Vesicoureteral reflux

Here is the definition from Wikipedia:

Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) is an abnormal movement of urine from the bladder into ureters or kidneys. Urine normally travels from the kidneys via the ureters to the bladder. In vesicoureteral reflux the direction of urine flow is reversed (retrograde).

So we've been busy going to Children's hospital for the last 2 weeks and it has been the hardest few weeks since you were born. You've been diagnosed with the above condition after we went in for an ultrasound and a VCUG test. On a scale from 1 to 5, your reflux is about a 3/4 on one side and 4 on another which is pretty severe. This of course explains why you've now had 2 UTI infections in the last 5 months. So we went to a pediatric urologist for a consult and it looks like for now you'll be put on a prophylactic dose of antibiotics and we now hope for no breakthrough UTI infections. There is a high chance that you may grow out of this condition by the age of 5 or 6, as many children do especially in the lower grade reflux. However if you still get UTIs even though you're on antibiotics, we'll have to explore the option of surgery. We are of course hoping to not have to worry about surgery since you are still so little and it would be so hard to have to put you through something like that. The VCUG test alone took a lot out of me, it was so hard to watch you cry. They had to put a catheter in so that they can insert the dye into your bladder and then take X-ray to monitor where the dye would go. You had no idea what was going on, and I am sure you were pretty scared as you had two sandbags hold your arms down and a nurse hold your legs to make sure you didn't move too much while they were taking a X-ray. I am sure that was pretty traumatic, although you recovered quickly, just as soon as I was able to pick you up. Then you fell asleep on the way home, whimpering every now and then.

Meanwhile we're just adjusting to the fact that we have to give you medicine daily. You've done very well with Keflex for the last few weeks, but we're switching the antibiotic today, and I am hoping that you will still be ok taking it... I know it would make it a lot easier on us and you.