In the first year of life, a newborn should be examined by a pediatrician at least once a month. Constant monitoring of the baby allows you to control his growth and development, as well as timely identify and correct many pathologies. In addition to standard examinations, the observing specialist must periodically take tests. All babies need to donate urine, feces and blood for basic tests. 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 that have been tested over the years.
General rules for collecting urine from babies
It is necessary to collect liquid for analysis in the morning. It is at this time that urine is most concentrated. It is also important that the biomaterial sample is fresh. The most accurate results of the study will be if the urine enters the laboratory within two hoursafter collection. It is for this reason that adult patients are very often asked to collect such an analysis directly in a medical institution. Use only sterile containers, special shipping containers can be purchased at the pharmacy. Before collecting the analysis, an adult should thoroughly wash his hands and wash the baby. Be prepared for this process to take some time. Calculate the rise time in advance, focusing on the working hours of the laboratory. If you do not yet know how to collect a urine sample from a newborn, choose one of the methods below. Prepare everything you need in the evening and be patient.
The most modern way: urinals
Significantly simplify the process of collecting tests from the smallest allows a 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 with a urinal? Start with preparation: wash your hands and bathe the baby's genitals. Unfold the urinal and remove the protective layer from the sticky strips. The easiest way to use such a product for boys is to place the penis inside the bag and fix it with Velcro on the skin. In girls, urinals are glued around the labia. If the room is cold, you can wear loose clothing on top. Then it remains only to wait until the baby comes off a little, after which the package must be carefully peeled off andpour urine into prepared sterile container.
How to make a do-it-yourself urinal?
Baby urinal can be made at home from improvised materials. If for some reason you were unable to purchase the finished product, it will be replaced by a regular package. It is important to make sure it is clean and sterile. Do not use food packaging or any personal items. Take a clean plastic bag, do not forget about personal hygiene. If the child is very small, it can be put on the 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 bag in such a way 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 for the baby to urinate and pour the liquid into the container.
Secrets of collecting urine from girls
Many parents agree that due to the physiological characteristics of the body structure, it is much more difficult to collect urine from girls than from boys. At the same time, it is necessary to take tests regularly for babies of both sexes. How to collect urine from 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 plate in advance - rinse and sanitize the dishes. The baby must be washed and put on a bed or changing table. Place under baby's assplate. When urinating, the liquid should collect in the set dishes. After that, you will only 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 baby in the bath and hold the jar in your hands. Do not forget to pour water at least up to the ankle of the baby so that he does not freeze. It is enough just to collect the analyzes in a jar from boys at any age. Even if the baby is not yet able 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 "stain" - violate the sterility of the container, for example, by 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.
Can I potty test?
Most modern parents begin potty training at 1-1.5 years of age. It would seem that during this period there should be much less problems with testing than in the first months of a child's life. And yet, do not forget that even if the child sits calmly and for a long time on the potty, this product should be used to collect urine correctly. It is strictly forbidden to simply pour the liquid from the “night vase” into a sterile container. The thing is that it is high-quality to sterilize the pot at homeconditions is almost impossible. And this means that the analysis will certainly be unreliable. It will probably have to be taken 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 mouth or a container that is suitable in size. Then plant the baby on the potty, as he is used to, and wait for the result. The success of this method depends on the choice of container size. It should roughly match the diameter of the bottom of the pot.
Common mistakes when collecting samples
Every mother should know how to collect urine from a newborn correctly. Any mistake in the collection of biomaterial can cause a distorted result of the analysis. And this means that most likely you will have to pass urine again or undergo additional examinations. The main rule of proper preparation for analysis is compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards.
Wash your hands thoroughly, wash the baby's genitals and perineum, 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 sterilize with high quality. It is also unacceptable to squeeze urine out of a wet diaper or diaper. In the first case, villi and microscopic dust particles will get into the test sample, which can also affect the composition of the biomaterial. Even worse is the situation with modern diapers, which contain chemicals that turn the liquid into a gel. There are many folk 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 proposal to completely undress the child and wait until he freezes and wants to relieve himself. From a physiological point of view, such advice is quite justified: when hypothermia, the body really strives to get rid of excess fluid. But is it worth exposing the child to unnecessary stress and the risk of catching a cold? Let's try to figure out if there are humane ways to induce urination in an infant?
Helpful tips for moms: preparation from the evening
How to collect urine from a newborn girl or boy as quickly as possible? This question is asked by all parents. It is very important to start preparing for the collection of urine in the evening. Put all the necessary accessories in one place in advance and sterilize them. 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 certain time. And this means that the morning rise will be on an alarm clock, not only for parents, but also for the baby himself. Biomaterial should be collected immediately after waking up. Start the morning by washing your baby and bring a urine container with you to the bath just in case. If urination did not occur during hygiene procedures, you must wait a bit using a urinal or its substitutes.
How to induce urination inbaby and not harm him?
How to collect urine from a newborn boy or girl, if you have prepared for the procedure in accordance with all the rules, and the baby does not “want” to write in any way? One of the most effective ways to stimulate the process of urination is to let the child listen to the sound of overflowing water. Move with the baby to the bathroom, turn on the faucet or shower. You can also try pouring liquid from one glass to another several times. Another way to induce urination is to dip your child's hand into a glass or bowl of warm water. Some parents believe that a diaper soaked in 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 during feeding. You can try to feed the baby or give him some water to drink during the analysis.
Amount of liquid for analysis and delivery rules
Even with all the rules for collecting biomaterial, there is a risk that the precious liquid will spill. Or the baby will pee quite a bit. How much urine of a newborn is needed 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 prescribing a study, the doctor issues a referral, which is necessarytake with you to the laboratory 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. A filled container for collecting urine from newborns must be taken to a specialized laboratory collection point. It is not necessary to take your child with you. 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. Some clinics even give them out for free along with a referral.
Types of urine tests
Common urinalysis is regularly scheduled for all babies to monitor their he alth. In some cases, the pediatrician may also give direction for 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 according to Nechiporenko is prescribed for suspected chronic diseases. Its purpose 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. The Sulkovich study helps determine the amount of calcium in the urine. It is assembled in the same way as a regular analysis. It is allowed to use a urinal or bag forurine collection from newborns.
