Q for moms with girls

pettycrocker · November 2011

Do your Pediatricians check your baby girl's vagina at every well visit? The reason I ask is because we go to a group practice, there are 2 male Drs and 1 Female. For some reason only the male Drs check her vagina and it always seems weird to me. They will open it slightly and look... I don't say anything but I always get uncomfortable for some reason. (I think I get uncomfortable because the woman NEVER does it so it seems weird that the men make a point to check her vag.)

So I'm just curious, is this something they normally check at every visit and the lady Dr is just a slacker or what?

Thanks

AmandaP678 · November 2011

I dont have girls, but that would make me uncomfortable.

pettycrocker · November 2011

It really does Amanda, but that's why I'm asking because I'm thinking maybe it's a standard thing and the lady might just cut corners, ya know?

RClaffee · November 2011

I've seen three different doctors at our practice and none of them have looked.

lysetterae · November 2011

DD's pedi is a woman & she checks @ every visit.

TessieF · November 2011

We have seen a few different doctors that practice in the same office (part of a teaching hospital) and none of them has ever taken off her diaper.

kitkat145 · November 2011

lysetterae:
DD's pedi is a woman & she checks @ every visit.

Same here.

JUSTBEYOURSELF · November 2011

dd pedi is a man and he checks at every appointment. I am not sure why you would feel weird about it. they take a quick look to see if there is any kind of infection. little baby girls can get a uti if they are not wiped front to back and sometimes when they poo it gets in there anyway and they check to make sure there are no signs of infections. one of my coworkers little girls 6 months just got a uti

lucylea · November 2011

Please, please, please have your pedis check at each well visit!!! My niece was seeing a pedi who didn't check and switched at her 18 month well visit, at which point the new pedi checked and discovered labial adhesions. They attempted using hormone creams to correct them, but it didn't work and she had to undergo surgery and a very uncomfortable recovery to fix the issue. The surgeon said they were lucky she wasn't plagued by UTIs and bladder infections because the adhesions were so bad. Not that it matters in the end, but she will also never look "normal" down there because of it.

There is a reason docs check and if you are uncomfortable with your doc doing so you might want to consider finding a new one. DD was checked at each and every appointment from birth until 2. At her 3 year she wasn't checked because by that point they should be past the point of adhesions.

ladybug122 · November 2011

My doctor never has. The only time she even took off DD'd diaper is when I asked her to look at her diaper rash, and even then she just looked without touching at all.

ElatedMom2B · November 2011

Ours always did a quick check to see if there was any infection, diaper rash or anything else going on - and only did it for the first six months or so. I have friends, however, who have said that when their daughters hit 4, their pedi's actually check for signs of abuse. I haven't hit that age with my older daughter, so I don't know yet if that is the practice in our office. Actually haven't asked as I never think of it when we're there since is only once a year for DD#1. (All different offices too).

gmc222 · November 2011

We alternate between two female pedi's and they both check at every visit. I think its a good idea to make sure there are no issues south of the border.

MrsBoike · November 2011

My pedi is a male and he checks at every visit. It doesn't seem to bother her at all and it would bother me more if he DIDN'T. It a quick spread and look.. he isn't hanging out down there or anything.

pettycrocker · November 2011

Thanks ladies. I guess some check and some don't but I'm glad I know it's pretty typical at least. I would think with it being a group practice there would be a standard of things they all check. Being a FTM, I just found it odd that only the men were checking her bits.

Now I'm wondering if I should avoid scheduling with the woman Dr. since she's not quite as thorough with her exams as the men are..

COMomma81 · November 2011

It's normal to check the genital area for both boys and girls because of skin adhesions. My LO hasn't been to her next check-up yet, but yes, her vagina has been checked each visit, just as my son's penis is as well. (We had a female doctor before we moved).

Stellasmom · November 2011

I would expect them to check to make sure it doesn't look irritated etc... It would bother me more that the other Pedi doesn't do it!

SarahRae812 · November 2011

We alternate between a male and female pedi in the same practice. Both have checked DD's girl parts each time. Like PP said, I'd be uncomfortable if they didn't. I certainly don't know how to recognize an infection, so I want my pedi to be thorough.

pooksmom · November 2011

lysetterae:
DD's pedi is a woman & she checks @ every visit.

This!

Karma01 · November 2011

We go to a group practice with one male doctor. They check her everytime and doesn't make me feel comfortable - it's her doctor!

g00dg0llymsm0lly · November 2011

lysetterae:
DD's pedi is a woman & she checks @ every visit.

Ditto. They are supposed to check it. You're being paranoid.

Wundervoll · November 2011

My daughter's pediatrician checked at her 2 week appointment, maybe at her 2 month, but not at her 4 month. She is also a female. Have you asked the female why she doesn't check?

jcsumm0 · November 2011

lysetterae:
DD's pedi is a woman & she checks @ every visit.

This.

magnoliablossom00 · November 2011

jcsumm0:
lysetterae:
DD's pedi is a woman & she checks @ every visit.

This.

Same here

mgarza1231 · November 2011

All of the Dr's in our Pedi office are women. And they always check.

kacelle · November 2011

We have a male pediatrician and he checks her vagina at every visit. I would think it was strange if he didn't; it's part of her body that can get infected and he should check it as he does everything else.

Hope2Have · November 2011

We have seen the same woman pedi at each visit and she has never looked. She did look at her one visit b/c she had a diaper rash, but it was a quick look and no touch/moving anything around. Everything looks normal down there, but I'm no expert, maybe I should have them check next time?

jerol · November 2011

3 DD's. 2 Peds (both women) and they have always taken off the diaper and looked "down there".

12bailey18 · November 2011

Our female pedi checks DS's penis and groin area, I never thought anything of it. I, honestly, can't remember if she's checked DD. I'm not sure if it would bother me or not if I were in your situation.

TheMrsHodges · November 2011

Our pedi never checks (she's a female).

MilMom2B · November 2011

I would feel more uncomfortable if they didn't look! It's so common and easy for little girls to get infections. At our visits, the doctor takes the diaper off, checks her tushy skin, then lays her back down and gently peeks around her vagina before putting the diaper back on.

soxfan74 · November 2011

I would think it is strange not to check to make sure everything is going ok.

Snapdragon750 · November 2011

Scout2005:
AmandaP678:
I dont have girls, but that would make me uncomfortable.
Why?
There is nothing sexual about it. They are checking for infection or other issues, it's a simple matter of anatomy. I don't have a son, but I would assume the pedi would check male private parts as well.
OP, I would ask the female pedi her reasons for not checking. Personally, I would go with the more thorough docs, I would share your concern that she is cutting corners.

This! Do you and your husband check her after you change a poopy diaper? I'm sure you do! Your pedi is checking for the same sort of thing. I can't imagine anything sinister about it.

My pedi is a woman, and she always checks inside the diaper.

Birdies08 · November 2011

Snapdragon750:
Scout2005:
AmandaP678:
I dont have girls, but that would make me uncomfortable.
Why?
There is nothing sexual about it. They are checking for infection or other issues, it's a simple matter of anatomy. I don't have a son, but I would assume the pedi would check male private parts as well.
OP, I would ask the female pedi her reasons for not checking. Personally, I would go with the more thorough docs, I would share your concern that she is cutting corners.
This! Do you and your husband check her after you change a poopy diaper? I'm sure you do! Your pedi is checking for the same sort of thing. I can't imagine anything sinister about it.

My pedi is a woman, and she always checks inside the diaper.

I have only seen female pedis and they have always checked under her diaper. They are completely professional about it. They check everything; it does not bother me.

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