Is this an improper way that our pediatrician did urine test by catheter for my two month old daughter?

Question

My daughter got her two-months vaccines last Wednesday and had a low fever lasting for 3 days. We took her to our pediatrician, he decided to give her a urine test by catheter. They did that very roughly, as you know what this mean to a baby girl. After that, she cries, screams and upset as long as we lie her on her back or wake up especially when we change her diaper. How could I smooth her, my poor sweety. She looks like not trust her mom and dad because they didn't give her protection when she feel unhelpful. She was a happy girl smiling all the time except hungry. Parents, who knows how pediatricians generally do an infant urine test, use catheter or just wait for the baby's normal pee? Thanks.
A worring mom.

Answer 1

He's a medical professional. I'm sure it looked bad to you and was uncomfortable for the child; but it's his job to make the best decisions in the long term for the child and not worry about a short term discomfort.

You either trust your physician, or you change him

Answer 2

Did they suspect she had a urinary tract infection? My son who is almost 5 years old tested positive for a urinary tract infection (they had him pee in a cup and tested him that way), because he's under 6 years old and it's very rare for boys to get a UTI they wanted to do more tests which involved a catheter and he cried - I felt awful for putting him through that and thankfully everything came back normal but I know for a few days afterwards it hurt when he urinated.

I think they may have needed to use a catheter with your daughter because she's too small to pee in a cup - and because she's so small I'm sure afterwards like my son it may hurt to urinate, I would definately call the pediatricians office and let them know that she's still in pain - they told us if the pain lasted more than 3 days to let them know. Ask questions......that's the most important thing I can tell you. They see so many children and just quickly tell you what's wrong and they don't always explain everything - if you feel you don't like the way your pediatrician handled your baby trust your instincts and find another one.

Don't punish yourself about this, your baby still loves you and your husband and I'm guessing the pediatrician was trying to help and while it may have seemed awful for your baby, sometimes I think it hurts the parents more than the baby.

Answer 3

it is hard to get a urine test on a baby without using a catheter, since the baby can't tell you when she has to pee or go in a cup. A catheter is uncomfortable, but some medical tests are necessary regardless. Its one of the hard things about being a parent, you have to be there for the good and the bad, no matter how much it hurts you. But she will be fine, babies don't have long memories.

Answer 4

My daughter has to have one by catheter. . .my doctor said they do this until the child is able to tell you when they need to use the restroom-otherwise you could be waiting for ever. They also cannot take it from the diaper because it will mix with all the absorbent stuff and not give an accurate reading. I think my daughter was 1 1/2 when they did this. She was sore for a little while. I put Vaseline on her until the irritation went away. She'll be fine.

Answer 5

My son had to have a catheter when he was a few weeks old. It's tough, but it's better safe than sorry if something cold be wrong. You want to know what's really bad, my son isn't circumcised and the nurse didn't know that you aren't supposed to retract an infant's foreskin. Talk about pain! I filed a complaint against her!

Like others have said, it's really hard to collect infant pee in a cup.

You did what was best for your daughter and at 2 months, she probably doesn't even remember now. It's sad that she had to go through it, but it would have been worse for her to have an infection that wasn't caught.

Answer 6

Hey, I'm actually going to school to be a Medical Laboratory Technician and am in urinalysis right now. I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that what he did was completely correct. As a matter of fact, there is a procedure that is also used that is much more painful called a suprapubic aspiration. This is when they take a needle and actually go through the skin into the bladder and take a sample. Although it is not used very often, it is still used. I promise you have nothing to worry about and within a day, your baby won't remember anything about it!!!!! Hope this helps!!!!

Answer 7

All my kids had urine tests done when they were very small and the doctors just taped a sterile bag, meant for taking the urine from a baby, to them and waited. The catheter thing seems a little rough but they also did that to one of my twins when they thought she had a UTI.

Answer 8

My daughter has been in hospital twice, and both times, used a little bag that they stuck to her that collected urine- they sent us home before they used it, and taking it off was terrible- I'm convinced it was stuck on with super glue!

I guess that there is no easy way to collect urine for testing, however it is done will cause pain, but eventually, with enough cuddles and love, they get over it.

Answer 9

When they were trying to get a urine sample when my daughter was 5 weeks, they used a little bag with like a plastic mask on the end (to go over her girl parts.) We were in the hospital and we had all the time in the world. you were in his office and he has other patients.
I don;t know any other way to get a sample.
If you are concerned, switch docs.

Answer 10

When I was in school to become a medical assistant they taught us to tape a sterile collection bag to the child.

Did they give her any antibiotics to prevent a urinary tract infection?

Your poor baby! She sounds traumatizied by this! If I were you, I would hold her and show her a lot of love right now.