[atlambert]

My three-month-old, Nathan's penis is intact, and today his foreskin retracted all on its own, complete with a screaming baby, and I wondered what your thoughts on it are. The pediatrician is baffled, and just suggested keeping an eye on it for infection. Why did this happen? He was playing on his back on the floor, then started crying. I was planning to bathe him next, so I scooped him up and got all the bath stuff ready, then went to undress him and discovered his swollen, purplish-red glans exposed. It closed on its own after a few minutes, but he was in a lot of pain. He has urinated several times since, and that doesn't appear to hurt him, though the tip of the foreskin appears sort of swollen, or maybe just stretched, and is red.

I'd love your thoughts!

 

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

It is pretty rare for an infant to be retractable but not at all impossible. When it does happen you should always put it back as soon as see it. If you dont then it could get caught behind the swollen glans and cause paraphimosis. And Dr's around here have no idea how to treat paraphimosis without circ. And dont be surprised if it never happens again.

I wouldnt worry about it to much at this point though it might get irritated. If it does some soaking in a warm bath with baking soda is helpfull.

Does anyone but you change his diapers? If they do then you need to make 100% sure no one has been retracting (even a tiny bit) to clean him.

If you are the only one changing him and know for a fact he has never been retracted (even a tiny bit) then your ds is just one of the few who are born retractable or become retractable in the first year.

Now this dosnt change how you care for him just wash like a finger and never push the skin back and never allow anyone else to do so.

Here is a link for future reference http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=764732

 

[tutucrazy]

Yes, make sure that no one is trying to retract him. Don't allow any doctors to manipulate him for any reason. There is no reason to try to retract, even if he has already retracted. Just try to make him comfortable for a few days by soaking in a warm tub with a little baking soda.

 

[atlambert]

Thanks for the help. I am certain he his foreskin has never been retracted, and our pediatrician is supportive, and doesn't circ her own children, either. I was just surprised that it hurt him so much. I thought that if the retraction happened naturally, it shouldn't hurt.

Thanks!

 

[Contrariety]

My DS was fully retractable by that age. That happened once when he was about that age, and then he retracted it himself in the bathtub when he was about 9 mos old. Yet I have never seen him do it again and he is now 2.5.