For parents, every change and behavior of their newborn baby becomes a major concern. Mothers in particular may feel inadequate, feeling that they cannot take good care of their babies in many normal situations. Orange or pink spots in the diaper are a cause for concern about the health of newborn babies Many mothers may think these spots are blood. So, what exactly are occasional stains in diapers? Why is it seen?
What Do Stains on Diapers Mean?
Dark spots seen in the baby’s diaper are usually not blood and do not indicate any health problem. These stains appear when the uric acid crystals in the baby’s urine oxidize as they remain on the top side of the diaper due to the ready-made diaper technology and turn a dark color such as pink, salmon, brick, orange. Especially babies who are not breastfed or who are mainly formula-fed have darker urine and are more likely to have spots. Over time, as the baby gets enough nutrition, the crystals begin to decrease. As the amount of water in the urine increases, the spotting disappears. Another factor that can cause diaper staining without bleeding from the urine is the consumption of red food. Red-colored foods such as beets and tomatoes fed to babies can also stain urine. This may cause red staining of the diaper.
Blood Stains in Diapers
However, not every orange or pink spot in a baby’s diaper is caused by crystals. If there is a high suspicion that the stain is blood, parents should take a swab sample and consult a pediatrician. The urine test that the physician will perform with the sample taken from here can determine whether the stain seen in the diaper is blood or not. If the stain is blood, a urine test can be performed to diagnose the condition causing the bleeding.
What are the Causes of Blood in Diapers?
Babies, especially those with kidney problems, may have sand in their kidneys. Bleeding in the urinary tract can occur during sand pouring. Other causes of blood in the diaper other than sand pouring can be listed as follows:
Cow’s Milk Allergy: Blood in the baby’s diaper may mean that the baby is allergic to cow’s milk protein. Even if the baby is exclusively breastfed, the protein in the milk and dairy products that the mother eats can pass from breast milk to the baby and cause allergic bleeding in the intestines. In this case, the mother needs to go on a diet that includes foods containing cow’s milk protein.
Urinary Tract Infections: Bacteria that enter the vulnerable body of newborn babies can cause urinary tract infections. This can lead to blood in the urine.
Diaper Rash: Bright red blood spots may appear on the diaper after the baby’s diaper is cleaned. This is often caused not by urine, but by small bleeding from irritated buttock skin. Whenever possible, it may help to leave the baby without a diaper for a few hours to relieve these small bleeds.
Anal Fissure Blood in the diaper of a baby who often experiences constipation may indicate a crack in the anal area.
What Causes Sand Shedding in Babies?
Sand shedding in babies is usually noticed when pink or red spots or particles appear in the baby’s diaper.
For a few months during the transition from breast milk to supplementary food, babies may not get enough water as their kidneys develop rapidly. This can lead to a health problem such as sand spillage. Sand pouring can also cause mild bleeding in the urinary tract. However, as the baby grows, if the daily water consumption needs are met, these mild bleeding will disappear spontaneously.
Urine and blood tests should be done!
In case of sand pouring in babies, even if the bleeding is mild, a doctor should be consulted. If the bleeding is confirmed by a urinalysis, your baby will need an ultrasound scan to better assess the condition of the kidneys and bladder (to detect possible kidney stones or infection). If no kidney stones are detected on ultrasound imaging, the baby should be taken for an ultrasound check-up every 6 months until the age of 2.
If there are metabolic problems (excessive excretion of calcium and oxalate in the urine, high levels of calcium and uric acid in the blood) due to sand loss, urine and blood tests should also be performed.
If stones are seen on ultrasound examination, it may be necessary to resort to some interventions (lithotripsy, ESWL) for treatment with a size of 5-6 mm or more.
In summary, orange stains in diapers are not something to be afraid of, but something to be careful about. The first step is to consult a specialist physician to confirm that the stain is not blood. It is then important to ensure that the baby gets enough breast milk and consumes enough water after the 6th month of life.