HELP ...13 month old question

[candlepledge]

My son is 13 months old intact. About 3 days ago..in the morning I noticed what looked like a scratch on foreskin. Seemed to heal and was better.
this morning it is very red and swollen looking. still looks stractched or split?
There was a little blood on front of diaper.

He is going to the bathroom normal amounts. Doesn't seem in pain etc. Still grabbing and pulling it at diaper changes.

I am trying to figure if this is normal. I am trying to avaoid the pediatrician because they will want to retract and will I am sure rec'd circ.

I was referred here by a mom on diaperswappers.

Hope someone can help.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by candlepledge

My son is 13 months old intact. About 3 days ago..in the morning I noticed what looked like a scratch on foreskin. Seemed to heal and was better.
this morning it is very red and swollen looking. still looks stractched or split?
There was a little blood on front of diaper.

He is going to the bathroom normal amounts. Doesn't seem in pain etc. Still grabbing and pulling it at diaper changes.

I am trying to figure if this is normal. I am trying to avaoid the pediatrician because they will want to retract and will I am sure rec'd circ.

I was referred here by a mom on diaperswappers.

Hope someone can help.

Was the scratch on the tip, outside or underside? Sometimes scratches puff up a bit as they are healing (not just on the penis ) I also bumped up a thread which deals with separation issue. I boys in your sons age range sometimes the foreskin becomes red and a bit sore looking as it begins to separate from the glans. It's something that can happen in some but by no means all boys. Since he isn't having any problem urinating or any pain I would just keep an eye on this for a couple of days.

[candlepledge]

It is just about even with the main ridge. It is looking right at me when I chabge the diaper.

Thanks for bumping that other post.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by candlepledge

It is just about even with the main ridge. It is looking right at me when I chabge the diaper.

Thanks for bumping that other post.

No problem. A cream might help too but I can't recall which is best. I am sure someone will come along and tell you. Please feel free to ask any more questions if you are still concerned.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

To aid healing you might consider bacatracin. It is a OTC cream like neosporine mentioned in the thread that pp bumped.

[eepster]

Just treat it like you would a scratch on his lip. The lips and foreskin have many things in common.

In the future make sure his fingernails are trimmed to prevent it happening again. (I probably shouldn't talk though, DS's fingernail need cutting right now pretty badly )

[candlepledge]

Ok..... the foreskin still has a split. looks like it is trying to heal..white area like a moist scab if you will.Some days in the morning the it looks almost normal somedays like today it is swollen and red.


I have started with bacitracin at all diaper changes.

Called phone nurse at ped's office. She said that my cloth diapers are causing this??? Said he will probably need to finally be circ'd. Yikes!

I really don't want to take him in. any other advice?

[robertandenith]

She might be right about the cd, the area is always moist thanks to the nappies and it is not letting the scratch heal well. Could you try to have him go diaper free for a while? You can also try epsom salt baths, it helps a lot with these type of problems. It helped ME with my tearing from my last birth AND I had to air it most of the day to help with healing.

[robertandenith]

also, try disposies at night if you can...

[eepster]

If their is white stuff, it might be yeast.

[robertandenith]

Originally Posted by eepster

If their is white stuff, it might be yeast.

or oozing? if it is oozing def try epsom.

[georgia]

Called phone nurse at ped's office. She said that my cloth diapers are causing this??? Said he will probably need to finally be circ'd. Yikes!

This sounds like this is in no way based on evidence-based medicine and is completely based on her personal biases. If my 13 month old had a scratch on his eyelid, would they recommend removing his eyelid as the solution to the scratch? Well, they might, but I'd run the other direction.

I second the recommendation to be as diaper-free as possible and go from there. IME, any type of scratch is always going to be inflamed in the morning after sitting in urine during the night. A moist wound barrier, esp. throught the night, sounds like something that could be very beneficial.

Removing his foreskin, IMO, should absolutely not be on the table as a treatment option given over the phone from a nurse. Work to heal a small wound or create a huge one? Makes no sense to me.

Hope you get lots of support

[robertandenith]

I agree. Amputation is such a radical remedy for a scratch in any part of the body.

[MommytoB]

Originally Posted by candlepledge

Ok..... the foreskin still has a split. looks like it is trying to heal..white area like a moist scab if you will.Some days in the morning the it looks almost normal somedays like today it is swollen and red.


I have started with bacitracin at all diaper changes.

Called phone nurse at ped's office. She said that my cloth diapers are causing this??? Said he will probably need to finally be circ'd. Yikes!

I really don't want to take him in. any other advice?

That's nuts - this just shows how much illogical and fear that doctors have on foreskins

My boy has had many scratches all over his body one's that even bled on his
face, butt, and even about 5 scratches on his foreskin -he got the bactrician ointment on it-avoid anything with neomycin.

He healed just fine in all the parts and even the scratch that even bled too on his foreskin healed just fine.

[Dabble]

Originally Posted by georgia

Removing his foreskin, IMO, should absolutely not be on the table as a treatment option given over the phone from a nurse. Work to heal a small wound or create a huge one? Makes no sense to me.

:

What a preposterous suggestion for the nurse to make, and I agree that she is revealing her own biases by making that statement. "Finally" removed? Apparently having it for 13 months is 13 months too many.

Is it possible for you to find a more foreskin-friendly pediatrician in your area? I can't tell you how reassuring it is for me now that my boys have a doctor who knows what she is doing.

[candlepledge]

It seems to be getting a bit better. We have been going diaper free or prefold only most of the day today.

I have to admit I was shooked at the nurses response.....but again I am the crazy mom with the cloth diapers and home made baby food. I didn't know what a stage 2 was and they freaked out.

Unfortubately we at this time are on state insurance medicaid and are really limited. Most of the intact friendly peds do not except us as patients and I can't afford to pay out of pocket.

[latinalonestar]

You might want to use sposies until it heals. You also might consider stripping all your cloth diapers with vinegar and hanging in sunlight. This will kill any yeast that could be living in them.

Of course it is RIDICULOUS to even mention circ for this. Remember the ONLY medical reasons for circ are frostbite, gangrene, malignancy or serious truama.

If for some reason it doesn't resove just have them culture it by swabbing the tip (NO RETRACTION). This will show if there is any yeast or bacteria present. Give it awhile though b/c cuts take time to heal. Just like in your mouth when you get a cut, the genitals react very similarly. They are very vascular so they get really red ad even the smallest irritation.

[candlepledge]

We are trying disposables and seeing if it gets better. I am going to strip my diapers on wednesday but sorry not enough sunlight her in michigan and no cloths line till spring.

We have an appointment set for thursday just in case!

oh...and we are applying breastmilk at the advice of my LLL leader!

[candlepledge]

The disposables and applying breastmilk worked!!!!!!!!!! We are almost healed!

[123]

That's great, I'm glad to hear it. I've been wondering how your son was doing.