In the first year of life, a newborn should be examined by a pediatrician at least once a month. Constant observation of the baby allows you to control its growth and development, as well as timely identify and correct many pathologies. In addition to standard examinations, an observing specialist needs to be tested periodically. All infants need to have urine, feces and blood for basic research. For many parents, this is a real headache. How to collect urine from a newborn correctly at home? We will try to consider all the most modern methods and methods, proven over the years.
General rules for collecting urine in infants
It is necessary to collect the liquid for analysis in the morning. It was at this time that urine was most concentrated. It is also important that the biomaterial sample is fresh. The most accurate results of the study will be if urine enters the laboratory within two hours after collection. For this reason, adult patients are often asked to collect such an analysis directly at the medical facility. Use only sterile containers; special shipping containers are available at the pharmacy. Before collecting the analysis, the adult must thoroughly wash his hands and wash the baby. Be prepared for this procedure to take some time. Calculate the rise time in advance, focusing on the laboratory operating mode. If you still do not know how to collect a urine test from a newborn, select one of the following methods. Prepare everything you need in the evening and be patient.
The most modern way: urinals
Significantly simplify the process of collecting tests in the smallest allows the urinal for newborns. This device can be bought at any pharmacy, its cost is 10-30 rubles. The product is a dense plastic sterile bag with a hole and Velcro for fastening. How to collect urine from a newborn using an urinal? Start with the preparation: wash your hands and wash your baby's genitals. Expand the urinal and remove the protective layer from the adhesive strips. The easiest way to use this product for boys is to place the penis inside the package and fix it with Velcro on the skin. In girls, urinals are glued around the labia. If the room is cold, you can put on loose clothing from above. Then you just have to wait until the baby comes off a little, after which the package must be carefully peeled off and the urine should be poured into the prepared sterile container.
How to make a urinal with your own hands?
The urinal for an infant can be made at home from improvised materials. If for some reason you did not succeed in acquiring the finished product, it will be replaced by a regular package. It is important to ensure its cleanliness and sterility. Do not use packaging from food products or any personal items. Take a clean plastic bag, do not forget to follow the rules of personal hygiene. If the child is very small, it can be put on a bed without a diaper. Lay the oilcloth under the sheet, and put the bag under the baby’s ass. You can try to make a full-fledged urinal for newborns with your own hands. To do this, cut the edges of the package so that it is convenient to tie them on the hips. The main part of the product should be located between the legs of the child. Wait until the baby urinates and pour the liquid into the container.
Secrets of collecting urine in girls
Many parents agree that, due to the physiological characteristics of the body structure, it is much more difficult to collect urine in girls than in boys. In this case, tests should be taken regularly to babies of both sexes. How to collect urine in a newborn girl under the age of 6 months? Our mothers also came up with one fairly simple and effective way. Prepare a medium-sized dish in advance - rinse and disinfect the dishes. The baby needs to be washed and put on a bed or changing table. Place a plate under the baby’s butt. When urinating, fluid should collect in the supplied dishes. After that, you just have to pour the collected biomaterial.
How to collect the analysis in a jar?
Some parents prefer to collect tests immediately in a special container. The most convenient way to do this is to put the child in the bath and hold the jar with his hands. Do not forget to pour water at least ankle to the baby so that he does not freeze. Simply collect the tests in a jar for boys at any age. Even if the baby still does not know how to stand and walk, you can lower his genitals into a container and wait. But collecting urine from girls using a sterile container is not always convenient. The thing is that you can "get dirty" - to violate the sterility of the container, for example, dropping it into the water in the bathroom. If the child is active, there is a high risk that the precious liquid will spill, and the visit to the laboratory will have to be rescheduled for another day.
Can I take tests from the pot?
Most modern parents begin potty training at the age of 1-1.5 years. It would seem that during this period the problems with passing tests should become much less than in the first months of the child's life. Nevertheless, one should not forget that even if a child sits calmly and for a long time on a pot, this product should be used correctly to collect urine. It is strictly forbidden to simply transfer the liquid from the "night vase" into a sterile container. The thing is that it is almost impossible to sterilize a pot at home in high quality. And this means that the analysis is likely to be unreliable. You will probably have to take it again. How to collect urine from a newborn with a pot? Rinse the product well, place a sterile container on its bottom. It is advisable to choose a jar with a wide neck or a container that is suitable in size. Then plant the baby on the pot, as he used to, and wait for the result. The success of this method depends on the choice of tank size. It should approximately correspond to the diameter of the bottom of the pot.
Common collection errors
Every mother should know how to collect urine from her newborn correctly. Any error in the collection of biomaterial can cause a distorted analysis result. This means that most likely you will have to give urine again or undergo additional examinations. The main rule of proper preparation for the analysis is compliance with sanitary standards.
Wash your hands thoroughly, wash your baby's genitals and crotch, use sterile containers and urinals. Reliable analysis results cannot be obtained if the biomaterial was taken from a baby pot or basin, since such household containers are difficult to qualitatively sterilize. It is also unacceptable to squeeze urine out of a wet diaper or diaper. In the first case, villi and microscopic dust particles will fall into the test sample, which can also affect the composition of the biomaterial. The situation is even worse with modern diapers, which contain chemicals that turn liquid into gel. There are many popular tips on how to collect urine from a newborn with the least effort. Among them there are useful recommendations, and not too humane. For example, you can hear the offer to completely undress the child and wait until he freezes and wants to relieve himself. From a physiological point of view, this advice is quite justified: with hypothermia, the body really seeks to get rid of excess fluid. But is it worth exposing a child to unnecessary stress and the risk of catching a cold? Try to figure out if there are humane ways to cause urination in a baby?
Useful Tips for Moms: Preparing from the Evening
How to collect urine from a newborn girl or boy as quickly as possible? All parents ask this question. It is very important to start preparing for the collection of urine in the evening. Fold all the necessary accessories in one place and sterilize them in advance. Before going to bed, do not refuse the child to drink or breast milk if this is his only food at the moment. Usually, visits to the laboratory are scheduled by appointment at a specific time. And this means that the morning rise on the alarm clock will be not only for parents, but also for the baby. Collect biomaterial immediately after waking up. Start the morning by washing your baby and, just in case, take a urine container with you to the bathtub. If urination does not occur during hygiene procedures, you need to wait a bit using the urinal or its substitutes.
How to cause urination in a baby and not harm it?
How to collect urine from a newborn boy or girl, if you are prepared for the procedure according to all the rules, and the baby does not "want" to write? One of the most effective ways to stimulate the urination process is to let your baby listen to the sound of iridescent water. Move with the baby to the bathroom, turn on the tap or shower. You can also try several times to pour the liquid from one glass to another. Another way to cause urination is to lower the baby’s handle in a glass or basin of warm water. Some parents believe that a diaper moistened with a warm liquid gives a similar effect. Just put the baby on a damp sheet, and very soon he will do his job. In infants, urination often occurs when feeding. You can try to feed the baby or give him a drink of water during the collection of the analysis.
The amount of fluid for analysis and the rules of delivery
Even with all the rules for collecting biomaterial, there is a risk that the precious liquid will spill. Or the baby pees quite a bit. How much urine does a newborn need for analysis, what is the minimum volume in milliliters? For a general study, it is necessary to collect 20-30 ml of biomaterial. For the convenience of parents, many modern shipping containers have a measuring scale. There are also some special tests for which the required volume is less, it is 10-15 ml of urine. Usually, when assigning a study, the doctor gives out a direction that you need to take with you to the laboratory along with a filled container. Additionally, you can sign the container itself, it is enough to indicate the name and surname of the child, date of birth on it. A filled container for collecting urine in newborns must be taken to a specialized laboratory collection point. Taking a child with you is not necessary. About 10-15 years ago, many medical institutions took tests in any sterile container. Today, most laboratories require the use of special disposable plastic containers. In some clinics, they are even given out for free along with a referral.
Types of urine tests
A general urine test is regularly prescribed for all babies to monitor their health status. In some cases, the pediatrician may also give direction to special studies: according to Nechiporenko and according to Sulkovich. Each type of research has its own characteristics. For a general analysis, it is necessary to collect biomaterial during the first morning urination, the ideal volume is 20-30 ml. A study on Nechiporenko is prescribed for suspected chronic diseases. His goal is to collect biomaterial only from the middle of urination. It is most convenient to put the baby on a diaper. At the beginning of urination, it is necessary to let a certain amount of urine drain, then collect a little in a jar, the child should also finish urinating on a diaper. Sulkovich research helps determine the amount of calcium in the urine. It is collected in the same way as a regular analysis. It is allowed to use an urinal or bag to collect urine in newborns.