We at Be Prepared. Period. are super excited to announce the newest member of the team, Danielle, our new Community Outreach Intern!

DanielleDanielle joins us as a 21-year-old college student from New York who’s studying Business Administration – due to graduate this May.

Sharing a common goal of wanting to help others, she joins us to help spread the word about the resources we offer to women and girls. Resources to not only prepare girls and parents for puberty (and menarche), but to improve menstrual health among all women.

Danielle also recognizes the need for open menstrual communication as she shares her own first period story:

“As I reflect back on all the things that have happened over the school years I remember my first period.

I am extremely close with my mom, so talking about my period and what was going to happen before it actually happened was a major topic around 11-12 years old. It was nice to not be blind sided by my period. Of course at 12 years old getting ready for school, going to the bathroom and realizing I got my period was blind siding. But, the multiple conversations I had with my mom about it made the whole situation easier. I went into her room told her I got my period, she gave me a hug and cried and said her little girl was growing up. She handed me a pad, showed me how to use it. She then handed me a little brown bag to put into my purse with pads in it, told me to change it every few hours and I was on my way to school.

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My periods have always been painful. They’d often force me to miss school, university or work, and if I was caught out in the middle of town I’d been known to lie down for an hour or two in a cubicle of a public toilet.

I got my period on the second week of my honeymoon on a remote island, and I remember feeling scared one night that there was no hospital on the island, because I was in far too much pain for comfort. So they were really no picnic to begin with.

But one month, out of nowhere, on Day 2 of my period I was suddenly gripped with the worst pain I’d ever felt, and I remained in a state of complete agony for the next two days. My husband had to rescue me from work and help me to bed. I couldn’t stand up straight. I couldn’t walk without holding onto things. It was quite scary.

At this stage my periods were longer than they used to be too: I’d gone from five day to eight day periods. So I did some neurotic late night googling, and canvassed opinions from friends, and also went to a proper doctor. It looked to all concerned like I had endometriosis maybe.

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So I recently started my period. My mom works nights so it was just my dad and I. So when I went to the bathroom I saw something red and I was shocked but new what to do. I just got a pad because I was prepared. I just put it on my underwear and called my mom. During this time I was really shaken up. I called my mom and told her everything she said when she got home we would talk. So I told her I didn’t tell my dad. READ MORE… »

Soo…I started my first period recently. I know many people hate their periods, but my mom helped me see it in a different way. Periods are a true blessing, even though uncomfortable. After all, you can’t have babies without them! And it shows that you are a true woman. It also shows that you are responsible enough to keep yourself clean during your period. It shows that you are mature. READ MORE… »

I got my First Period in May of 2009 when I was 11, now I’m 15. I got up & got dressed, I remember I was wearing purple capris with sneakers & a white shirt, I also had my hair pulled back. I remember I had to pee so I went to the bathroom, when I looked at my underwear they had pink stuff on it. I remember getting a little freaked out even though my mom had told me about periods. I got out & was like, “mom we gotta get me pads.” She was like, “pads? for what?” Then i said, “mom i have my period,” she started to cry i mean CRY! I was like ” -.- really mom really?” lol I stayed home from school that whole week cuz I go for a WEEK on my period. READ MORE… »

So hi, I haven’t gotten my first period yet and I’m 12, but this is how I imagine it…

I’m at home just waking up at 7am like normal, and I go to the bathroom (as usual when I wake up) and I’m about to wipe myself, but I see some red ucky stuff on my panties. I already know about periods. So I start panicking because I think it is my FIRST PERIOD!!!!!! I get excited and get my panties off and quickly get to my room while my parents are asleep. I get new panties and a pantyliner. Put it on and get dressed for school. READ MORE… »

i got my first period 2 weeks ago.(i am 13 and a half) I knew all about it all ready but was a bit shocked. I put on a pantyliner and got on with my life i went outside and ran around and played on the trampoline acting normal. it lasted 3 days and i used only pantyliners during it. READ MORE… »

Hello, ok… so I started my first period when I was 12. It was in P.E and we were swimming. So I went to get changed and put my pants on and felt something wet,I thought it was just me and that I didn’t dry myself properly!!! So during break my pants felt really wet and I thought oh no!! I’ve wet my pants thinking what’s wrong with me??!?! I told my friends the I was going to the toilet and one if my friends said I’ll come with you I’ve been needing to go for ages. She was my best Friend she already told me that she started her period and I went to the toilet and found blood in my pants. I started to cry and my Friend ask me what was wrong I came out and told her do she have me one of her pads and said her you go and put this other one in your bag. READ MORE… »

Ok, so it started on January 1st, 2013! I was very hyped the day before, very happy for the new year and i had recently moved in with my dad. And so when i woke up everything was normal, just a little brown spot and i didn’t think much of it. So anyway later that day my dad was at work and i had too pee and i wiped an BLAM there it was and it was SUPER akward living with dad and all. So i had to call him at work exxplain what happened and then had to ask him to buy me pads. But the pads didnt work i have a really heavy period so READ MORE… »

I was going to class and had to go to the bathroom. So I went and found brown, wet, clumpy stuff in my panties. When I got home it was still there. So I put on a liner. I told my mom and she said that that was my period. Then it was scary but I got used to it. The only really bad part about it was it happens right before my first select volleyball practice. READ MORE… »