Help. I need some information on early puberty in girls

[punkin]

I just came back for the doctor with my DD7. I took her because her left breast was swollen for 2 weeks and I though she hurt herself or something. Well, no. It is actually growing. She only turned 7 in November. I am horrified. She's my baby. The doctor took blood, but she said that really all they do is monitor her growth. Nothing else. Has anyone had to deal with this? Should I take her to an endocrinologist? She's perfectly average in height and weight (actually a little underweight but within norm) and this just blindsided me.

 

[golfgal]

Well, I don't know if this is really early or not. There are plenty of girls that are developing at this age already. There are a handful of girls in DD's class that got their periods in 4th grade, age 9/10 years old. Some girls are just earlier then others. Usually you see it in girls that are a bit overweight but not always.

 

[tink38]

My sister went through this with her DD at that age. Dr. said she had a benign growth on her pituitary gland that was causing the premature puberty. They monitered her growth and put her on a once a month hormone shot for a few years. That slowed her down and she's off the shots now.

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

My niece was also an early bloomer. She had her period at 8. It was very hard on my sister. Her other daughter is 7 and she looks like she is at least 10. She is also a little more developed. I think this is more and more common today. I wouldn't be worried.

 

[disneynutt1225]

Poor thing! I was like her - bra in 3rd grade, period at age 10. It was rough, I was the first one in my class for everything. I wasn't overweight when I was a kid - now, is another story, LOL. I was pretty average for height and weight and I wasn't on any kind of therapy for it. Just wanted to offer a hug It sucks going through those things young.

 

[Carrieannew]

Oh boy. My daughter turns 8 in may. I'm not ready for any of this. She already has developed a little. But she is on the heavy side so its not that big a deal. She has always been a solid girl. She told me the other day that she liked Owen and I said well yes he is your friend. She said but i really like him. And I said well that is good. And she said no I really really like him. I almost ran off the road. Not ready for this at all.

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

A freind has a daughter with precocious puberty. She takes her daughter to a special pediatric Endocrinologist. In her case it did seem to run in the family. The dad had a full beard at 14.

 

[punkin]

I will take her to an endocrinologost I guess as soon as the blood tests come in.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

To the OP - has your DD lost lots of baby teeth, and has many adult teeth already grown in? Just wondering if "everything" about growing up is coming fast, or just the "womanly" things?

I'm surprised no one mentioned the estrogens in the cow's milk/meat as the reason for the early onset, as many believe that. There have been posts here in the past about this subject and many believe that's the reason. I know lactose-intolerant kids who developed early, so who knows!

 

[babytrees]

We have two normal girls who started development early....the "little" one is 10 and really should be shaving(you should see the forest under her arms!!). The poor girls were blessed with moms big b&b(**** and butt).

 

[AMcaptured]

I would suggest you see not only an endocrinologist but a pediatric gynecologist. You need a combination to help deal with this. There is different medication your daughter can be on to help delay puberty.

This website is a really good one and the doctor who supervises this center is absolutely phenomenal. He is one of the leading authorities in the country on early puberty.

http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/

Good Luck

AM

 

[pixiemomma]

I started early as well. I got my first period at 9 (I am almost 26 now.) My mother and sister also developed early.

There is a certain order in which things are supposed to happen (Not sure what it is) but if things are not happening in this order, then her ped should recommend an endocronologist.

 

[punkin]

To the OP - has your DD lost lots of baby teeth, and has many adult teeth already grown in? Just wondering if "everything" about growing up is coming fast, or just the "womanly" things?

I'm surprised no one mentioned the estrogens in the cow's milk/meat as the reason for the early onset, as many believe that. There have been posts here in the past about this subject and many believe that's the reason. I know lactose-intolerant kids who developed early, so who knows!

No. She only just lost her top tooth (3rd overall) and is so cute with her gap toothed grin. She's totally normal in everything physical. That's why this is such a shock.

As for milk, we only use organic with no hormones so I doubt it's that. Maybe the growth hormones in beef? Who knows why.

 

[ticktock]

I hope this won't upset you, I'm not trying to be judgemental truely. I have read many scientific essays (medical and anthroplological) that say girls that live in the same household with their biological fathers develop later. It isn't just any male living in the house, it has to be the biological father. It is kind of natures way of saying OK daddy is still here to take care of you, so you don't need to develop yet to attract a mate to provide for you. My parents were divorced and I got my period on my 11 birthday (what a great present) all the other women on both sides of my family didn't get theirs until at least 14, my mother was 18. She thought I was a freak. Which I am .

 

[VSL]

My hips grew very rapidly when I was about 8/9yrs old - so much so that I have stretch marks from that time there (obviously, they're very faded now, but still there).
My cousin was not impressed as I was her bridesmaid and they had to keep adjusting the dress... and they put me on my first diet (yeah, like that was going to stop my bones structure from growing..)

Didn't start my periods 'til I was about 13 though... and I'm still waiting for my breasts to fully develop

About milk... I don't know if it can cause this kind of early development, but I think that any milk (apart from breast milk - and that's only for infants!) is 'bad' for humans (it's made for the calf, afterall). Of course, this doesn't stop me from consuming dairy products...

 

[Feralpeg]

I watched something on the news last week about early puberty in girls. It seems that the normal age for a girl to enter puberty now is between 8 and 9 years old. They said that it has to do with food additives. It was a story on one of the network news stations. You might be able to find it. The story was saying that it is a problem because the girls aren't really mentally prepared to handle their body changes at this age. I also saw something about the estrogen in many shampoos having an effect on when girls start puberty.

Here is a link to a story about this:
http://archives.cnn.com/2000/HEALTH/children/03/31/early.puberty.wmd/index.html

 

[pixiemomma]

I hope this won't upset you, I'm not trying to be judgemental truely. I have read many scientific essays (medical and anthroplological) that say girls that live in the same household with their biological fathers develop later. It isn't just any male living in the house, it has to be the biological father. It is kind of natures way of saying OK daddy is still here to take care of you, so you don't need to develop yet to attract a mate to provide for you. My parents were divorced and I got my period on my 11 birthday (what a great present) all the other women on both sides of my family didn't get theirs until at least 14, my mother was 18. She thought I was a freak. Which I am .

Interesting, but in the case of my family not the case.

 

[punkin]

I hope this won't upset you, I'm not trying to be judgemental truely. I have read many scientific essays (medical and anthroplological) that say girls that live in the same household with their biological fathers develop later. It isn't just any male living in the house, it has to be the biological father. It is kind of natures way of saying OK daddy is still here to take care of you, so you don't need to develop yet to attract a mate to provide for you. My parents were divorced and I got my period on my 11 birthday (what a great present) all the other women on both sides of my family didn't get theirs until at least 14, my mother was 18. She thought I was a freak. Which I am .

I'm confused. Does this have anything to do with my child's situation? For your information, I got my period at 13 and I lived with my stepfather. My children live with their biological father to whom I am still married after 15 years so even if this "scientific" information is true (which I doubt based on my own anecdotal experience) it in no way concerns my child.

 

[Cruisin]

I hope this won't upset you, I'm not trying to be judgemental truely. I have read many scientific essays (medical and anthroplological) that say girls that live in the same household with their biological fathers develop later. It isn't just any male living in the house, it has to be the biological father. It is kind of natures way of saying OK daddy is still here to take care of you, so you don't need to develop yet to attract a mate to provide for you. My parents were divorced and I got my period on my 11 birthday (what a great present) all the other women on both sides of my family didn't get theirs until at least 14, my mother was 18. She thought I was a freak. Which I am .

Not necessarily true.

I started my periods one month before my 11th birthday and I lived with both of my biological parents.

My daughter started her period one month before her 10th birthday and she too lives with both of her biological parents.

And we were both very much on the slender side at the time.

 

[clutter]

I hope this won't upset you, I'm not trying to be judgemental truely. I have read many scientific essays (medical and anthroplological) that say girls that live in the same household with their biological fathers develop later. It isn't just any male living in the house, it has to be the biological father. It is kind of natures way of saying OK daddy is still here to take care of you, so you don't need to develop yet to attract a mate to provide for you.

Sounds like some made-up research by one of those family first type organizations.


My dd has no dad in her life, biological or otherwise, and she's no where near any signs of puberty. (She tried to tell me she has little bumps, but that's totally wishful thinking.) OTOH, the most advanced girl in her class is one of four that live with her biological parents and sibs. I expect to hear any day that she's getting her period. Another girl we know claims to have hair down there since she turned 7, and I tend to believe it.