question about baby's labia

[discreetfordd]

Whilst changing dd this morning, I noticed that her labia are connected above her vagina. I feel somewhat concerned but wonder if I should have her seen by the GP or mention it at her next well baby check. We are not living in the UK at the moment so no HV to ask.

She is 9 months. I feel that I haven't noticed before.

If you are concerned I would say yes go to the gp, in the UK such anomalies are usually checked at about 8 weeks by gp.

I'm not entirely sure what you mean. Firstly, are you asking about labia minora (the smaller, inner ones?) or labia majora (the outer ones)? Secondly, when you say above, you mean in the direction of her belly? Or do you mean they're connected and cover her vagina?

There's quite a range of normal ways for vulvas to look ...

(Although, tbh, as a mum of two boys, I'm not great on what baby girl bits are meant to look like! I'm always a bit startled when I change a girl ...)

Thanks for the quick replies. I am really not too certain how the doctor missed this at her checks...

NQC: I am sorry for the confusion. The right and left side of her labia minora are connected at the bottom and her vagina is below that. So by above, I do mean in the direction of her belly.

I have not been able to get an appointment with the GP for another few days but I suppose that it would be silly to worry about DD at this point since she was clearly born like this and another few days will make no difference.

Thank you for the advice.

The labia minora are normally joined, and form a "hood" over the clitoris. Here is a fairly innocuous drawing showing the normal form ...

I'm probably misunderstanding here ...

is it possible that you are looking at her hymen?

Duh, totally that I didn't think of that!

Thanks for the link...

To clarify using the diagram in the link: Picture dd's labia being 'attached/fused' together at about the point where the diagram says Labium minus. Her vaginal opening is beneath that; it is not located within the labia minora.

Typing this has actually made me wonder if she might not have another opening within the labia minora as well. It is difficult for me to see because the labia are fused together at the bottom.

harpsi: I really wish that it were that simple. I am 99% certain that it is not her hymen. I hope that my explanation above makes more sense.

Hmm, that might be a normal variation, tbh. Will dig. It doesn't sound like it would necessarily cause a problem. Worth getting checked, certainly, but maybe not worth worrying about too much.

Ah, look here.

I'd try to investigate and eliminate any of the discussed causes, while getting advice from doctors. But it doesn't sound severe at all.

NQC: Thank you again. This does sound like a possible/plausible answer. I will let you know what the GP thinks later this week.

No problem.

Interesting that it mentions bubble baths etc, my parents always had a big thing against bubble baths, and maybe it was this they were worried about?

On one hand, I will be so relieved if it is adhesions as this would mean that she will likely outgrow it. On the other hand I would find it frustrating because we don't use smelly soaps or bubble bath and she has never even had a nappy rash so I wouldn't know how to prevent it.

Well, they do say that applying vaseline to the area, if the problem is sorted out, can keep it from recurring.

They say they think those things cause it, but they're not sure. I expect sometimes it just happens.

They also say that it sorts itself out in 80% of the cases.

The only worrisome bit, to me anyway, would be if the labia were fused at the urethra, meaning some urine remained there after urination.

I think my dd had what you describe. Never really took much notice, but I did notice that after she had surgery (for something else) and had a catheter, this area was more seperated.

Thanks wallace. I was speaking with another mother this morning on the school run and she confided in me that she had something similar after the birth of their first. It healed on its own so I shall certainly worry less and wait until the GP sees her on Thursday.

Thanks wallace. I was speaking with another mother this morning on the school run and she confided in me that she had something similar after the birth of their first. It healed on its own so I shall certainly worry less and wait until the GP sees her on Thursday.