Care of the genitals in baby girls
In the cleaning and bathing routines of babies it is important to take care of the genital area so that they do not have infections or irritations.
When you have a baby one of the most important things when changing the diaper is taking care of the genitals. When it comes to a baby girl, care may be quite impressive, and no wonder. If a girl’s genitals are not taken good care of, they can get infections that cause serious problems. But these infections can be avoided if you take into account a series of care and easy-to-remember tips for each diaper change.
Before you start, there is a key that you should not forget: when cleaning a girl’s genitals, always do it from front to back, and never the other way around!
Index
GENITALIA AT BIRTH
When a baby is born, his genitals are usually slightly swollen. Girls have swollen outer lips (the labia majora), while the skin on the inner lips may be smooth or somewhat wrinkled. This is absolutely normal. This is known as a hymenal tag, it will normally disappear on the lips as the girl’s genitalia grows.
It is also totally normal that there is a little vaginal discharge in the girl when she is newborn. This discharge may be white or have a little blood in it. This is due to the effect that maternal hormones have and they will disappear on their own in a few weeks. Eliminating this flow is not recommended at all. Although if the flow does not disappear in a few weeks or if it feels bad, you should go to the pediatrician quickly to find out what happens.
You may also notice that the inner lips of the labia are fused with the vaginal area or urethra. This is known as labial adhesion.
CARE OF THE BABY GIRL’S GENITALS
When it’s bath time, a girl’s genital area is very delicate and you should clean it carefully. During the first weeks you can wash this area only with clean water and a sterile gauze.
You can put a little soap for babies and rinse with warm water to better clean your little one’s genitals. You can even use fragrance-free wet towels for delicate baby skin. You never have to rub the area and to dry it, you just have to gently pat it with thin paper.
Remember that if your baby has pooped before the bath, you will have to clean his genitals well before putting him in the water.
WHEN YOU CHANGE HER DIAPER
When you change your little girl’s diaper, you will have to gently remove the dirt, whether it be pee or poop. The most important thing is to always do it from front to back. Doing it this way will help prevent bacteria from the anus from transferring to the vagina / urethra and will prevent infection.
Then you will have to dry the diaper area and then you can use a water-based paste diaper cream to prevent moisture from remaining between the skin and the diaper. If moisture remains between the skin and the diaper, bacteria can reproduce and create a diaper rash or vaginal yeast infection.
POOP BETWEEN THE VAGINAL LIPS
During diaper changes it is possible that the inside of the vaginal lips has been stained a lot and that the inside of the vaginal lips has filled with poop, so it is necessary to clean it properly:
– With clean hands, gently separate your baby’s vaginal lips.
– With a clean, damp cloth or baby wipe with delicate skin, gently wipe the area from front to back.
– Clean each side of the lips.
– If it does not remain removed or it moves too much, you can use soap and water, and then dry it properly with paper with gentle touches.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.
