I would like to begin this post by saying thank you to all those who included our family, especially Mateo, in their prayers. We truly feel blessed.
Finally, Mateo had his VCUG last Saturday. The pedia-urologist didn’t find any reflux of the urine to the kidneys nor any posterior valves. Basically, any reason for our baby’s UTI that needs serious attention was eliminated. YIPEE!!! All the hassle (not to mention the extra expense) was worth it after learning that there is nothing wrong with Mateo’s urinary tract. The possible reasons now for his UTI could be his immature bladder and/or an uncircumcised penis.
The case with the immature bladder is nothing to be too concerned about. According to the report, it is appropriate for his age. It just means that his bladder doesn’t fully function well yet. It takes a while before it would release his urine, sometimes up to the point where it is already almost full. This is very much similar to adults trying to hold their urine inside (a reason for UTI). As Mateo grows up and he gets more control of his bladder, we should be able to train him to urinate frequently.
With his uncircumcised penis, his foreskin might be accumulating germs that causes infection to go up his ureter. He is recommended for circumcision which we will have done in the next few weeks. These two factors might both be the reasons for the UTI. Mateo also has to be on antibiotics indefinitely to prevent any infection from recurring. His pedia doesn’t want to risk another UTI for fear that his kidneys might be compromised next time.
The VCUG, as expected, has caused a lot of cries and wails from our baby. He has also be irritable after it, maybe his penis was still sore from the catheter. Hopefully, the worst is over now.
‘Mommy, what are they going to do to me?’
‘I’m not scared, mommy.’
The smallest one there in an oversized hospital gown.
Never take advice about amputating normal valuable body parts from a doctor who doesn’t have those parts. Ask. Over half the sensual nerve endings are in the foreskin.
To learn more about the normal penis than US doctors are told by gradaution, spend 20 minutes watching this video: http://www.tlctugger.com/Media/Circumcision_WM7NTSC_256k_D.wmv
Only the owner should ever try and retract a foreskin. If it’s already been forcefully retracted, see the AAP web site and pursue malpractice. The boy will pull on his skin (away from the body) until sometime between age 3 and 10, at which time he will noramlly experiment with rolling it back.
Aggressive cleaning or bubble bath is more likely than the foreskin itself to be causing UTI. EVERY mammal on earth evolved a foreskin before there was surgery or soap. Sterile urine leaving the body is all that’s need to clean the area under the skin.
Never do anything to a foreskin that you wouldn’t do to his eyelids. 80% of the world is intact and suffers no unusual health, hygiene, or social problems.