Anastasia didn't have her period in exile?

[clockworkgirl21]

Did tampons exist in those days? I doubt the girls would have been allowed to use them, anyway, considering how religious Aleksandra was. Perhaps they used cloth or something? Sorry if that sounds gross, but I'm curious, too.

[matushka]

For example, a letter of AF to NA of 5 january 1916> Anastasia got a cold, 37,5 and Becker.

[bookworm857158367]

Did tampons exist in those days? I doubt the girls would have been allowed to use them, anyway, considering how religious Aleksandra was. Perhaps they used cloth or something? Sorry if that sounds gross, but I'm curious, too.

For more than you ever wanted to know on the history of this subject, go to:

http://www.mum.org/

Be glad that you live in 2005.

[moonlight_tsarina]

Lol, you are right. That's an interesting site...

[moonlight_tsarina]

I'm still wondering how Aleksandra would have said the girls had their periods. Would it have been something like, "Anastasia had her first monthly..." or "Olga has been ill from her monthly?" Why else would she put it in her letters?

Well, just a thought but perhaps like some embarassing parents these days it would seem that Alix would like to boast to Nicholas because it was a mature womanly thing. And besides, Nicholas was their father, so he would probably want to know that they were staying "healthy" while he was away.

[Sarai_Porretta]

I'm still wondering how Aleksandra would have said the girls had their periods. Would it have been something like, "Anastasia had her first monthly..." or "Olga has been ill from her monthly?"

Some examples of how this was referred to in their letters (from the book A Lifelong Passion):

Alix to Nicky - March 3, 1916:
"Olga and Anastasia have Becker."

April 2, 1916: "Maria is in a grumpy mood and grumbles all the time and bellows at one, she and Olga have
B[ecker] [...]"

"Mme Becker" was not the only nickname, though:

January 1, 1916: "The children are lunching next door and making wonderful noises. 'Engineer-Mechanic' [period] has arrived unexpectedly and so prevents med[icine] which is a bore." (Alix is referring to her own period here)

Nicky to Alix, April 8, 1916: "My sweet Love, I want you so! Please do not have M.B. [Mme Becker] when I come home!" LOL

[clockworkgirl21]

How would Alix have known if they were on their periods? Did OTMA tell her whenever they started?

[Georgiy]

Maybe! Don't forget they had a medical check-up daily. Also, she could probably tell from their mood and behaviour - Mme Becker has ways of making (other) people know she's come for a visit  

[bookworm857158367]

Interesting that the girls seemed to menstruate at the same time. I've read that women who live together in close quarters often have that happen. I do think I'd have been extremely unhappy with my mother if she commented on my menstrual cycles to my father when I was a teenager. It's probably another sign that Alexandra was TOO controlling of her daughters' lives. "Madame Becker's" visit should have a private thing.

[Robert_Hall]

Although this is already far more about the subject than I really care to know- I am curious- who was "Becker" and how did he come to be identified with this anatomical event ?  The term seems to be pretty much in common use - not just for Russian Grand Duchesses.

[Lanie]

I don't know!  I do know Alix had a friend named Antonia (Toni) Becker...

[Robert_Hall]

I think I read an explanation somewhere long ago, but forget where. I do know it was not just the Romanovs that used the term though. It was pretty universal for the time I think.

[Laura Mabee]

Nicky to Alix, April 8, 1916: "My sweet Love, I want you so! Please do not have M.B. [Mme Becker] when I come home!"

LMAO!!   .. That's gptta be the cutest, yet slightly T.M.I that I've read for the Romanovs..hahaha

Makes me wonder though, did men back then think the women had control over it?

Yes. (Don't know why.)

Thanks Bluetoria  

[ferngully]

in those days, people thought periods controlled women in a way
selina                    xxxxxxxxxxxx

[Georgiy]

I don't think he thought Alexandra would have had any control or say in the matter - just that he hadn't seen his beloved wife for a long time, and it would be a pity if Becker was there to put a spanner in the works. I think she wrote to him one time, annoyed that Becker was coming along with her to Stavka!