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Genitals, Umbilical Cord & Stools
Genitals, Umbilical Cord & Stools
Genitals:
Common among newborn males is scrotal swelling, referred to as hydrocele. This swelling usually subsides without treatment. Further, if a male newborn is uncircumcised, there is no special cleaning required.
Umbilical cord:
Keeping the umbilical cord dry is very important. With each diaper change, be sure to apply alcohol to it. Avoid bathing your baby until the cord has fallen off. Instead, sponge bathe your baby. It will also help if you fold down the front part of the diaper to expose the umbilical cord to the air. If the cord has not fallen off by the time your infant is a month old or if it becomes infected, notify your pediatrician.
Stools:
Referred to as meconium stools, newborns will eliminate dark green/black bowel movements initially. By the third day, if the baby is feeding well, the stools should become noticeably lighter, eventually becoming yellowish and watery, moreso if the baby is breastfeeding, by the fifth day. Constipation, a common problem in older children, can indicate an insufficient amount of sustenance in a baby. If a newborn is feeding well, he should have at least two to three large bowel movements daily.
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