Brown Bewilderment

Shelley W •  Victoria, Australia •  13

We were doing homeschooling because of coronavirus and I was getting dressed and I felt something. A few minutes later, I went to the bathroom and there was brown and I was super confused.

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I got a pad just in case and it got heavier, so later I said to my mum, "can your first period be brown?" and she said yes. Later that day, I bled through my pants onto my bed. It was red so I finally knew it definitely wasn't discharge or poop. I got better pads after that.

A Day of Bodily Fluids

Emilie P •  Ontario, Canada •  30

I was at my aunt's house on October 1st, 2000. She was due with her baby in a few days, so I was visiting for the last time before the baby arrived. I was sitting on her couch when I felt this weird trickle. When I went to the bathroom, I saw blood in my underwear. I screamed for help and one of my other aunts came running.

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She said "That's your period" and got me a pad and explained how to use it. I kept thinking, how can this be? I thought it was because I didn't pray enough. As she was getting me sorted out, my uncle yelled that my pregnant aunt's water broke and that they were going to the hospital. My cousin, Amelie arrived later that night. So yes, it was a day of bodily fluids.

Trouble in Paradise

Anonymous •  Ohio •  12

I was 12 years old when my period started. My family was on vacation at our lake house when I went to change my swimsuit and there was a brown red stain. I knew I had started my period but decided to put on black underwear and not tell my mom. 

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I told her the next day because I didn't have any supplies. She really wanted me to wear a tampon but I wasn't ready so I couldn't swim the whole rest of the week.