Pediatrician needing to look at opening?

[Monkeyfeet]

I am looking for feedback on this. My dh and I are expecting our 2nd child in October. Our first is a girl and this little one is a boy, so this is of particular interest to me since he will be kept intact.

My friend just brought her newborn to the pediatrician with her dh over the weekend. She reminded the Dr. to not retract. At one point the Dr had both of his thumbs down at the base of her son's penis and she and her dh both felt that he was going to retract so she spoke right up.

The Dr said that he was not going to retract. He said that he was just trying to look at the opening. She does not know if he meant the opeining of the foreskin or the opening of the penis.

Is this someting that docotrs check? And if so for what reason?

Thanks,
Kelly

[Raelynn]

Doctors do NOT need to check the opening. If baby can pee, then it's fine. It seems so many American doctors are facinated with baby boy penises - whether it's cutting them, retracting them, or manipulating them in some fashion. The best thing to do is LEAVE IT ALONE. I wish doctors would get that.

[Microsoap]

Your friends should ask him if he'd put his thumbs on either sides of a girl's labia and pull apart? Then why would he do this to a boy? Ignorant doctor. He needs the intact care instructions printed out and given to him. You can't trust doctors know what they're saying and accepting their I'm-a-doctor-I'm-god mentality (those who do) can only lead to harm!

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by Microsoap

Your friends should ask him if he'd put his thumbs on either sides of a girl's labia and pull apart?

ITA AAAARRRHHHHGGGG!!!!

I HATE that US doctors are soooooooooo stupid!

Can you imagine a doctor sticking your fingers in your DD's vagina to check her urethra? Or retracting your DD's prepuce "just to have a peek"? you would be OUTRAGED! Why would this be any different for a boy?

[Monkeyfeet]

Originally Posted by Microsoap

He needs the intact care instructions printed out and given to him.

Can you direct me to care instructions that would be benficial to print out?

[Microsoap]

Originally Posted by Fyrestorm

ITA AAAARRRHHHHGGGG!!!!

I HATE that US doctors are soooooooooo stupid!

Can you imagine a doctor sticking your fingers in your DD's vagina to check her urethra? Or retracting your DD's prepuce "just to have a peek"? you would be OUTRAGED! Why would this be any different for a boy?

You are exactly right and that's what I was thinking. The gender inequality is maddening!

[Microsoap]

I'm not sure if this is it. If not, I'm sure someone will come along very soon w/ the correct link.

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=575627

http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=764732

[catholic74]

My midwife attempted to do this (I stopped her) and I was surprised because I naively thought surely my midwife would know better. I imagined that midwives are more knowledgeable about these things and didn't even think to "remind" her like I would a mainstream doctor. So there was some tension there when she attempted to retract him in order to "look at the hole" to make sure it was in the right place. There is a more professional way to say that, but I Forget what it is. I remember telling her "He's peeing just fine. Everything is working. Please don't touch his penis" It woke me up to the fact that you CAN'T TRUST ANYBODY with your son's intact penis. Remind people all the time!
In the fall, I will be leading a bible study and will consider leaving my son in the nursery, which is right in the next room, but only if they understand that they are not to change his diaper. I am even going to take a black marker and write "DO NOT CHANGE MY DIAPER. MY MOM WILL DO IT" on it. Seriously.

[perspective]

Originally Posted by Monkeyfeet

Can you direct me to care instructions that would be benficial to print out?

Here this is an "intact care instructions" print out made by the AAP (the AAP is the organization american doctors look up to for agreement on standardized care, so showing you doctor this could go a long way.

http://www.medem.com/search/article_..._typ=NAV_SERCH

[leila1213]

I am sorry that this is a little OT, but I have a girl and am a girl, and never thought it odd that a doc would need to separate the labia to look at everything. I just assumed that this would need to be done occasionally. I do it to my daughter to see if the area is red or inflamed (which happens occasionally), and I just figured a doctor would be able to tell if it is something to be concerned about. I also check her for pinworms this way. Am I the only ignoramus here?

BTW, I am not in any way justifying foreskin retraction. I'm just honestly thrown off that I am so naive about the need to check girls' parts.

[Monkeyfeet]

Thank you all so much for the feedback. Leila, PinWorms can be seen in the rectum not the vagina.

[leila1213]

They can definitely be found in the folds between the labia. I had them myself many times as a child and remember it vividly.

[latinalonestar]

My pedi retracted my son to "look at the opening". From experience I can tell you it is a BAD idea. Don't let anyone touch your son's penis and tell your friend to never let the doc do that again.

[A&A]

Originally Posted by Raelynn

Doctors do NOT need to check the opening. If baby can pee, then it's fine. It seems so many American doctors are fascinated with baby boy penises - whether it's cutting them, retracting them, or manipulating them in some fashion. The best thing to do is LEAVE IT ALONE. I wish doctors would get that.

:


There is a problem in circumcised boys where sometimes they need to check the opening. But it's not a problem in intact boys!!!

[Monkeyfeet]

Originally Posted by leila1213

They can definitely be found in the folds between the labia. I had them myself many times as a child and remember it vividly.

I never knew that, interesting. I just looked it up and did read that it can happen, although it is rare.

[Christian_mom]

My doc did the same thing. I don't know what it is and why they can't just leave it alone.

I started seeing the nurse practitioner and she's much better at leaving it alone though I remind her every time, she's never even touched it!!!

[mntnmom]

I have taken as non invasive a look as possible at my DD's labia etc. we she was irritated or complained of discomfort. But I have never had a doctor do it "just to check" when everything was working fine. I could understand a dr. trying to get a closer look at a boy's urethra if there appeared to be a problem, but doing it "just to check" is completly innapropriate, besides being harmful.

Originally Posted by leila1213

I am sorry that this is a little OT, but I have a girl and am a girl, and never thought it odd that a doc would need to separate the labia to look at everything. I just assumed that this would need to be done occasionally. I do it to my daughter to see if the area is red or inflamed (which happens occasionally), and I just figured a doctor would be able to tell if it is something to be concerned about. I also check her for pinworms this way. Am I the only ignoramus here?

BTW, I am not in any way justifying foreskin retraction. I'm just honestly thrown off that I am so naive about the need to check girls' parts.

[thixle]

Originally Posted by leila1213

I am sorry that this is a little OT, but I have a girl and am a girl, and never thought it odd that a doc would need to separate the labia to look at everything. I just assumed that this would need to be done occasionally. I do it to my daughter to see if the area is red or inflamed (which happens occasionally), and I just figured a doctor would be able to tell if it is something to be concerned about...

Me too. But at one well-baby check-up, the doctor actually RIPPED apart a small labial adhesion... You know, a perfectly normal body part as long as she is peeing, no discharge, etc, etc. Just like with boys, when it comes to the doc, you have to be careful with the genitals!!! I do seperate her (outer) labia to clean super-messy diapers, or check out "the red butt." But I just don't trust a doctor with my kid's genitals anymore. : She is in underware now, so docs don't think to strip her all the way down, but next baby, reguardless of gender, is keeping on the diaper at the doc's!