8 Month Old Baby Girl Discharge

Your baby girl's genitals are very delicate, so clean this area carefully. Many parents wash the nappy area with just water and cotton pads for the first couple of weeks.

You can add a little mild, liquid baby cleanser to the water you're using to wipe round, or use sensitive, fragrance-free, alcohol-free baby wipes, or a combination of both. Mild cleansers that are specially designed for babies will help to protect your baby's natural skin barrier.

You can check that a liquid cleanser or a baby wipe is sensitive enough for your baby by testing it on a small area of her skin first. Make sure you dilute the cleanser in water first, as you would if you were using it to bath your baby.

At nappy changes, use a clean bit of the nappy to wipe away any poo. When changing your daughter's nappy, always wipe the area from front to back, away from her vagina and urethra (the opening through which she does a wee). Wiping from front to back will help to prevent bacteria transferring from your baby's bottom to her vagina or urethra, and causing an infection.

If your newborn has a very dirty nappy and poo has got within her vaginal lips (labia), do the following:

• With clean fingers, gently separate your baby's vaginal lips.
• Use a moist cotton pad, a clean, dampened cloth, or a fragrance-free baby wipe to clean the area from front to back, down the middle.
• Clean each side within her labia with a fresh damp cloth, moist cotton pad, or fragrance-free baby wipe.

Don't use baby products made with soap and baby wipes containing alcohol or perfume, as these can upset the natural balance of your baby's skin. A study of one brand of fragrance-free baby wipes found that they were as safe and effective as water for washing a newborn baby's skin.

If your baby has a poo-soiled nappy before bathtime, clean her genitals and bottom before you put her in the water.

When bathing your baby, you can use just water or add a little mild, liquid baby cleanser to her bath. Swish the water around and use a flannel or sponge to gently clean her bottom area, wiping from front to back. Try not to scrub when you're washing your baby's bottom, or rub when you're drying her with a towel, to avoid damaging the delicate surface layer of her skin. Patting her dry is best.

If the skin on your baby's bottom is dry, you could add bath emollient to the water when you bath her. Take extra care, though, as it can make her slippery to handle.

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In the first few weeks, you may notice that your baby's genitals are swollen and red, or that she has a clear, white, or slightly bloody discharge from her vagina. This is normal. It happens because she was exposed to your hormones when she was in your womb.

The swelling and discharge should go away within a few weeks. However, if your baby is still having discharge after the first six weeks, mention it to your GP at your postnatal check.

Discover if it's normal for your baby to poo after every feed.

Francesca Whiting is an editor at BabyCentre. She's responsible for making sure BabyCentre's health content is accurate, helpful and easy to understand.

8 Month Old Baby Girl Discharge

Source: https://www.babycentre.co.uk/x1053619/how-should-i-care-for-my-baby-girls-genitals

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