Bedwetting basics

BEDWETTING is a nightmare for many families, as sometimes no amount of techniques shared between parents or from older relatives seems to fix the problem. In fact, for some children, bedwetting could cloud their happiness well into their teenage years.

While this may seem like a never-ending nightmare to these families, Dr Anona Griffith, paediatrician at Gateway Plaza, Old Harbour, says that this doesn’t have to be their story.

“Bedwetting, also known as nocturnal enuresis, refers to an involuntary passage of urine during sleep in a child who should be dry. It generally falls into two categories, one being primary, where the child never had a prolonged period of dryness, while secondary enuresis refers to bedwetting after at least six months of dry nights,” Dr Griffith said.

She explained that the condition is a phase which all children experience and it generally resolves on its own, sometimes with a little assistance from parents.

Dr Griffith said that a number of children, based their genetic make-up or other conditions out of their control, are generally more likely to be bedwetters. This group includes male children who are twice as likely to struggle with the condition; and a familial link, where if you suffered from the condition as a child, your child or grandchild could also experience the problem. Children with pre-existing conditions such as ADHD and learning disorders are also susceptible.

She further explained that even though the condition is a natural part of the child’s development, there are a number of things which affect the production and elimination of urine from the body.

These include:

1) The intake of fluid.

2) Hormones which regulate the amount of urine produced during sleep.

3) The amount of urine that can be stored in the bladder.

4) Responsiveness of the bladder to signals from the brain to urinate.

5) Abnormalities of the bladder itself or nerves that control it such as in spina bifida.

She encouraged parents not to allow the frustration associated with bedwetting to cloud their judgement since bedwetting could very well be an indication of existing medical problems.

These include:

1) Infection of the bladder or urinary tract (UTI), fever, frequent passage of urine, pain on urination, lower abdominal pain.

2) Diabetes ( increased thirst and appetite).

3) Constipation.

4) Sleep apnoea (cessation of breathing during sleep) also may be associated with snoring, mouth breathing and nasal stuffiness.

Dr Griffith said treatment sometimes requires the assistance of medical personnel.

“This process includes checking for the frequency of bedwetting per week, finding out whether the condition always existed or if there a recurrence after six months, testing the frequency and volume of urine passed on each occasion, the quantity and type of fluid the child drinks during the day, and identifying possible stressors,” she said.

Natural care treatments are generally carried out by parents and caregivers. She says this process is generally done to buffer emotional stress that may come into play.

So:

1) Reassure, reassure, reassure. You want your child to know that bedwetting is a normal part of their development and that they have no reason to be frustrated. If needs be, let them know it is okay to take a little longer to stop because people’s bodies develop at different rates.

2) Tell them that even those who don’t wet the bed on a regular basis have accidents.

3) Remind them that it is nothing to be ashamed of.

4) Tell them stories about yourself or other family members who may have had a similar problem.

5) Ensure that other siblings or family members know that it’s out of bounds to tease.

6) Set up a bedwetting alarm system so they can pee at night.

7) Be cognisant of any stressor that might be triggering bedwetting and address it.

8) Have them drink during the earlier part of the day, stopping at least two hours before bedtime.

9) Eliminate caffeine-containing products including chocolate.

10) Encourage urination just before bedtime.

11) Cover mattress with plastic cover.

12) Celebrate milestones achieved.

13) Have them assist in the clean-up process, but do not let it become a burden.

Dr Griffith said that if parents are concerned about the emotional state of their children, then medical attention should be sought.