Sydney mum stunned by diagnosis after shock find in baby’s nappy

A mum rushed her baby daughter to the emergency room with a nappy full of blood, only to be stunned by her diagnosis.

Sarah Regan was shocked when she went to change her baby’s diaper and found blood. Picture: Kennedy News and Media

When Sarah Regan went to change her nine-month-old baby’s nappy she was horrified when she found it filled with blood.

Panicking her baby girl Birdie could have a kidney infection, Regan, 38, rushed her daughter to the emergency room, where doctors carried out a battery of tests.

Doctors carried out ultrasounds, hormone tests and an X-ray on her wrist, and they found her bones were advanced by 18 months and she was diagnosed with precocious puberty — before she could even walk or talk.

“That was her first period,” the puzzled mum from Sydney, Australia said.

“I didn’t know what to think, we didn’t know much about it and we’d never heard of it before.”

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The mum of three says she has to explain the medical condition to Birdie’s daycare. Picture: Kennedy News and Media

According to Stanford Medicine, precocious puberty is a rare condition in children involving physical signs of sexual maturity developing too soon.

Because Birdie, who is now 2, is so young, it’s hard to tell what other symptoms she has, like mood swings or aches and period pain.

“She doesn’t have pubic hair or breasts, which some children with the condition can get,” Regan explained.

Neither of Regan’s other children have the condition. Picture: Kennedy News and Media

The mum of three, who has two other children, Zachary, 10, and Elsie, one, admitted it’s tough having to constantly explain Birdie’s condition.

“When she goes to daycare I felt like I had to explain that if they find blood in her nappy that’s why and we have a doctor’s note to ensure no one becomes concerned about it,” she revealed.

“That’s our biggest hurdle with her.”

However, the mum says it’s important for people to know about it.

“I also don’t want people to become complacent. If blood is found in an infant’s underwear it has to be investigated,” she explained.

After she initially started bleeding, Birdie has suffered random spotting. The toddler has to undergo a hormone test, ultrasound and X-ray every six months to check on her development.

The mum says if Birdie’s development advances quickly, she’ll consider hormone injections to slow it down. Picture: Kennedy News and Media

Regan says if Birdie’s development advances quickly, she’ll consider hormone injections to slow it down and stall other elements of puberty from coming too early, but doctors are monitoring the situation.

“She’s had spotting since the full bleed. It hasn’t been monthly. It’s stretched itself out, it’s not regular,” she explains.

“It makes it really hard to track. We’re trying to make sure it doesn’t affect her physically.”

The concerned mum says just wants her daughter to have a typical childhood.

“As her mum I hope it doesn’t affect her appearance and growth more than any other child her age,” she said.

“If we need hormone therapy then we’ll do it, I just don’t want it to make her different.”

Despite her rare condition, Regan describes Birdie as a “normal” baby.

“She’s a normal girl, she’s almost 3, she’s having tantrums,” she said.

“She’s normal, you wouldn’t know. Appearance wise you wouldn’t know the difference because we’re on top of it.”