In the first days of the baby's life, care is carried out by the medical personnel of the maternity ward. But upon returning home, proper hygienic care for the newborn girl lies on the shoulders of the mother. Due to frequent bowel movements and urination, care for the intimate area should be well organized and safe. For the girl’s parents, this question is considered paramount, since the protective barrier that an adult woman has, but is absent from a newborn, has not yet been formed, and because of the characteristic-specific structure of the genital organs, it is quite simple to bring an infection into it and get many diseases. And this will affect in the future the cyclical nature of menstruation, the course of childbirth and childbirth in general.
First days of life
At this time, a cream (beige) or light gray coating is visible on the labia of the newborn. This is smegma, the original lubricant, and its presence is completely normal. If there is not much plaque, it will disappear, but if the secret is plentiful, it is recommended to remove it. This must be done, because after a couple of days the fats contained in it will begin to oxidize, which will cause active multiplication of microorganisms and then inflammation. The structure of this plaque is quite dense, so the removal should be carried out in several stages. Use cotton swabs or discs andwarm boiled water (check the temperature of the water on the wrist). Act delicately! The plaque will depart gradually and after two or three days 2-3 days will completely disappear.
Proper bathing is the key to health
To begin with, remember: the use of wet wipes can only be used to remove feces, after which it is necessary to wash the perineum under a stream of warm water. In everyday life, using them is unacceptable!
At home, the hygiene of a nursing girl is subject to strict rules, one of which is: washing all day long. It is necessary to wash the girl after each diaper change, as well as after defecation. Do not forget to wash your hands with baby hypoallergenic soap beforehand!
Important information!A newborn girl should have its own hygiene items - soap, towel, sterile wipes, cotton swabs.
When rinsing children's genitals, it is important to observe the following rule:front to back, i.e. towards the anus. Particles of feces should not enter the vagina, this will lead to inflammation. For the same reason, girls should not be washed in the basin.
Important information! Observe the measure: excessive zeal for cleanliness can lead to synechia (partial fusion of the labia minora).This is a consequence of trauma to the mucous membrane of the external genital organs due to frequent contact with a towel / soap / napkin.
Proper intimate hygiene for a newborn girl is an important point for the subsequent healthy development of the genital organs (health), so remember the following sequence of cleaning the external genital organs: with a clean and soft towel, first dry the sexual gap, then the labia, groin folds, and lastly, the anus.
In infancy, the skin and mucous membranes are dry and vulnerable, so we recommend moisturizing them with a baby cream without allergens. Do not wipe the labia from the inside, this leads to an infection of the urinary tract.
Important information! In the first week, the girl may have spotting from the vagina. It does not need to be treated, the discharge will disappear after a while. But with redness of the genitals, purulent discharge with a pungent odor -see a pediatrician immediately! There should be no discharge except for white mucous membranes (vaginal protective secretion) and blood-mucous membranes!
Breast Care
The personal hygiene of the newborn girl includes breast care. 4-7 days after birth, the breast may swell and redden or colostrum may stand out (this is also a sign of the presence of maternal estrogen). Avoid rude exposure to the baby’s breast: do not rub it, do not squeeze out the liquid, exclude the possible friction of the nipples on the clothes - everything will pass in a couple of weeks.Consult a pediatrician in case of pronounced redness and enlargement of the mammary glands!
Immediate care is as follows:
wash your nipples 3-4 times a day with a weak raster of furatsilin. It has disinfecting properties, but does not harm delicate baby skin. As a means to accelerate the reduction of breast swelling, use camphor oil compresses.
This experience in caring for a newborn baby will be useful to you both during its infancy and in early childhood. But do not forget that one of the main parental responsibilities is to accustom your child to self-care and strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene.
That is the topic of care:
- 3 basic hygiene rules that a girl needs to be vaccinated
- Hygiene and care for newborn boys
- About newborn hygiene (general information)
- Baby care every day and week
- Baby skin care
Remember: daily hygiene of a newborn baby - his health in the future!
