This one is for boy moms, of course! Lol When we receive the much-awaited news during pregnancy about the baby’s gender, it’s an extremely happy moment! Whether the baby is a boy or a girl, there are certain things with boys that a first-time mom may not always know can happen to her beautiful little boy. Phimosis—this word can scare both moms and dads. It’s a problem so common nowadays that it has become very simple to resolve, even in more severe cases of phimosis in babies.
What is Phimosis?
Phimosis is nothing more than an excess of skin on the foreskin of the penis, which prevents the glans (the head of the penis) from being fully exposed as it should be. Phimosis can be partial, as in most cases, or in more serious cases, it can be total and even interfere with urination. In these cases, surgery as soon as possible is recommended by the pediatrician.
What can cause it?
If left untreated, phimosis can bring about problems for the boy later in life, such as pain during erection, pain during sexual activity, and infections in the genital area due to the poor hygiene that phimosis can cause. The earlier phimosis is treated, the better and easier it is, but there are cases in which phimosis appears later in life. Isolated factors and some medical conditions can cause it to appear. Severe diaper rashes can also cause phimosis.
How to treat it?
In most cases, the simplest type of phimosis can be treated at home. Massages are done on the baby’s penis when he is still very young, always during bath time and being very careful not to hurt the baby. The act of gently pulling back the baby’s skin helps the glans to be more exposed and allows phimosis to improve day by day. These massages must be done with great care to avoid causing fissures or serious injuries. In some cases, phimosis surgery becomes necessary, but it is a simple procedure.
The surgical removal of the baby’s foreskin is very quick—it usually requires just one day in the hospital and sometimes can even be done by the doctor in the office, depending on the degree of the baby’s phimosis. The postoperative period leaves the penis sensitive and requires a lot of care for a good recovery, but as with any surgical procedure, it really isn’t anything to be too worried about. An ointment for phimosis will probably be recommended for use after the operation.
Usually, the pediatrician will guide the mom during the consultation—that’s what happened to me. My son’s phimosis was one of the tighter kinds, and with the exercise I was taught to do daily, it started to improve, and now it’s almost normal. I say almost because there’s still a small sign of the phimosis from when he was younger, but now he knows how to do the exercise himself to help the glans pass through more easily. The important thing is to follow the medical advice, and if surgery is necessary, the doctor will let you know!
Feel free to ask questions and leave comments!
Best wishes
See also: Vaginal Synechia – How Do I Know If My Daughter Has It?
Photo: Bren
