Ananya Panday’s Mother Celebrated Her First Period: How Parents Can Help Girls Navigate Through This New Phase

Ananya Panday, a promising Bollywood actress, recently opened up about her experience of getting her first period. Highlighting the fear and confusion around the stigma of menstrual cycles, she talked about that pivotal moment in a candid interview. The 26-year-old actress shared how her mother, Bhavana Pandey, and grandmother celebrated this moment by giving her gifts. 

The moment changed what could have been an embarrassing experience into a joyful one for the family. This positive approach helped Ananya deal with her initial fears and showed how families should view menstruation. This shows that the support of parents plays a pivotal role in making the first experience of menstruation easy for daughters. This can help her navigate through the process and understand the changes and challenges that might arise. 

“I didn’t understand what had happened to me”: Ananya Panday

 

 

 

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A post shared by Ananya 🌙 (@ananyapanday)

In an interview, the actress recounted that when she first got her period while at school, she was completely unprepared. "I didn’t understand what had happened to me because no one had spoken to me about it," Ananya Panday said. However, things got better when she reached home because of the open discussions at home. She was pretty scared, until her mother, Bhavana Pandey and grandmother decided to comfort her by giving her gifts.  

“My mum and my dadi gave me gifts and they told me that this is a moment to celebrate,” she recalled. This gesture not only alleviated her fears but also instilled in her the belief that menstruation should be embraced rather than shamed. Rather than treating her first period as a taboo subject, her mother and grandmother chose to celebrate it. 

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How Parents Can Help Navigate The Child with First Periods

Navigating a child's first period can be a significant milestone for both parents and daughters.
This is a significant milestone in their lives, marking the change from childhood to adolescence. It’s essential to know how to prepare your daughter for her first period to build trust and understanding between you.

‘Menstrual Health Communication Among Indian Adolescents’, a study published on PubMed, focused on menstrual health communication among Indian adolescents. The research highlighted that girls who were exposed to severe taboos regarding menstruation reported higher stress levels related to menstrual staining. This indicates that negative communication experiences can have direct health consequences.

Below are a few tips that parents can refer to. 

• Open communication must be the first step that they must follow and talk to your child about menstruation before their first period. Use age-appropriate language to explain what to expect, helping to reduce anxiety.

• Create a safe space and encourage your daughter to share her feelings about menstruation openly, reassuring her that it’s normal to have mixed emotions.

• Educate her about the menstrual cycle, including what menstrual blood looks like and common symptoms like cramps. 

• Familiarize her with pads, tampons, and menstrual cups. Allow her to choose what she feels comfortable using, and practice together to build confidence.

• Acknowledge feelings and listen to any fears or concerns she may have and reassure her of your support.

• Teach proper hygiene practices during her period, including changing products regularly and washing hands afterwards.

• Equip her with a pouch of menstrual supplies for school or outings and discuss what to do if she gets her period unexpectedly.

• Reinforce that menstruation is a sign of growing up and does not define her worth. Encourage her to celebrate her body.

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Conclusion

Ananya Panday's candid reflection on her first period emphasizes the importance of open communication and positive reinforcement in navigating the significant milestone. At first, she felt fear and confusion about her first period. However, her experience changed into a celebration. This was due to the support from her mother and grandmother. They gave her gifts to mark the occasion. Their gestures helped reduce her anxiety. 

Her story highlights the need for families to discuss menstruation openly. By breaking down taboos, parents can help their daughters feel more prepared for this natural change in their lives.