“It Is Normal If a Newborn Experiences Menstruation” — Paediatrician Explains

A paediatrician, Dr Ayobola Adebowale, popularly known as Your Baby Doctor, has explained that light bleeding in some newborn girls shortly after birth is a normal and harmless condition medically known as pseudo menstruation or neonatal menstruation.

In a video obtained by our correspondent on Saturday, Dr Adebowale said the condition is caused by hormonal changes that occur after delivery, adding that it should not cause parents any alarm.

“Your newborn baby can actually menstruate, and this is what we call pseudo menstruation or neonatal menstruation. It occurs because your baby, while inside your womb, was exposed to a lot of your hormones,” she explained.

“When you bring them out suddenly at the time of delivery, they experience what we call withdrawal bleeding — basically menstruation — and this happens in newborn babies. It’s essentially normal,” she added.

Dr Adebowale advised parents to stay calm when they notice such discharge in their baby girls, noting that it usually resolves on its own within a few days.

“You have no reason to be scared or worried. Just observe the discharge; it will clear up by itself. You really don’t have to do anything, and that child is not a witch,” she reassured.

However, she cautioned that if the bleeding persists or appears heavy, parents should consult a doctor for a proper medical evaluation.

According to medical experts, neonatal menstruation typically occurs within the first week after birth as a result of a sudden drop in the mother’s oestrogen levels. While in the womb, the baby is exposed to high maternal hormone levels, but after delivery, the rapid hormonal decline can trigger a mild shedding of the uterine lining, similar to a mini period.

Doctors advise that although the condition is normal and temporary, prolonged or excessive bleeding could indicate an infection or another underlying medical issue requiring professional attention.