Help! Penis bleeding

[Isaac'sMa]

Ds1 will be three in October. Last night as I was getting him ready for bed he was on the toilet, playing with himself. His foreskin is just starting to retract and he is *very* interested in his penis at the moment! He told me "mama, look, there's a red thing in my penis! Do you see the red thing?!" And he pushed his foreskin back farther than I've ever seen him do. I just told him the "red thing" was part of his penis b/c I believe it is the tip on the glans poking/peeking through.

As I put on his night-time diaper I noticed blood on his hand and thigh so I gently (oh so gently) pulled his foreskin back as far as he had a few minutes earlier. Sure enough there were little tears in the inside of his foreskin that were bleeding.

It didn't bother him at the time but this morning he told me his penis hurt. Should I worry about this? My concern is that now he's torn it, adhesions will form, and it will be problematic. My instinct is to retract it gently morning and evening to make sure that it it healing okay and not adhering. Even though I know *I* should not be retracting it....I guess I could have him do it, but I worry he will either be too rough or not pull back enough and then he will get adhesions. My other thought is that since he retracted it so far that it bled and didn't bother him at the time that I should just let it be. BUT, I have no experience with intact penises other than my two young sons and just don't want either of them to have problems...

So....HELP!!! What should I do?? I know you all will have some good advice for me!

[snangel]

Just leave it alone, sounds like he is doing what he needs to do LOL. My boys are all fascinated with their "wee's" He won't hurt himself, he will stop before that point.

[Isaac'sMa]

Thanks for your reply! I forgot to mention he says it doesn't hurt when he pees (if that matters). I thought it would probably burn but I guess maybe not since urine is sterile?
You really don't think he'll get adhesions or anything? I worry that I could avoid a major problem later by doing something simple now, ykwim?

I see you have a Caleb too :

ETA: It didn't hurt when he did it but it did hurt him this morning...

[perspective]

Originally Posted by Isaac'sMa

I guess I could have him do it, but I worry he will either be too rough or not pull back enough and then he will get adhesions.

Actually if anyone who is going to handle it with the most care, its him. He will know when it hurts, and he will stop. Little boys only play with their penis because it feels good. If you or any doctor has not been forcing back his foreskin in the past, then up to know everything has been going by "natures plan" so leave it on that track, let it heal by itself.

If you or someone else start retracting it to make sure "everything is ok" you might end up causing real problems.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Sounds like he helped the retraction process along a bit faster than it was ready to but that is OK his body knows what to do to heal itself just like a split lip will heal so will his foreskin. Let him continue to explore as he has been doing and just watch for anything out of the ordinary ie severe redness or swelling. Since he does have an open wound there make sure his hands are clean before he touches.

Have you seen this thread http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=764732 There are some tips in there for dealing with irritation.

[thixle]

Originally Posted by Isaac'sMa

You really don't think he'll get adhesions or anything? I worry that I could avoid a major problem later by doing something simple now, ykwim?

Honestly, i don't think he'll get adhesions from it. I believe that happens from multiple forced retractions... both the inner foreskin and the glans would have to be raw then heal back together with scar tissue to make a true adhesion.

You could always get some raw honey and have him put it on the tip (it will work it's way down inside)-- it's supposed to be wonderful for wound healing and is safe for genitals. I wouldn't use an antibiotic ointment (boy, I say that a lot on this board, lol)...
Peeing in a cup of warm water will help if it does start to hurt when he pees. Oh, and daily baths will keep it from scabbing.

[Isaac'sMa]

Originally Posted by MCatLvrMom2A&X

Sounds like he helped the retraction process along a bit faster than it was ready to but that is OK his body knows what to do to heal itself just like a split lip will heal so will his foreskin. Let him continue to explore as he has been doing and just watch for anything out of the ordinary ie severe redness or swelling. Since he does have an open wound there make sure his hands are clean before he touches.

Have you seen this thread http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=764732 There are some tips in there for dealing with irritation.

Thanks for the link. I had not seen that thread.

I will just leave it be and hope for the best then. He plays with his penis plenty! LOL. It makes sense that adhesions would be from forced retractions with raw tissue on two sides. He has never been forcibly retracted (except last night when he did it himself!) and nobody else has ever retracted him, except me last night when I checked to make sure that was actually where the blood was coming from.

Thanks, mamas, for your wisdom.