newborn eye question

[Squeakyneedle]

I'm just days home from the natural birth (Yay! I did it!) of my 4th son. I hope it's ok to post here, as it's a newborn question. He seems to have a very goopy eye, like his tear duct is plugged. (ds2 had one as well). Is there any way to help it clear up on it's own? I know I should massage the inner eye duct to help, but is that ok this young? I can't remember when it first showed up with my second son, but it didn't clear up until he was almost one year and we were trying to decide whether to schedule him to have it probed. :bigeyes Obviously I'd like to avoid a years worth of goopy eyed baby pictures, but I'm reluctant to bring it up with his pediatrician because I don't think this is a big enough medical issue right now. Could it just be newborn goop? When should I be worried that it's truly a plugged tear duct, and if it is, what else can I do besides the massage?

For what it's worth, we skipped the eye ointment at birth so I know it's not a reaction from that. It's just in his right eye. Come to think of it, that's the same eye as it was on his brother.

[pamamidwife]

lots of breastmilk in the eye and just keeping it clean. chances are it will clear up on its own, but as you know, you may hve some goopy eye pics. :)

[Guest*]

I agree with Pam.

Lots of breastmilk. My dd had several bouts with some conjunctivitis the first 4 months or so. Just spray a little in the eye at every feeding. My dd's usually cleared up within 5 days or so.

[Squeakyneedle]

I had thought of that, initially, but figured that was more for an infection. While it certainly can't hurt to try treating it with breastmilk, will that really do anything if it's actually plugged? At the very least I know I can keep it from getting infected while it's clearing up! Should I try a little bit of massage as well?

[because]

Both DD and DS had plugged tear ducts as newborns. Milk and massage fixed DD and we're doing that with DS now.

Those boogery eyes look so uncomfortable. It's amazing the babies don't seem to mind, really.

[Susannah M]

Keagan's eyes were super goopy for about the first 3 weeks or so and then almost all of a sudden it went away. He is 11 weeks old now and most days we are completely goop-free!