Urates in the diaper

Is my baby urinating blood? Is it serious?

In general, spotting in the diaper in the first few days of life that is identified as blood is not serious. Stains caused by blood are usually red or dark brown in color. The stains commonly found in a baby’s diaper in the early days of life often have an orange color, and when they cool down, they may appear sandy. These stains are due to the excretion of urate crystals in the urine. In most cases, the excretion of these uric acid salts does not indicate illness.

Why does the excretion of urate occur?

The intake of colostrum and breast milk in the early days of life leads to more acidic urine, which promotes the precipitation of uric acid in the urine and the formation of urate crystals. Additionally, during the first 2-3 days of life, newborns often produce a higher volume of urine compared to their intake, which can cause a mild state of dehydration and the appearance of concentrated and dark-colored urine.

When should we be concerned?

You should only be concerned if the newborn has other symptoms such as weight loss, excessive irritability or sleepiness, refusal to eat, vomiting, decreased urination, or if the urate stains persist beyond the first week of life. In these cases, they may indicate dehydration, and it is advisable to seek medical attention from a pediatrician.

What should you do if you notice orange stains in the diaper?

If you notice orange stains in the diaper, it is important to remain calm and ensure that the newborn is adequately feeding, as these stains tend to disappear as the baby consumes larger volumes of milk. Only in the aforementioned alarming situations should you seek an evaluation by a pediatrician.