Why is my baby girls’s genitals swollen ?

If your baby girl’s  genital areas are swollen right after birth, it is likely due to the extra fluid newborns  carry or the extra dose of hormone they receive right before delivery. This swelling is harmless . The fluid will be flushed out in her urine in a few days.

You may also notice that your baby girl may have some vaginal discharge of mucus or a little bit of blood. This is all caused by hormones. There can be occasional bruising from labor and delivery. This is also harmless and go away within a few days.

However if the swelling continues including a swollen lymph node, notify your doctor. It could be due to a condition known as classical  congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

What is classical  congenital adrenal hyperplasia ?

It occurs when a baby produces male hormones and results in the genitals looking abnormal at birth. The genitals may looks more male than female. An example is that her clitoris may be enlarge. Most newborns  in the United States are screened for this condition which can be serious.

What is the hard lump in my daughter’s genital area ?

This lump is known as inguinal hernia. This lump is firm and oblong. It occurs when the loop of your baby’s intestines pushes through the abdominal wall into her libia. This type of hernia can also show up in her mid or upper thigh. They are also more common in boys than girls.

Rarely , a lump that feels like a hard, round marble under the skin  is an ovary that has migrated  to the libia and will need to be put back in its place near the uterus.

Both conditions can be fixed by minor surgery. Its is unlikely the child will stay in the hospital overnight.