Is this normal?

[homeschoolingmama]

My son is 5 days old and it seems like his penis naturally points up. When I change him I try to place it down against his scrotum but it pops back in the other direction. My husband says to just let it fall the way it wants. Is it normal for it to do this? I don't really want to ask a doc because I don't want to worry about them retracting.

[tlh]

As long as his penis is soft and not erect it should be fine.But if it is a constant erection something could be wrong.

[latinalonestar]

Don't worry it is just b/c it gets cold when the diaper is off. It goes back when you diaper him up. My son did this a ton when he was a newborn. No need to worry.

You are wise to worry about the pedi trying to retract. Be very careful when you go for check-ups and tell them each time, "please don't touch his penis".

[Katerz2u]

My second son was like this, it lays upward (not erect). From memory I believe it only lasted a few months. I dont know the cause, but its normal!

[homeschoolingmama]

Oh good thanks!
It is hard to tell if it is an erection. It is so small. It doesn't stand out. Just up against himself. If it was an erection would it stand out more?

[latinalonestar]

Originally Posted by homeschoolingmama

Oh good thanks!
It is hard to tell if it is an erection. It is so small. It doesn't stand out. Just up against himself. If it was an erection would it stand out more?

You would know. Sometimes the just have more fat pad making them appear like they are standing upward.

My bet is that the draft is making him stand to attention. Much like peeing when you change the diaper, this will go away. Don't worry, if there were a problem he would let you know!

[haroldpapa]

Originally Posted by homeschoolingmama

My son is 5 days old and it seems like his penis naturally points up. When I change him I try to place it down against his scrotum but it pops back in the other direction. My husband says to just let it fall the way it wants. Is it normal for it to do this? I don't really want to ask a doc because I don't want to worry about them retracting.

In those first few days his body is still recovering from birthing process and some simple swelling could be the case so far. He may have erections too. The penis can seem soft if it is swollen but it may still have erection as well. The swelling is usually a fluid that is collected between the skin and the erectile cavities. If the erectile cavities are hard/firm, like the cartilage of an ear or nose, then an erection is occuring. The erectile cavities do not reach the tip of the penis. They end at the point where the head begins. You can only feel them in the penis while an erection is occuring. The head can become firm too, but it can be firm even while the erectile cavities are soft (unerect). The size and length can be very different from boy to boy. The shorter usually do not seem to (hang down)as obviously. An erection is more likely to point to ward the belly than outward. If the penis is erect to a degree that it seems stiff it should never be forced to point a different way than it points on its own.

[perspective]

Originally Posted by homeschoolingmama

My son is 5 days old and it seems like his penis naturally points up. When I change him I try to place it down against his scrotum but it pops back in the other direction. My husband says to just let it fall the way it wants. Is it normal for it to do this? I don't really want to ask a doc because I don't want to worry about them retracting.

Just think of the penis as any other limb. Is there only when direction an arm can point? Of course not. If you saw a person sleeping with their arms behind their head, would you be alarmed? Again, of course you wouldn't. Its a limb, it will move about, especially the penis. there is no "default" position for the penis.

[eepster]

Totally fine. The only reason to point it downward is if it causes leaks.

[homeschoolingmama]

Thanks guys. I am no longer concerned. It is funny but I didn't realize boys had different penis's. My first son has a longer foreskin so it hangs down against his scrotum. My babe's penis is thicker and shorter. Not much foreskin. I can tell when he has an erection now and when it is soft. I guess I expected babe's penis to look like my other sons. It makes sense that they would be different.