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Pregnancy

Bathing baby

21 replies

Trace38 · 15/12/2015 21:19

This post doesn't really belong here but the parenting threads are really quiet and I know there are lots of mums already here.
I recently gave birth to my dd and I want to bath her. My question is, there's some of the white mucus from birth in the folds of her mini - do I need to clean this out? I've tried to wipe it out before but it's quite set in there and I'm going to need to give it a good wash. Any advice would be great! Thanks

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MumCodes · 15/12/2015 21:23

Leave it, you'll just make it sore if you scrub at it. It's that stuff they have all over (mind gone blank because of 6week old sleep depriver), but it'll reabsorb / come off by itself eventually.

Congratulations!

GoodStuffAnnie · 15/12/2015 21:28

When you put her in and get her out put your thumb and first finger in loops around the top of her thigh and under her armpit on the same side of her body and your hands will then be supporting her shoulders/head and bum. Babies are v slippery and this will keep her safe. My mil taught me this. Midwife and mum of 5. (I know you did not ask this, I just wish they showed everyone in hospital)

Trace38 · 15/12/2015 21:31

Thank you both! I was worrying about leaving it but I will now. Good holding tip too! x

OP posts:

lilone1234 · 15/12/2015 21:32

Agree with mumcodes - don't over scrub, it will come away soon enough!

goodnightdarthvader1 · 15/12/2015 22:02

Mini?

scarednoob · 15/12/2015 22:13

My nieces call it a Minnie, as in mouse!

I had the same query; it soaked out in the bath.

goodnightdarthvader1 · 16/12/2015 09:31

Yeah, and my mum called it a "Dewey", as in Hughie, Dewey and Louie. That's just as stupid.

I believe the OP is referring to her daughter's LABIA. Or, vulva. Or even, at a stretch, vagina, although that's not strictly accurate.

Sorry, but I really really hate cutesy names for genitalia. Especially for females, as the words get more and more obscure. At least boys have the fairly universally accepted "willy", but for girls you could be talking about anything. USE ACCURATE WORDS, you're an adult, FGS. You gave birth. Presumably from your vagina (disclaimer: other birth methods are available and are just as valid). If you can't even say the word, god help you.

mrsmugoo · 16/12/2015 09:32

What do you call it darthvader?

Obviously it's a vagina/vulva but every person I've ever met has used a slightly less medical term for it for children!

No one rolls their eyes at willy for boys!

goodnightdarthvader1 · 16/12/2015 09:47

I call it by it's appropriate name. I call my elbow my elbow. I call my genitals my vulva, labia, vagina and even clitoris depending on which bit specifically I'm referring to. "Vulva" is the catch-all term.

I'm well aware that most people call it some weird and cutesy name - I just think it's dumb and teaches a child to be embarrassed about their body. "Front bum" or "minnie" seems to be the most common nickname. I personally believe in teaching my daughter the correct name for her anatomy, just as I wouldn't expect her to call her elbow her "bendy", or anything ridiculous like that. Parents pass on their squeamish about their bodies to their children, and seem surprised when sex is a taboo topic as they grow up. People say "Oh, my children call it X" - NO, your children were TAUGHT, BY YOU, to call it X.

The OP was talking here to other adults. IMO it's especially stupid to use cute names because you're shy about writing (not even saying, WRITING!) the correct term. We're all adults here.

sizethree · 16/12/2015 10:11

I think some people prefer the use a 'cutesy' name for baby's genitalia as the specific anatomical names can seem too adult and sexualised.
When educating a child about their bodies and functions etc, yes absolutely the correct anatomical description is paramount. But when chatting to babies I'm on the side of willy and front bottom. Nothing to do with creating embarrassment or shame. Just softer.
Also, some of these are routed from innocent colloquialisms. As you said you wouldn't call an elbow 'a bendy', but people do call their heart 'a ticker'.

mrsmugoo · 16/12/2015 10:24

I was brought up having a mini and my brother a willy. When we were old enough to understand we knew their proper names were penis and vagina - no shame, embarrassment or anything.

Some people like using nicknames for those body parts and it doesn't mean they are embarrassed about saying the anatomically correct terms - get over it!! Judgy or what!

BexusSugarush · 16/12/2015 10:35

I'm with mrsmugoo; my sister and I were raised calling them mini's to refer in general to the entire lower female anatomy, as that's all kids really need to talk about. You don't really hear of children needing to distinguish between the different parts of their genitals. While being raised calling them that, we were also eventually taught their correct names, so there was no confusion or embarrassment.

While you argue that it's wrong to teach your young child 'cutesy names' for their anatomy, some would definitely argue that it's wrong to use the more accurate terms at that age. This is where different people's parenting approaches come into play, but it's definitely not okay to judge someone on such a topic.

mrsmugoo · 16/12/2015 10:38

If someone wants to teach their toddler to say vulva I would never judge. Everyone does it differently and best to keep your opinions to yourself really.

Also massive double standards with regards to "willy" this is ok because it's universal? Yeah ok then

MusicalFanjo · 16/12/2015 10:40

Oh look there's the obligatory poster who has completely ignored the OPs question and is just criticising something minor and irrelevant in a superior manor. Every thread has at least one you know

OP I don't have girls but my boys, particularly my eldest had very deep creases between their thighs and groin I couldn't get the vernix off with cotton wool as it looked slightly tender and their skin was so delicate at first i daren't wipe too hard. It came off with a quick wipe in the bath both times.

goodnightdarthvader1 · 16/12/2015 10:48

Also massive double standards with regards to "willy" this is ok because it's universal? Yeah ok then

Sorry, poorly explained, I did not mean that I thought "willy" was ok. I used it as an example to highlight how ridiculous it was that boys get "willy" (one word) and girls have a whole plethora of weird and obscure names that may be unfamiliar to most people (eg medical professionals, social workers, etc.). If I'd tried to tell a police officer that someone touched me on my "dewey", they wouldn't have a had a clue what I was talking about.

People feel the correct words are oversexualised because they are unable to distinguish between education and sexualisation. That's sad, in my opinion, and I'd love for society's view on this stuff to change. Sadly, it won't, and it's usually girls who get the short straw on this stuff.

Fanjo (pretty clear which side you come down on if your username is any indication), save your passive aggressive winky faces. I didn't answer the OP's question because she'd already had good advice from PP on how to clean her daughter's "mini", so I had nothing to add on that topic.

mrsmugoo · 16/12/2015 11:02

Look, I rarely use the word vagina unless talking to the doctor. If I had thrush for example if probably say to my DH I had an itchy fanny. Adults use cock/pussy in a sexual context.

I get what you're saying about there not being one word for girls but I don't see a massive issue for having nicknames for genatalia.

Over and out. Sorry for thread hijack, op.

goodnightdarthvader1 · 16/12/2015 12:30

Since her question has been answered, I doubt OP cares.

I say vagina a lot. Probably about the same amount as I say nose, elbow, knee, etc. Oh well, different strokes, an' all that.

brookeberry · 16/12/2015 15:37

I think we should all start saying 'bendy' instead of 'elbow'

DollyCollie · 16/12/2015 16:20

Yes can wipe it with gently with a sponge, OP, but it will just soak off eventually.

On another note, the OP has come for advice on something completely practical, and people are shaming her for calling a vagina a pet name, in the contents that this is about a baby? How ridiculous

To this day OP, I still refer to vaginas as Noonies

I take no shame in the word vagina, but Mumnset is not my GP and it's also not a science lesson FFS

FourForYouGlenCoco · 16/12/2015 16:24

It's called vernix. It protects baby's skin in utero. You don't need to wash it off but you can rub it in, gently, the same way you would do with moisturiser. Or just leave it and it will come off on its own eventually. Just keep an eye on the folds in general to make sure they don't get sore.

Trace38 · 17/12/2015 06:33

Thanks everyone for your advice (and debate). I didn't take the bait from Darth. There's always going to be one that knows better! :)

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