In Which We Tell You Exactly What to Expect…
GIVE IT TO ME IN DAYS.
Most women’s periods last between three and five days, but your period can be as short as two days or as long as seven.
AND THE BLOOD?
Your period is a mix of blood, tissue, and lining from your uterus, so it won’t look like the blood from a cut. Instead, expect something THICKER, especially in the first day or two, when it might even have clumps in it (these are small blood clots and they are totally NORMAL). It can range in color from bright red to dark brown, but it’s usually redder at first and brown toward the end of your period.
JUST HOW MUCH BLOOD ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?
That varies. Although it might seem like gallons, typically you’ll see about TWO to THREE tablespoons of MENSTRUAL FLUID during your period (that includes everything, not just blood, which is why it’s called fluid). But if your period is light, it can be as little at one tablespoon, and if it’s heavy, as much as 6 tablespoons. Everyone’s period is different.
DOES IT ALL COME GUSHING OUT?
Thankfully, NO. Most women will have just a trickle at first, giving you enough time to grab a pad or tampon and run to the bathroom. The first two or three days are the heaviest, and after that your period will taper off, with each day becoming a bit lighter. By the last day of your period, you might see only a tiny bit of blood.
WILL IT HURT?
Maybe. Your uterus contracts to shed the lining it built up. When it does, you might feel cramps in the area about two or three inches below your belly button. They can start a couple of days before your period and usually last through the first or second day. Cramps are sometimes accompanied by lower back pain, and you might also feel a dull pain in your cervix as it opens up to let the menstrual fluid pass through. Some women experience a lot of cramping, others none at all, and for some it changes from month to month. But if you’re in severe pain each month, talk to your doctor to make sure everything is OK.
ANYTHING ELSE?
As if five days of bleeding weren’t enough, your period can also affect your poop. If you notice that you have to poop a lot more (or less) during your period, and you suddenly experience diarrhea or constipation, it is, unfortunately, normal.
WILL ANYTHING MAKE ME FEEL BETTER?
We think our Period Playlist may do the trick…
To learn more about all things menstruation (including how to make a period crown!), check out The Book.
About The Book:
Welcome to Bunk 9—and a new girl-powered puberty book girls will want to read.
Based on the lively conceit that it’s written by nine older girls at a fictional summer camp who share their collective been-there, done-that experiences, Bunk 9’s Guide to Growing Up is a puberty book with a twist, an entertaining, up-to-date, supportive guide that covers the head-to-toe changes that young girls go through as they grow up. Since it is written in the voices of different girls, reading it is like listening to your best friend or older sister giving no-nonsense information, advice, and tips on menstruation, breasts, hygiene, health and nutrition, boys, and all the complicated feelings that go along with these changes. Filled with callouts, doodles, and margin notes, it’s a book that’s gentle enough for a third grader and thorough enough for a middle schooler, and it’s vetted by a pediatrician.
Buy the Book
Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | Workman
