Stupid question but need to ask re: girl's girlie bits

Since this is our first girl, and haven't really had much experience with girls bits other than my own obviously (I have 5 nephews and DS) just wondering how much you need to clean when they do a poo?

I'm sure my child can't be the only one that gets bits of poo stuck in the top part of her hoohah - and just wondering if people really get stuck in there with a wipe to make sure every bit is removed - and really - how do you do that without hurting them!?!?

I'm so used to wiping boy bits, where it doesn't really matter which direction you go in, or where you fling it.. lol...

Stupid question I know, and I'm hitting myself in the head for actually not knowing what would quite simply be the most commonsense answer.....

(I am blaming severe baby brain of course.. )

we are fairly fastidious about cleaning poo from fannies! When I'm changing them, I'll gently part their labia with two fingers, and them gently wipe down the inside of their vulta with a wipe.

Phew.. thanks Michael.. I was afraid I was doing it wrong!!!

You know, nobody thought of showing me how to in the hospital.... lol I guess when I started wiping my own butt it wasn't ever up in THAT area to wipe from... lol

Thanks heaps ;)

Will be watching this one with interest as this is a bit of a worry for me (and Dh too) after 3 boys and only having to shift tackle from left to right ;)

I was told not to touch the labia at all. If you can't wipe it out gently then you bath them or it will clean itself (hence the vagina being like the eye a self cleaning organ). I have heard of disastrous things happening from unknowing people "cleaning" too well and tears occur :( I couldn't take that risk. Yes poo can be problematic if it gets in the wrong spots, but its very difficult for it to actually get in the bad spots (so I was told by my dr). Its more dangerous to go poking around than the poo itself. Just as you wouldn't pull back a boys foreskin I wouldn't go anywhere near the labia or the vagina. Clean what you can, anything more than that and I'd be rinsing or bathing.

(sorry I'm just paranoid after the horror stories I've heard :()

LOL I am expecting a girl this time around and I've been asking the exact same questions of my friends with girl babies! So embarrassing to have to ask - I've got the same bits! (But they are the same re penises!)

Just to add on - where does one apply the nappy cream? Just on the vulva skin? Or on the inside of the vulva as well? (as well as the bottom obviously...) If baby girls get nappy rash, does it affect the vaginal area?

Not a silly question at all hun! Even when there is no poo there, make sure you wipe from front to back, and then as she gets older teach her that too - like we do to avoid UTI's etc.... I tend to do what Michael said and part it and use one finger in the wipe to sort of wipe down if that makes sense! I'm sure I will be on here in a few weeks time asking what to do with the peepee! :rofl:

ETA - Oooh just read Cai's post - now I'm worried - eeek sometimes it gets right in there though Cai - so in that case would you just bath?? I remember being told by the nurse not to worry about the naturally occuring discharge etc that acumulates in the folds, but if there is poo there I like to get it all off.

I put nappy cream just on external bits - whenever she has had a little bit of nappy rash its on the skin on the outside and more on her actually backside than genitals anyway.

I do exactly like Micheal said..and how i was taught in hospital.

Im VERY fussy when it comes to cleaning so i make sure theres no traces what so ever left! We have never had any UTI's or infection in general...my CHN even comments how clean they always are.

I clean myself as good as i would my DD's.

Paris never got poo in her vagina, I would wipe out the labia, but never pulling bits open iykwim. When she was little if it was too difficult to manage I would bathe her. And you can still clean real well by not disturbing the top of the labia minora too much. Sorry I just had images of people trying to clean the minora (which can tear easily on a baby especially near the urethral opening) and going a bit crazy.

Not a stupid questin at all..

I had the same issue after 3 boys.. I was not taught in hospital.. I just asked on here :)

:doh: Nic, I should have looked for your thread.. pmsl.

I've been told that you should wipe inside the labia at every nappy change otherwise the labia will fuse together...?:dunno:

Ah gotcha Cai - we never go "in" if that makes sense but sometimes, moreso now that she is older and it squishes in around there (eeeeeewwwwwwwww such a nice convo! :) ) we gently separate the lips and get the poo out from the folds, I don't think its ever gone in either. Confused yet Mel?!!

Yeah thats true too just don't go digging LOL thats my major concern ;) I think I'm saying the same thing as you all, just don't go digging around the top of the Labia Minora or in the vagina ;)

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Confused yet Mel?!!

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:lol:

I should mention what we do.. or at least did when she was a newborn

We wiped her front to back as recommended for girls.. then gently with cotton wool wiped up an extra that might have gone in there.. or at bath time swished the water around the girly area

I had a girl first up (followed by 2 boys) and, like you, had always had to clean boys so it was a new experience for me too. Just wipe from top to bottom as cleanly as you possibly can. The vagina is supposed to be self-cleaning so as long as you don't leave big chunks in there, it should be OK. I hope this helps. Christine

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Confused yet Mel?!!

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Yup.

Ohhhhhh honey don't be! Just as Cai said, be gentle, don't go too deep or "in" and you will be fine hun! :hug: