Urine in humans is an indicator of health, so especially with the smallest of the house we look at how it is and we are worried about any alteration. Today we talk about baby's urine, when is normal and when notWhen should we go to the pediatrician if we notice something strange in the diaper.
Just as the color of the urine can tell us about our health, the amount can also be a problem. Let's look at some cases in which our baby could have some difficulty, be poorly hydrated, suffer an infection ... to know how to detect the symptoms.
An abundant, clear and regular pee It is a sign that the baby is healthy, well fed and hydrated. But when is the baby's urine not normal?
If the child has the following variations in the habit of urinating or alterations in the color of the pee, the causes to control the changes must be identified and, where appropriate, discussed with the pediatrician. since sometimes we talk about a urine infection that has to be treated. In other cases, restoring normality is as simple as ensuring that the baby is not thirsty.
The baby wets a little the diaper: little urine
Sometimes the pee can be scarce, in quantity or frequency. It is said that a baby usually pees about five times a day, but this is very difficult to quantify. But, if we observe the diaper frequently and observe it drier than normal, we must be careful because it can be a symptom of dehydration of the child.
When the baby wets the diaper a little, it may be because he has taken less breast than he would have (it may be because he is sick, upset, because he has not been offered frequently ...), because he has sweated more than usual if it is hot or he has fever.
Then, you have to make sure that you take enough food to stay hydrated, offer more breast or bottle (especially in summer, sweat more) and if you have started complementary water and water-rich foods, such as fruits.
Feel pain or burning when urinating
The child may feel pain or stinging when urinating, an older child may say so, but in babies this is associated with crying at the time of peeing. In these cases, the flow of urine is reduced and the child may have a more frequent urination. It could be a urinary tract infection, which requires a specific treatment.
Urine infection is one of the most frequent infections in boys and girls. It can affect the structures through which urine passes (kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra) and turns the pee into a little more rosy or reddish.
When the infection occurs in the bladder it receives the name of cystitis and the symptoms next to the stinging are low abdominal pain and smell and urine color stronger than usual. Cystitis is caused by germs that colonize the intestine and is more common in girls, so it is crucial to take care of their intimate hygiene so that infection is not propitiated.
The infection in the kidneys is more serious (pyelonephritis) and is accompanied in addition to pain in the lower back, chills and fever. Therefore it is important to diagnose the infection as soon as possible to treat it and prevent it from getting worse. In babies, when infection is suspected, they are performed urine analysis to check.
Dark urine
It is normal for babies to have a lighter, more watery and clearer pee than adults and older children. In children the urine begins to darken due to the introduction of complementary feeding and because the kidneys are more mature and are able to remove more waste substances with less water.
However, if we observe that the child's pee is darker than the usual yellow, we must look for a cause. Normally, this variation will be due simply to the fact that the child has sweated a lot, or to a certain food that can obscure the urine (such as beets, blackberries or certain food colors).
More rarely, this symptom is associated with the existence of diluted blood in the urine (and this can happen to babies and children), which could mean an infection of the urinary tract, with the risks just discussed.
Orange urine in the newborn
Many newborns give a little scare to their parents when they find the orange spotted diaper, but it is something that should not worry us. It is the urates that stain the urine of the newborn, which eliminates these substances in its first urination. You just have to watch that the pee is clearing and taking its normal light color.
Other colors in the urine, milky, green, blue, dark brown ... are due to diseases or varied processes and therefore have to be consulted with the pediatrician (may be given by the effect of medications, liver disorders ...).
In short, the well-being of our baby can be measured through several indicators and urine is one of them. Normally we will not observe any worrying signs in the baby's urine. But if we see any of these changes that remain over time or are accompanied by symptoms such as fever, baby's urine is not normal and we must go to the pediatrician to determine the cause, treat it and avoid worsening.
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In Babies and more | How is the pee of babies and what are the related warning signs
