Concerned about urine smell

[KBecks]

My intact 9 month old's urine smells -- I am not sure if this is normal or not but it has a stronger odor than I remembered with his two older brothers (who are circed.)

I am slightly nervous that this could be a UTI or something else going on. But perhaps it's just a concentrated urine --- it's worst in the morning when he's got a soaked (disposable) diaper, but it's been pretty consistently a darker color and stronger smell.

Has anyone had similar experiences? My little guy is otherwise content, healthy, happy, his penis looks good, no fever, etc. He just had a pediatrician appointment where we discovered an ear infection and so he is about 70% done with amoxycillin for the ears (his first ABX ever). Part of me wonders if the antibiotics would have him covered if he had a UTI anyway?

He is 90% breastfed and eats a variety of solids -- I don't think he's particularly dehydrated or anything. I have been telling myself it's probably OK but I'm worried enough to call the pedi and at least ask about it.

If we need to check for a UTI, what is the method for collecting and testing?

Thanks!!!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

My ds has strong urine a lot not sure why but it does stink. He has never had pain or anything so I havnt thought much about it.

To collect urine you can either do the bag catch which a lot of dr will not do or cath. To do that all the nurse does is move the foreskin around until the urethra lines up with the foreskin opening. No retraction is needed though to see the opening depending on foreskin length it might need to be flared a bit.

[tutucrazy]

Considering you breastfeed and he was just on an ABX it is HIGHLY unlikely that he would have a UTI. Remember that medicines can make the urine smell more. My son's urine is quite strong in the morning. We EC so I smell it as it comes from the source.

This will ease your mind:
http://www.nocirc.org/statements/breastfeeding.php

Btw, are you giving him probiotics. If not you should, especially since he was on ABX. This will restore the good bacteria.

[KBecks]

I haven't been giving probiotics -- do I get yogurt for that?

[Quirky]

If he's already been eating yogurt, then I would make sure to feed him yogurt every day -- if he hasn't had cow's milk yet go cautiously. YoBaby makes a plain organic full-fat yogurt with no sugar that my dd likes.

Otherwise you can pick up some powdered baby probiotics at the health food store and mix it into whatever he eats, or just express a little milk to mix it with and then give it to him.

[tutucrazy]

Originally Posted by KBecks

I haven't been giving probiotics -- do I get yogurt for that?

You need more of a culture count than what yogurt can offer. You can buy them at a health food store or get a script for them from your doctor. I have used Intestinex, which was by prescription. Dissolve on capsule in water and give every 12 hours.

[heidirk]

Lifeways Kefir has a larger number of beneficial bacteria than most yogurts, i think eleven instead of 6.


If you're concerned, try nursing more often so he gets more foremilk, and be sure to stay hydrated yourself.

also, since ABX can cause diarhea, his body might be pulling water out of his urine and sending it to his intestines. In that case, the probiotics will help.

[phatchristy]

The abx could be doing it, of if you think he's less hydrated due to abx diarrhea or more time in the hot outdoors, etc.

Not really an 'intact issue' IMHO. Was the ear infection particularly bad or something? Just wondering because more than 85% of ear infections resolve on their own without ABX. Our ped here will give us a prescription 'just in case' but then tell us that we don't have to fill it, just keep it on hand if symptoms appear. Go figure (that covers their butt by having one on file I guess...?) The only one of our four kiddos to have abx was my 7 y.o. DD...and truth be told that wound up being viral (so after the fact we discovered the abx weren't needed) it was for walking pneumonia so serious! And that was weird...because she'd gone to P.E., ran around and claimed to be feeling normal. The night before she'd baked a cookie for Daddy's birthday with me. She'd just not gotten over the virus. And, of course, threw us for a loop! It was a huge shock as we literally took her for her 7 year check up..a well visit...and discovered it!

Here we get the powdered probiotics. You can mix it in yogurt, pureed food, whatever and feed it to him once a day. I doubt that it's that making an issue with the urine, however most definitely could help for replenishing the beneficial gut flora. And, with the right balance (I got one specifically for kids) will help prevent infection as the majority of viruses, etc. are from kids injesting the bacteria/virus!

[KBecks]

About the ear infection, I did not know that he had an ear infection, but he was teething and I took him in for a 9 mo well check just because I wanted to see how he's doing and get the affirmation that he's wonderful. The pediatrician said that both ears were "red and angry" and prescribed the ABX. It is our first treated or diagnosed ear infection among 3 kids, and my oldest is almost 5. Our baby was a quite fussy but I had figured it was teething. It just happened that we hit the doctor appointment and she discovered it, I possibly would not have noticed it.

I still have not been giving probiotics and we are nearly done with the ABX. Do I need to worry about giving the probiotics still, or is it too late? I should make it to the grocery store tomorrow anyway.

I think the smelly diaper is a phase, I haven't noticed it as much just recently.... will keep monitoring it .

[eepster]

Smelly urine can be caused by a few things, but smelly diapers have even more causes. Possible causes of smelly urine other than UTI just off the top of my head are asparagus and dehydration. The causes of smelly diapers that come to mind are sweaty baby, yeast infection, lingering odor from smelly gas, Not cleaning the scrotum well enough after poopy diapers, rancid moisture/barrier creams, chemicals for the manufacturing of the diaper. Both a yeast infection and smelly gas can be caused by ABX.

[Quirky]

Just FYI, we went through the same thing with my son -- ped would always find an ear infection when he'd been giving no signs that his ears bothered him. "red and angry" doesn't necessarily mean you need abx. After about three or four rounds we just took a wait and see approach rather than going through abx again, and it worked out fine. I would treat with garlic/mullein oil instead of abx.

[robertandenith]

I suggest to get baby probiotics, since they are stronger than yogurts and give it to him everyday AFTER his abx prescription. Children need over 10 billion of live bacteria, I'm not sure about yogurts (read they contain 1 billion only) but I know one cup of Kefir has 10 billion probiotics.

Next time treat his ear infection with chiropractic adjustments, that's how we treated my daughter's recurrent ear infections and also with garlic/olive oil solution I made myself together with ear candles. Try to avoid abx since he will build resistance to it then doctors will prescribe stronger ones later on, and will give him yeast infections.


((((((hugs))))))