Friday 27 May 2016

Bladder Control - Factors that Influence Bladder Size in Children

Bladder Size in Children

The size of the child influences the size of the bladder. More precisely, the volume of the pelvis influences the size.

The bladder volume of a newborn infant is only about 50 ml. By one year the growth of the child is such that the volume is 130 ml, and by two years the volume is 175 ml. Thereafter, the bladder increases slowly by about 30 ml (one oz) per year of age. In a six year-old child in grade one the volume should be 275 ml. At ten years the volume should be 335 ml.

Bowel health has a major influence on bladder size. The bladder is designed to push a liquid out of a hole. The muscles of the bladder are not suited to push solid poop out of the way. The poop in the rectum therefore competes for space at the narrow bottom of the pelvis. The optimal bowel pattern to achieve an average size bladder is to poop every day in the morning after breakfast and a second time later in the day. The poop must be soft enough for the bladder to push out of the way.

Personality modifies how a child responds to the early signals of a full bladder. There is a spectrum of attentiveness to the early bladder signals. Some children are very attentive and never hold their pee past full. These children void more frequently at smaller volumes. Some children are not very attentive and tend to hold their pee past full and then race to pee and they might be damp or wet before they reach the bathroom. The "Attentive Voiders" present with smaller bladder volumes for size and bowel health. Perhaps there is a "muscle memory" situation that develops to account for this.

Pelvic size, bowel health, and personality are the major modifiers of bladder volume.

There are a number of other modifiers that might intermittently play a role.

The rate of bladder filling is a factor. A faster filling rate triggers the need to pee at a smaller volume. A faster filling rate happens when a child has a larger than usual amount of water or juice to drink and the kidneys are quickly making pee to excrete the excess fluid. think of how often some children need to pee after drinking a big pop at the movie theatre. 

Changes in the emotional state can modify bladder volume. Children who are excited (positive or negative) or anxious pee more often.

Cold temperature plays a role. The bladder empties at a smaller volume when the ambient temperature is low.

The sound of rushing water (taps, waterfalls, river noise) can trigger the need to pee.

Drinking water fast can trigger the need to pee. 


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