Monday, November 14, 2011

Overanxious Parents

At a two-week visit, parents bring their newborn into your office, worried because she has had a few days of bloody mucoid vaginal discharge. A week later, this has resolved.

Challenge: What's the physiology?

3 comments:

city said...

normal bleeding 2/2 to withdraw from estrogen rich environment. maternal estrogen promoted fetal endometrial thickening, which is now sloughing off.

Anonymous said...

maternal estrogen withdrawal

Craig said...

you are both right! well done
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Overanxious Parents

This is neonatal withdrawal bleeding. During intrauterine life, maternal estrogen crosses the placenta and can cause growth of a female fetus’ endometrial lining. After birth, these hormone levels wane and the endometrial lining sloughs off.

Source: UpToDate.