Any DIS Google Docs? Baby holds urine for 12 hrs?

[ORMom2Four]

My just turning 4mo (born April 30th) has been holding her urine all night long a few times a week. This started about 6 weeks ago, and we have been to the Ped twice about it. He figured it was because she was spitting up a lot, but now that the spitting up is resolved, it's still happening.

A bit of info about her.

*She is "Baby A" of our twins, born at 35w6d and weighed 6lbs, 15oz
*Spent about a week and a half in the NICU for RDS and apnea.
*Went home on an apnea monitor and spent 5 weeks at home on it. Only had one apnea episode at home, but had a 3 "high heartrate" and one "low heartrate" alarms go off.
*Eats well through the day, not on a regular schedule, feeds on demand
*Wets well through the day
*Gets swaddled at 8pm, falls asleep within minutes of that and sleeps 10-12 hours straight through the night
*Goes into a very deep sleep when swaddled at night
*Breathing is irregular at night while she is in this deep sleep
*She still has periods of apnea during the deep night sleep, the longest I have counted myself is 8 seconds (no longer on the apnea monitor)
*Growing well, gained 1 pound in a month, she is up to 13lbs, 8oz
*Ped has tested her urine for specific gravity twice, both times it's normal

Ped wants to "wait and watch". She was only waking once or twice a week dry. This weekend, she woke dry Sat, Sunday and today. He also wants to "wait and watch" her breathing problem.

Anyone have any ideas? We've been with this ped for 10+ years, but now I'm wondering if we need to find someone new......???

 

[Mrs. Charming]

I just wanted to say that my DD was born at that gestational age and weight, and also went home on an apnea monitor. I remember counting the seconds on her monitor, too. It's not a fun road, but it gets much much easier when it resolves. (Assuming her diagnosis was apnea of prematurity) LOL, if you're like me, she'll be 3 and in her own room and you'll still check on her breathing while she sleeps.

I'm not a Dr, and I'm actually staying away from Google on this one, but DD *hated* being wet at 4 months. She hated it so much that she'd cry when she was wet. I know it sounds impossible, but could she be holding it? I know, it sounds crazy. The other thing is I can't help but wonder if there's a conenction with the apnea, as I think you might be suspecting also. Is she on caffeine? Have they tested her blood sugars?

I'd look into a second opinion. Definitely, especially with the brady alarms. Are you near a Childrens Hospital or similar facility? DD went to CHOP and they tested her for everything under the sun, which was super painful for me to watch her endure, but if there was anything wrong they would have caught it.

I hope you get some answers, or better yet, that nothing is wrong. If you want to talk, I'm here... been there, done that! (bought the tshirt)

 

[DawnCt1]

I don't think it would hurt to consult a pediatric urologist. If her urine isn't concentrated then she isn't dehydrated. When she does go, does she soak her diaper? Those are the things you should note, in addition to her fluid intake, how many time she nurses, etc and what the urination pattern is of her sibling prior to the visit.

 

[padams]

Is swaddling at night the norm now? Do you swaddle so they can't turn over?

My kids are 12 and 14, and I know baby recommendations change (DS #1 was born in the phase of having babies sleep on their sides. We had a little wedge to keep him sideways. By the time, DS#2 was born, babies were to sleep on their backs). I can't imagine swaddling them so they couldn't move at night, especially for 10-12 hours (my guys only slept about 5-7 hours at 4 months, and both could roll over by then). However, I could understand if swaddling helps with keeping the baby breathing since she is on the monitor.

Just curious...

 

[Mrs. Charming]

Is swaddling at night the norm now? Do you swaddle so they can't turn over?

My kids are 12 and 14, and I know baby recommendations change (DS #1 was born in the phase of having babies sleep on their sides. We had a little wedge to keep him sideways. By the time, DS#2 was born, babies were to sleep on their backs). I can't imagine swaddling them so they couldn't move at night, especially for 10-12 hours (my guys only slept about 5-7 hours at 4 months, and both could roll over by then). However, I could understand if swaddling helps with keeping the baby breathing since she is on the monitor.

Just curious...

Yep, pretty much the norm for now... until some new development comes along. I'm not 110% sure of the rationale, but not being able to move/roll sounds about right when it comes down to it. I dont think it's a "comfort" thing because DD hated it and kicked herself out of the swaddle as soon as she figured out how.

 

[padams]

Yep, pretty much the norm for now... until some new development comes along. I'm not 110% sure of the rationale, but not being able to move/roll sounds about right when it comes down to it. I dont think it's a "comfort" thing because DD hated it and kicked herself out of the swaddle as soon as she figured out how.

Got it. Thanks for the update.

 

[ORMom2Four]

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm going to call the Ped and see if he will refer us to a urologist.

My oldest is 18, and "way back then" (haha) we put our babies to sleep on their stomach. We started swaddling our twins (only at night) so that they would not wake themselves with their startle reflex. Now it helps calm them at night and it's part of their bedtime routine (bottle at 7:30, swaddle and sleep at 8). As soon as they are swaddled, they get a sleepy smile on their face and fall right to sleep. They are not swaddled tight enough not to be able to move Both girls are normally sucking on their fingers when they wake in the morning

 

[babytrees]

My youngest (now 14) would wake up dry most mornings from about 3 months on....5 minutes out of the crib and she would be soaking The girl knew how to hold it because she hated being wet.

She also scared the bejeebers out of me when she was first born because she didn't pee or poop for a few days. (pee'd on the doc the second day and pooped a day or so later) Doctor stated she is probably already on a schedule and she still is. We know when dinner is done because she goes to the bathroom.

 

[bumbershoot]

When she does go, does she soak her diaper?

A really good question.

I also wonder if you're 100% sure about holding it ALL in at night. Are you using disposable diapers? Because one of the whole points of those is that it wicks moisture away and doesn't really feel wet. I remember babysitting for kids with those diapers, and you couldn't notice visually and often couldn't *feel* wetness. Difficult to know when to change!

So I wonder if you could go with cloth dipes for awhile, so that you know 100% if the dipe is bone dry or if it's a bit moist in the morning.


"They" say (and I experienced many many times) that sleeping in the room near an adult can help babies regulate their breathing. It also helps babies not go into that deep deep sleep (which isn't really "normal" for mammals). So you might want to bring baby into your room, if she isn't already there, to help with her breathing. I remember waking with DS next to me (we are family bed people all the way) with him in a big inhalation-and-hold-it, and I would blow on his face, and he would let out the breath. Then I'd go back to sleep. It's amazing what can wake you up; just the tiniest noise or *lack of noise*, when you're right there!

 

[Mommee]

Huh. I would've never thought that a baby staying dry during the night was a reason to be concerned. I'm glad I didn't know any better

DS (now 9) started staying dry sometimes at night around 3 months old. By the time he was 6 months old, he was never wet when I got him up in the morning. BUT, that first diaper would get a soaking (and his clothes, and whatever he was sitting on )

It took us all of a day to potty train him at the ripe ole' age of just-turned 2.

 

[ORMom2Four]

A really good question.

I also wonder if you're 100% sure about holding it ALL in at night. Are you using disposable diapers? Because one of the whole points of those is that it wicks moisture away and doesn't really feel wet. I remember babysitting for kids with those diapers, and you couldn't notice visually and often couldn't *feel* wetness. Difficult to know when to change!

So I wonder if you could go with cloth dipes for awhile, so that you know 100% if the dipe is bone dry or if it's a bit moist in the morning.


"They" say (and I experienced many many times) that sleeping in the room near an adult can help babies regulate their breathing. It also helps babies not go into that deep deep sleep (which isn't really "normal" for mammals). So you might want to bring baby into your room, if she isn't already there, to help with her breathing. I remember waking with DS next to me (we are family bed people all the way) with him in a big inhalation-and-hold-it, and I would blow on his face, and he would let out the breath. Then I'd go back to sleep. It's amazing what can wake you up; just the tiniest noise or *lack of noise*, when you're right there!

They are in both a co-sleeper beside my bed. They sleep next to each other, usually cuddled together They are in disposables, and they are very dry when she wakes, not a drop of urine. She normally wets within 30 min of waking though. Maybe she is just holding it all night? Dh jokes that she's already potty training herself.

Huh. I would've never thought that a baby staying dry during the night was a reason to be concerned. I'm glad I didn't know any better

DS (now 9) started staying dry sometimes at night around 3 months old. By the time he was 6 months old, he was never wet when I got him up in the morning. BUT, that first diaper would get a soaking (and his clothes, and whatever he was sitting on )

It took us all of a day to potty train him at the ripe ole' age of just-turned 2.

lol! I hope our potty training is that easy, we are spending a ton on diapers

 

[cm8]

They are in both a co-sleeper beside my bed. They sleep next to each other, usually cuddled together They are in disposables, and they are very dry when she wakes, not a drop of urine. She normally wets within 30 min of waking though. Maybe she is just holding it all night? Dh jokes that she's already potty training herself.



lol! I hope our potty training is that easy, we are spending a ton on diapers

Op, I hope that you were able to see a pediatric urologist!

 

[smschex]

*She still has periods of apnea during the deep night sleep, the longest I have counted myself is 8 seconds (no longer on the apnea monitor)
*Growing well, gained 1 pound in a month, she is up to 13lbs, 8oz

You can relax about the "apnea." Technically, apnea is defined as a cessation of respiratory effort for 20 seconds. No one breaths in a completely regular pattern all the time, especially when asleep. It is normal to space out a breath and even take a big sigh every now and then. Now knowing that doesn't stop me from making sure my kids are breathing, even now that the youngest is 11 , but hopefully it will calm you a little bit.

 

[Iott Family]

Parenting :worship

My babies were all born at the 39-40 week mark with no complications and I still got up and checked their breathing night and day. Worried over how many wet and poopy diapers per day and if they were taking in enough to put out enough.

I still wake up and check on them. All of them. From the 14 year old down to the 4 year old! I even wake and listen to DH breathing Poor guy cant get up in the middle of the night to pee w/o being asked "everything ok?".

If she is wetting within 15-30 minutes of waking I would say she is most likely ok. If she wasnt wetting at all for longer than 10 hours then Id really worry! I think its great that you are co-sleeping with them next to you. I also think the swaddling is good. My 4 and 6 year old still love to be tucked in tight at night

If your mommy instinct is truly going off then get a second opinion. Its a few moments out of your life to reassure yourself one way or the other. Its your duty as a mommy to be an advocate for your kids. Think of it that way and dont let "feeling silly" or guilt for seeking a second opinion from that of your ped for the last 10 years

 

[crashbb]

A really good question.

I also wonder if you're 100% sure about holding it ALL in at night. Are you using disposable diapers? Because one of the whole points of those is that it wicks moisture away and doesn't really feel wet. I remember babysitting for kids with those diapers, and you couldn't notice visually and often couldn't *feel* wetness. Difficult to know when to change!

So I wonder if you could go with cloth dipes for awhile, so that you know 100% if the dipe is bone dry or if it's a bit moist in the morning.


"They" say (and I experienced many many times) that sleeping in the room near an adult can help babies regulate their breathing. It also helps babies not go into that deep deep sleep (which isn't really "normal" for mammals). So you might want to bring baby into your room, if she isn't already there, to help with her breathing. I remember waking with DS next to me (we are family bed people all the way) with him in a big inhalation-and-hold-it, and I would blow on his face, and he would let out the breath. Then I'd go back to sleep. It's amazing what can wake you up; just the tiniest noise or *lack of noise*, when you're right there!

What are you talking about now? Deep sleep is not normal for mammals? Seriously? For the love of all things chocolate please stop posting "medical facts" when you don't know what you are talking about. Leaving a baby (or any mammal) without sleep disorders to sleep on their own is, obviously, going to allow the most "normal" sleep possible. When I had a sleep study, the fact that I didn't enter a deep sleep cycle for long enough was considered a problem.

OP - I don't know enough about babies to know if staying try through the night is a problem, but if you are worried, I'd agree with Dawn's suggestion of seeing a pediatric urologist.

Also, the image of your two little ones cuddled together is very, very cute.

 

[ontariomonkey]

Does she pee 6-8 times in 24hrs? If so, no problem. Also apnea as far as I know is greater than 15s so don't worry about 8 seconds!! I think it's hard to bring your premie home from the NICU and trust that they are ok eh?

Have you read any books about diaper-free baby care? There is a school of thought that babies can control their bodily functions, maybe as pps have suggested she just does not like to sit in a wet diaper at night.

 

[laughinplace199]

Parenting :worship

My babies were all born at the 39-40 week mark with no complications and I still got up and checked their breathing night and day. Worried over how many wet and poopy diapers per day and if they were taking in enough to put out enough.

I still wake up and check on them. All of them. From the 14 year old down to the 4 year old! I even wake and listen to DH breathing Poor guy cant get up in the middle of the night to pee w/o being asked "everything ok?".
If she is wetting within 15-30 minutes of waking I would say she is most likely ok. If she wasnt wetting at all for longer than 10 hours then Id really worry! I think its great that you are co-sleeping with them next to you. I also think the swaddling is good. My 4 and 6 year old still love to be tucked in tight at night

If your mommy instinct is truly going off then get a second opinion. Its a few moments out of your life to reassure yourself one way or the other. Its your duty as a mommy to be an advocate for your kids. Think of it that way and dont let "feeling silly" or guilt for seeking a second opinion from that of your ped for the last 10 years

OMG - I think we must be related! My kids are 11, 9, and 3 and I still check on them every night.

OP - I've never heard of a baby that young staying dry all night. It's probably nothing to worry about, but having her seen by a urologist might put your mind at ease.