Well, she's 9 1/2. My older dd didn't start menstruating until she was almost 14, but my younger dd is from a different gene pool. She's got a larger body type, is developing breast buds, and is tall. She complained of sharp pains in her lower abdomen last night, and I let her stay home today. I was thinking she had gas pain, which can be awful, but she's eaten and has had a BM, so I'm wondering if it's cramps. I just talked to her, and she's feeling a bit better, so I'm not concerned about major problems...just curious. I didn't start my periods until I was about 14, too, BTW.

By Reds9298 on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 01:42 pm:

I started my period when I was 10 and wore like a 32B in third grade! I don't remember having cramps before starting for the first time, but I always had lots of trouble during the first few years of having my period. Lots of cramps and staying home from school sometimes. Could be time if you've noticed she's developing.

By Juli4 on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 01:43 pm:

I started at 12, but they are saying that children are starting a lot earlier than they used to. It is a possibility.

By Tink on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 02:37 pm:

I started at 11 but I don't remember having cramps at all for the first couple of years. No fever?

By Janet on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 02:45 pm:

She's got a 99.6 fever and has been sleeping. I went home at lunch and she was eating soup and a sandwich with DH, and said she was OK. When I asked if her pain was gone, she said no. I asked if the pain was gurgling, or if it was moving in her intestine, but she said no. She was upset because I told her she wouldn't be going to 4H tonight. I gave her some ibuprofen jr, and she's back asleep. I'm mystified. She's not crying or pulling her legs up when she's lying down, either.

By Breann on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 03:04 pm:

In my experience, which is limited, menstrual cramps don't come with a fever. It looks like she does have a slight fever. (unless that is normal temp for her)
I had horrible horrible cramps right after I started my period. I would end up missing about 1 day of school per cycle due to cramps.
After my dd was born, the cramps stopped.

By Mrse on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 04:01 pm:

Hi, it sounds to me like she has some sort of a bug, only because you mentioned the fever, as also stated by breann . But...... it is possible for her to starting her period soon. When my kids were at the suspected age of getting their period, I had them take a pad to school and keep it in their back pack, and they kicked up a stink ( I have 3 daughter's) I told them one day they would thank me. Thinking back it was more embarrassing to take the dime, now a quater lol, to the machine in the bathroom, rather than having one on hand in your back pack. Hope she is feeling better, when my kids get sick and have a stomache ache I run to the store and get ginger ale and cracker's always seems to do the trick.

By Karen~moderator on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 04:45 pm:

Where is the pain? If it's lower right abdomen, radiating towards the middle, I'd rule out appendicitis first.

By Dawnk777 on Monday, March 14, 2005 - 08:31 pm:

Yeah, abdominal pain and vomiting are what made me take Emily to the doctor on New Year's Eve and she did end up with appendicitis.

By Janet on Wednesday, March 16, 2005 - 12:46 pm:

Well, she was feeling fine that evening, and back to her bouncy self the next day. No problems. Must've just been one of those things.