Puberty in Girls
Most thirteen-year-old girls have already gone through their major pubertal changes. The changes that puberty brings occur normally between the ages of seven and seventeen. The journey takes three to five years as your daughter passes through predictable stages of physical development.
Stage One The first outward sign you may notice is a slight growth spurt that could start when your daughter is about eight. Her hips and thighs begin to get wider. She will develop a rounded belly that is her energy store for puberty. The increased growth has been triggered by an increase in hormone production, which is also causing her ovaries to enlarge.
Stage Two Breast development begins. Called "budding," this breast growth begins with "buds" of enlarged tissue underneath the nipples. These buds are often tender to the touch and easily irritated by rough clothing or by jumping up and down. It's common for the two breasts to grow unevenly. One might begin to grow before the other or one might grow faster than the other. Let your daughter know that this may happen so that she's not alarmed. She may also worry that breast swelling is a sign of breast cancer. Reassure her.
Also during this stage, your child will start to grow more quickly in height, and her weight will increase. Fat deposits will continue to round out the hips and give the appearance of a smaller waist. She will begin to grow pubic hair. Her sweat glands will increase their production of sweat, and she will begin to produce body odour.
Stage Three Breasts grow larger. Pubic hair growth continues and the hair becomes curlier. Armpit hair starts to grow, and the hair on legs and arms gets darker and thicker. She begins to discharge a clear or white fluid from her vagina.
Stage Four Your daughter will likely have her first period during this stage, although it could occur earlier. Often a thick white vaginal discharge precedes her period. Also, her nipples become raised and separated from the areolae of her breasts. The growth pattern of her pubic hair takes on its distinct triangular shape. Her skin and hair may become oilier.
Stage Five At this stage, a girl's breasts have reached full development, and her pubic hair growth is complete. Her growth in height slows, then stops. This stage indicates that your daughter has probably attained her full height and that her menstrual periods probably occur in a regular pattern.
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