Newborn Baby Girls Can Experience Menstruation — It’s Normal, Says Paediatrician!
Reported by Marian Opeyemi Fasesan | Sele Media Africa
Dr. Ayobola Adebowale, a Nigerian paediatrician popularly known as Your Baby Doctor, has clarified that light vaginal bleeding in newborn girls — known as neonatal menstruation or pseudo-menstruation — is a medically normal condition and nothing to panic about.
What the Doctor Said:
- The condition occurs due to maternal hormones (especially estrogen) transferred to the baby through the placenta during pregnancy.
- After birth, these hormone levels drop suddenly, causing a brief withdrawal bleed, similar to menstruation.
- It usually happens within the first week of life and lasts just a few days.
Key Facts:
- It affects about 5–10% of newborn girls.
- The bleeding is usually light, pinkish or reddish, and resolves without any treatment.
- Parents are advised not to panic or self-medicate but to speak with a paediatrician if the bleeding is heavy, prolonged, or accompanied by foul smell or fever.
Why It Matters:
- The clarification helps dispel fear and myths among new parents who might think something is wrong with their newborn.
- – It also highlights the importance of postnatal education and routine medical checkups in the early days of life.
Citations:
- Dr. Ayobola Adebowale via Instagram – @yourbabydoctor
- Mayo Clinic – www.mayoclinic.org
- Healthline – www.healthline.com
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