- my iParenting
- quick clicks
- pregnancy today articles
- pregnancy today q&a
- message boards
- research baby names
- prepare a birth plan
- content channels
- ip channel rss feeds
- read birth stories
- read parenting stories
- recommended books
- e-newsletters
- safety recalls
- ip diaries
- ip store
- mom of the month
- dad of the month
- editor's letter
- letters to the editor
 |
- e-newsletters
- Sign up to receive our free weekly e-newsletters
- award-winning products
The iParenting Media Awards program helps parents find the best products for their families.
Newborn Genital Care
A Guide to Caring for Infant's Private Parts
By Jacqueline Bodnar
If there is one thing new moms find out quickly after giving birth, it's that there are a lot of diapers to change. And with each of those diapers comes another chance to clean and care for the infant's genital area. Sounds like it would be easy enough to do, but that's not always the case. It is common for babies to get diaper rash and other such conditions. Knowing what can happen and how to avoid it can go a long way in keeping the baby dry, comfortable and avoiding irritating conditions that can leave both Mom and Baby crying.
When Allison Duff, a mom from South Daytona, Fla., took her infant daughter to the pediatrician, the doctor showed her that her daughter's vaginal opening was sealed. To address the situation, known as labial adhesions, he showed them how to gently use a cotton swab to open the seal.
"We asked what would happen if we didn't break the seal each day," Duff says. "He said that it would remain closed, which would be great for chastity, but that we really needed to do this. My husband or I had to do this once a day, and even though it didn't seem to cause our daughter any discomfort or pain, we were a bit uncomfortable with having to basically tear a piece of skin loose from her vagina every day."
The couple continued to do this for months and now that she is 2, she is perfectly normal, so their efforts paid off. The condition they experienced with their baby happens during the first year or two. The slit in the vagina begins to close. Although they may end up opening on their own, it's always a good idea to address it with a doctor. Depending on the condition, some doctors prescribe an estrogen cream. Unless the opening is completely closed, which could interfere with urinating, it's not usually a problem. It is believed to happen because of the low amount of estrogen in the baby's body.
Want to see more?
Comments
There are no comments for this article yet.Be the first to 
|
Post As:
|
||
| Enter your comment below: | ||
| Title | ||
| Comment Text | ||
| CAPTCHA | ||
| Please note that any comments submitted become the property of Disney Family / iParenting and can be edited and posted at our discrection. | ||
