Your child’s first appointment will be with one of our experienced nurse practitioners. These nurses have advanced training to help children with bladder-related issues, and take time during the appointment to answer questions and provide extensive education.
During the first appointment, the nurse practitioner will take a complete medical history and do a physical exam. The team also may test your child’s urine for signs of infection, and perform a “post-void ultrasound,” which shows how much urine is left in the bladder after your child urinates. These tests can take place in the clinic, and no special preparation is needed. If your child needs additional testing, the nurse practitioner will let you know.
During your child’s first appointment, the nurse practitioner will provide treatment recommendations based on your child’s unique needs. Treatment may include:
- Behavior changes, such as not drinking any liquid after a certain time
- Biofeedback/pelvic floor exercises, which teach your child how to relax her pelvic floor muscles so that she can empty her bladder completely while on the toilet
- Bowel management, since constipation is a common cause of bladder problems
- A bedwetting alarm
- Medications
- Positive reinforcement, such as a reward for staying dry during the day
The nurse practitioner may want to schedule a follow-up appointment to see how your child is responding to treatment. Our team is available to answer questions by phone as well.