking – What just happened to me? or Is it really ‘The Periods’?
Here is my story.
I remember I was 15, in my 10th standard of the school. On my fateful night, I was at my home. I was wearing my much-liked denim skirt with an orange coloured t-shirt top and was reading my textbook in my room.
Suddenly I started to feel a strange feeling in my stomach, it was a different kind of pain, not the usual stomach pain. I ignored it first. Then I felt some strange slight wetness in my private area which prompted me to go to the washroom. There was blood. And I had my epiphany moment. It was my first Period.
I already knew a little bit about Periods, a.k.a. menstruation or chums. I was the last in my group of girls in the school to get started with Periods. So after discovering the blood in my panty, I went out of the washroom and told my mother silently and confidently, “mummy, my period has come”.
Do you remember getting your First Sanitary Pad?
My mother immediately left her culinary work and rushed to the washroom with me. She took out a sanitary pad from her own packet of sanitary pads and stuck it on a clean panty for me, demonstrating it simultaneously about how to use it. Very comfortingly she asked me if I was comfortable. I gestured in a yes.
My blood-stained panty was discarded and due to my crazy studying posture that day of lying on the bed with my legs touching up against the wall, my much-liked skirt got saved.
I was given hot milk by my mother to drink before sleeping.
Next day, I excitedly told one of my friends about the arrival of my Periods and I remember how she started teasing me in front of guys at the school that I had also grown up. Off course, the guys couldn’t understand what my friend was implying at. But she definitely made me run away from the situation.
Gradually, after 6-7 menstruation cycles, I got the count of my bloodshed days and my cycle days which was not same as every other girl in my class.
And from that day till today, I have witnessed many periods of my own and have seen girls and women go through it like a compulsory inescapable monthly exam.
No woman likes Periods. No one. But what choice do we have? I have embraced it by now with full conviction. 😊
I also found this very helpful article.
An easy-to-understand overview of menstruation in a young girl’s development.
The article explains the basics of menstruation and also guides parents on helping their young daughters with Periods.
I want you also to share your 1st Period story here in the comments. Let there be no hush up about Periods.
I have heard many first period stories from other women like having a red spot on the white school skirt which had to be covered with a sweater or worrying that period blood is death blood.
Probably remembering your experience will bring a smile to you as it did to me while sharing it here. And who knows my experience or your experience might help a young girl feel relaxed and comfortable about herself and her body.
You can also post as anonymous in the comments by leaving the space for name blank.
But, let there be no hush up about it.
You may also check more posts with Insight on Periods on the link mentioned below-
You may also check Instagram account of No Hush Up for interesting content on Period Enlightenment & Women Empowerment. Link Below –
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