Entering puberty: a guide for girls and moms

“Puberty for a girl is like floating down a broadening river into an open sea” said American psychologist Granville Stanley-Hall.

Puberty is the stage in a girl’s life when her body begins to change, and she moves from being a girl into becoming a young woman.

This beautiful transition can be confusing for some and difficult for others, but it is so important to help our young ladies celebrate this transition.

As a mom of a young pre-teen myself and given the patients I see in my practice, I am passionate about helping women to embrace their bodies as beautiful, strong and unique.

What a blessing it is that in our modern world we can openly discuss our bodies, our lady bits and all the changes we as women experience.

It is important to encourage girls to embrace the journey into womanhood with pride and not shame.

Here are some of the changes to expect and my advice on how to handle them.

· Skin can become oilier, and pimples begin to appear.

Let your daughter join you in your daily skin routine or have a fun pamper evening with masks and a girlie movie.

· Sweat glands become more active and hairs appear under the armpits causing perspiration odor.

Celebrate that she gets to choose her own deodorant and make it a fun shopping mom/daughter experience!

Try to use one that is gentle on the skin or opt for the natural mineral salt crystal deodorant available in most pharmacies or health shops.

· Pubic and armpit hair development can start as early as 8/9 years old and can be something that a young girl can feel self-conscious about.

Talk about the changes that a young lady can expect prior to them occurring and very importantly emphasize the fact that we all develop at differing rates.

· Breast development is one of the first signs that puberty has begun

Celebrate this by taking a fun shopping expedition for your daughters first bra.

It is so important to explain that we are all individuals and that breasts look different, as do our lady bits (vulva), and that there is no one look that is “perfect” or “normal”!

· Menstruation: Most girls start their periods 2 years after they start developing breasts, however this can vary (usually between the ages of 10-14years).

Talk to your daughter about menstruation well before she starts her periods.

As one can imagine the sight of blood when you are not aware of what it is can be incredibly traumatic!

Explain the option of hygiene products such as tampons and pads.

I always encourage teenagers to try tampons as this increases their own awareness of their bodies.

If your daughter is struggling with painful tampon use, please consult a women’s health physio or medical doctor as struggling with tampon use as a teen is often a predictor of painful sex later in life.

Should your daughter not have started menstruation by 15 years old, or 3 years after her breasts have developed please contact your doctor.

As your daughter nears this transition, anticipate the changes that are coming and start the conversation.

This does not need to be a rehearsed chat but let her know that it is okay to ask questions.

A possible way to initiate this chat is to speak about your own journey into womanhood, the wrestles and experiences you had as your own body began to change.

This is a great way to remind girls that we have all been through it and that they are not going through these changes alone.

Most importantly let us encourage our young ladies to embrace the changes, to love their bodies and to celebrate the women they are becoming.

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A simple health tip:

Tea tree oil is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, useful for eliminating P. acnes, the bacteria that causes acne.

Tea tree oil’s anti-inflammatory properties reduce the swelling and redness of pimples.

Never apply undiluted to the skin, always use a carrier oil.

Combine 1 drop of tea tree oil with 1 teaspoon carrier oil.

Dip a cotton swab into the mixture and apply it directly to pimples.