Pavilion for Women's Blog

The time of your daughter’s first period can be a time of excitement and anxiety. The average age of the first period is 12 ½ years. Before periods occur, there are other signs of puberty to indicate that a young girl’s body is changing. Usually breast development happens 2 years before the first period. Other signs include under arm hair, pubic hair and body odor presence. It is common for girls to have irregular cycles when they first begin. This irregularity usually works itself out within 3 years. Cycles that are regular from the very beginning should stay regular. Whenever cycles start, it is helpful to write things down on a calendar to determine how often they are taking place and how long they last. For most girls, periods occur every 21-45 days in the first year, 21-34 days by the third year and last less than 7 days in length.

I have been asked this question myself numerous times, usually to follow a statement: “I did not realize Texas Children’s Hospital offered this subspecialty, but I am thankful to know about this service.” A Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecologist is a subspecialist who undergoes further preparation after first completing training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Specifically, a Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecologist cares for children, adolescents and young women with gynecologic concerns. These gynecologic concerns may range from ovarian cysts in the neonate to problems with puberty or difficulties with periods.

The relationship between an infant and its mother is the single most important and enduring relationship for a child to develop in its life. But sometimes mothers do not develop an attachment to their babies, which may sometimes lead to emotional or physical neglect. While there are many factors associated with maternal neglect, there is evidence that breastfeeding may have a protective effect. Promoting breastfeeding may be a simple and natural way to strengthen the mother-infant bond. Maternal neglect represents a fundamental breakdown in the relationship between a mother and her child.

It is impossible to measure a mother’s influence on her baby’s life. And for most mothers, interacting with her smiling baby is an intensely pleasurable and rewarding experience in return. It is during these repeated moments of 2-way communication that “attachment” is born. Attachment is the formation of enduring bonds, initially between parents and their infants, but ultimately between siblings, peers, romantic partners, spouses and the rest of our social world. The initial attachment bond between mother and infant is believed to be a foundation upon which future relationships are built.

Pregnancy is a time of many emotions that change at the drop of a hat. It can also be a time when some women may experience more serious emotional symptoms that need to be treated. Estrogen and progesterone levels approach their highest peak in the last trimester of pregnancy only to fall precipitously after delivery. These hormonal changes are responsible for the mood swings common in late pregnancy and postpartum. The combination of fatigue, fear and hormones can get the better of anyone. The baby blues affect up to 80% of all women who deliver a baby. Baby blues symptoms are similar to the premenstrual symptoms that many women experience. The blues come on about 3 days after delivery and should go away by 2 weeks postpartum. A mother may feel fearful, irritable and anxious about her responsibilities as a mother.