Conference moira::parenting_v3

    This same thing happened to my neice when she was 6 months old too.
    Her mother applied the cream for a few weeks, and eventually it
    stopped. She never said there were any problems with using the cream or
    anything.  She's 16 months now and everything looks normal.
    
    Sandy

    My daughter was born with a layer of skin closing her vagina.
    The doctor was concerned with the possibility of urine being
    trapped inside and causing an infection.  He prescribed the
    ointment {not sure what the name is now} at 2 weeks old and
    we used it each time we changed her diaper {every other minute}
    and within about 3 weeks, the skin began to separate and the
    vaginal opening was cleared.  Today, she is 2 years old and there
    is no indication that she ever had this problem.
    
    She never contracted any infection and we made extra sure to
    keep the area as clean as is possible with a newborn  baby.
    
    I would not be overly alarmed, but do following the doctor's 
    instructions and if you need to get the cream, at least know
    that it worked with our case study!
    
    All the best,
    
    -Patty

    I experienced your same concerns. At my daughter Emily's
    third check up, the doctor noticed the layer of skin closing
    her vagina - a real concern for urine infection.

    He prescribed a creme -- what was it's name?. I recall reading
    the label and instructions, later calling doctor's office to make
    sure the druggist had given me the right creme.
    " Doctor, this creme is for adults ... and has all these warnings!!? "
    but the doctor assured me that I definitely had the right creme.

    Anyway, it was used at every diaper change and within days the 
    difference was noted. By her next checkup, there was no evidence 
    of a closing and two years later there has been no reoccurrence
    or problem.

    In fact, I forgot about the incident until reading your note. 

    Take care, Marsha
    
	        

    
    Well, sounds like I'll ask about the cream when I take her for her
    shots on Monday. I just can't see waiting to see what happens until
    her 9-month check up which isn't until February. 
    
    Patty

    This happened to Kimmi Jo but I didn't get any kind of ointment.  My
    pedi explained that the place it was closing was where a male baby's
    scrotum would be, and the skin does grow together in the male.
    
    We had to stretch it more carefully at diaper changes and ask the
    daycare to do the same.  It went away within weeks.
    
    Kristen

    
    This happened to my sister...my mom used to have to open it up
    (as the basenoter's dr suggested).
    
    Now, she is 30 years old and has a 3 yr old little boy....no
    side effects....my mom wondered for years if anything would
    inhibit her having children....
    
    Kristen

    We experienced this problem with our daughter, Genna.  She is 5 now and
    there are no problems.  We didn't have an ointment, just did the
    stretching at diaper changes.
    
    
    Mike

    
    I am going thru this again and have been off and on for two years now.
    Jordan is two years old and had this problem from the start but it
    never required a cream until this past spring.  I can't remember
    exactly but I think its called premalin.  Its a hormonal cream and
    should not be used too often. We had very good results in the
    spring.  She's been back to the pedi's this fall with colds..etc and
    they checked her and found the skin to be closing again.  I was
    frantic.  I couldn't believe it.  SO, we are currenly back on the
    cream for another 7 day treatment.  Then, hopefully once it opens up,
    I have been instructed to use vaseline at every diaper change and to
    continue when she becomes trained as well until probably into her
    early teens.  Well, she has an appointment in a couple of weeks or
    sooner if the cream doesn't work.  I intend to discuss this at
    length with the doctors since this could be become a recurring problem
    with her if not attended to.  
    
    The timing of this note is great and I will post updates on Jordan.
    
    I get anxiety attacks at each diaper change hoping that its wet....
    
    Thanks for starting this note.
    
    Jennie

    I looked up Premalin in my Compedium of Drug Therapy and didn't
    find it. I did however find:
    
    Premarin vaginal cream (conjugated estrogens) by Ayerst.
    
    

    This is an interesting note for me too, mostly because I have never
    heard of such a condition -- hence, I have a few questions maybe
    those with experience can answer:
    
    -  what is the result if the therapy of cream and/or stretching
       were not applied? 
    
    -  anybody have statistics on how common this condition is?
    
    -  anybody get a reason from the doctor as to why this happens?
    
    Monica
    
                         

This must be more common that I thought ... we, too, experienced it with Juli.
It was noticed very early (3-month checkup?).  Pedi would open it and suggest
bactritracin for a few days and monitor Juli for signs of swelling/infection.
Juli never complained about the procedure, so it must not have hurt (much).

Juli's kept closing and was opened at almost every checkup (up to her 2-year
checkup).  At her 2-year checkup her (male) Pedi explained that he would
rather "not" do this procedure "after the age of 2", however, we could have
his female co-doctor do it ... or I (not Jim!) should do it (and he showed
me how).  I did not feel comfortable about it and told him if it was a problem,
I'd rather have his co-doctor do it ... and he said "fine".

He said some kids remember things as early as 3 years of age and for
liability and emotional reasons, he did not want Juli to remember this.

Dottie

    
    Well, Anna's opened up this weekend. Friday evening when I changed her
    diaper I did the stretching and noticed it was very thin and even had a
    small opening in the middle. When I got another good hold again (you
    know how much 6-month olds love to lay still for diaper changes....:^)
    and stretch it just all popped open. Hopefully she won't close up
    again, but at least I know it's something a little more common than I
    first thought. Thanks for all the comments.
    
    Patty

    If it's that common, what happened in the "old days"?  Did the little
    girls with this problem die of bacterial infection?
    
    		-John Bishop

    Re prev notes:  The cream I am using is called premarin.  I spoke to
    the doctor yesterday since its been 7 days and no change.  She said
    to continue with the cream for another 3 days but that as long as
    she is urinating, then there is not much that can be done.  Since I
    am on an HMO plan, she has no problem referring me to a specialist,
    pediatric surgeon, so that I can discuss this problem in length with
    someone who will hopefully have more answers for me.  I just need
    to pick a surgeon/hospital, I am not too keen on the one recommended
    so I need to do a little research here.  If anyone is on Tufts HMO and
    has seen one of the pedi surgeons on the list, please send mail.
    
    Thanks,
    Jennie

    Oh-ma-gosh....I too had never heard of this!  
    
    I just wanted to say KUDOS to all of you...I'm IMPRESSED!!
    
    Julia