Pre-adolescent girls question...

[Dsnygirl]

I took my DD8, Julia, to the dr. Tuesday for her pre-4th grade physical. (She will be 9 in August) While I was there, I asked about a few "changes" I was noticing that concerned me. About a year or so ago, I started to notice body odor when she got home from school, particularly if she'd had gym that day. It was pretty noticeable, so I got her Teen Speed Stick, and have had her use it occasionally, esp. if I knew it was a gym day. Well, about 3 weeks ago, I noticed peach fuzz under her left arm - but not her right! So - I asked her dr. about these things, b/c although I know girls are starting to develop earlier these days, this just seems way to early to me. So, we did some blood work, which has come back fine, but her dr. still wants to do an ultrasound of her pelvis next week, just to be sure her ovaries are behaving themselves, etc.

Has anyone else been through this? I was terrified when they just called, as I was afraid they'd found something wrong, and that was why they wanted to do the ultrasound - but the nurse assured me the bloodwork was okay - that Dr. Green was just covering all her bases. Still - I'm nervous, and hoping obviously that there is nothing wrong, but even that we've still got a few more years before the more "serious" changes start to take place!!

Any advice out there?? :thanks:

[DisneyDudet]

Well, depending on her weight, you could be noticing the first signs of the change. Sometimes these will start a few years before the big change.

I was a nanny for two girls, one was in third grade and the other in kindergarten. They both would come home smelling of BO... but they are both big girls for their age... not big as in large but they were quite tall.

If you started having these changes early on, this could be a indicator as well.

There are some articles around that show that a lot of girls now are starting to show the early signs of puberty around ages 7-8, with the BIG change coming about 3 years later. You can search this by using "early menarche" in the search box. There have been studies to show that the time when girls go through this is changing and becoming earlier, even though they don't know why.

I don't have any experience with this, but I was one of the first girls in my class to have this happen to me. My mom and grandmother were also early starters, so that wasn't a big surprise there.

I am, by no means, a specialist, but from what I've learned in nursing, I don't see that there should be anything abnormal if the lab tests are good. Don't be surprised if you get a referral to an endocrinologist so that all bases are covered.

The hardest part will be explaining all this to an 8 year old. I first learned about it in the 4th grade, and was a full blown woman by age 12 (sixth grade), while my best friend was a woman by age 11.

Good luck, and I'm sure there will be someone around with actual experience!

[Sean Riley Taylor's Mom]

No advice, my oldest will be 10 in August but he is a boy. ;)

Just wanted to give some good thoughts for you and your DD. :pixie:
I hope everything is just fine.

My DD is only 3 and I am worried about all of that stuff already!!

[Jen C.]

It seems to me that you are noticing what is referred to as "precocious puberty". My sister was diagnosed with this in the early eighties. Basically it was explained to my parents that she could begin taking certain meds to stop the hormonal process, or just let "nature take it's course". I know that it is even more prevalent now, especially since children are heavier and less active then in decades before. This leads to a higher body fat, which in turn means more estrogen.
I wouldn't be too concerned. There are really no ill health effects that my sister experienced. My parents elected not to put her on meds. She started her cycle by age 10. I was not a heavy child, but started mine at 11 and 2 months, so it may just be she is an early bloomer.
Good luck to you and your family!

[murphy1]

I saw a medical show that was about this and they said girls are developing earlier now, even at this age. I have an almost 8 yo and am watching her little body change even, I also have a five and 3 yo. I have already been talking some about things, not a lot, but just don't want it to be all of a sudden thing, you know. Try not to stress about the health stuff. I was 13 when I started Flo. I don't want them growing up TOO fast!

[Dsnygirl]

:thumbsup: Thanks for all the notes so far - everything you're saying seems to go along with what I've read online. Julia is very thin, so it doesn't seem to be weight-related for her, another reason they did blood work and are going to do an ultrasound. Also, she seems to be a little "backwards" for precocious puberty - that is usually the breast changes first, then everything else - she is doing the under-arm odor/peach fuzz first, and so far, only under one arm. So, hopefully, her system isn't really "online" yet and we've got awhile... I'm hoping for at least another 3 years before everything's in full swing!!

[JessicaRabbit]

When my middle daughter was around 8 I noticed similar changes in her. The BO was among the first, and the fuzz also (though she had it not only under both arms but on her legs as well). Shortly after that I noticed that she began to develop rapidly and just 3 months after her 10th birthday she began her cycles. Her pediatrician said that while my daughter was a little on the young side, this was not abnormal. My daughter was and is of normal height/weight. I particularly thought it was strange that she started so young because I was 12 or 13, but I guess that doesn't make much difference.

I do think, though, you might want to prepare yourself for your daughter's transformation into womanhood sooner rather than later, since she is exhibiting some of the first signs of puberty. I know the hardest part for me having a daughter begin so young was that emotionally she really didn't get what was happening. Her body was changing to a woman's body, but she was (and still is at 11) very much a child - so I found it difficult trying to explain the changes to her in ways that she would understand.

If I may make a recommendation, there is a book called "The Care and Keeping of You" that focuses on body changes, hygeine and the basics of puberty. It is geared for girls ages 8-11 and my daughter really liked having a book that she could "look up stuff" in private.

Sending good wishes to you both and I hope all goes well with the ultrasound.

[RedSoxFan]

Blythe -- the book Care and Keeping Of You is by American Girl. I bought it for Kourtney last year while visitng American Girl Place in Chicago last year. She would read the book and ask a lot of questions which eased her mind of what her body will go through. Kourtney is 10 1/2 and has body odor when she plays hard. But no peach fuzz under the arms yet (thankfully). But she does shave her legs are they are extremely hairy!!

[Dsnygirl]

Thank you so much for the additional notes and suggestions- a friend of mine bought that book for her daughters, and I'd thought of it, but couldn't remember the name. thanks for jogging my memory!! I'll definitely order it - she's into AG, and will probably relate to the book even better, knowing it's from "them". :) We started talking, just a little, about the ultrasound and why she's having it - but not in too much detail - I want to wait and see what everything shows. But I am trying to prepare myself for an earlier conversation than I'd expected -- :(. Thanks for the help & support - it definitely helps knowing others and their girls are going through the same thing! (Do they have a support group for the moms of these little girls?? :blush: Besides here, of course!! :thumbsup:)

[crazypoohbear]

I have boy's and I was a very late bloomer, 14 years old!
But, having talked with the pediatrician regarding my DS's BO :ack: when it arrived with a vengence!
I was told that this is the first sign of puberty and that many kids are going into this "world" earlier because of all the hormones injected into foods these days. So that could explain your daughters changes.

[MsMin]

Sending more well wishes. My dd was a little younger in 3rd grade when we saw the changes you describe. She did grow fast and the doctor said to expect full blown changes soon which did come at the age of 10. She was on steroids w/ her asthma and they contributed some of her rapid growth and weight change with that. I know that menarche is closely related to proportion of body fat so changes can vary. Keep us updated! It's so hard when they are so young but it is true that changes are happening earlier.

[sunlyon]

I started young (10) and so did my daughter. The changes started when she was about 7 and the most troublesome was the onset of chronic stomachaches. They always centered right behind her belly button and she would carry on something fierce. She never had any other symptoms other than the stomachaches. It took me a while (I was real slow) but I finally figured out that they followed a pattern and that this must be a sign of the early onset... she was experiencing cramps and didn't know what else to call them. I did a lot of research on the Internet looking for chronic stomachaches and 80% of the complaints are from girls between the ages of 7 and 13 and tend to disappear with the onset of the cycle.

One good thing... we get to experience the mood swings a LOT early than most moms... :laughing: