During pregnancy, you will experience a battery of tests and imaging to monitor the health and progress of you and your unborn baby. One test that is done at every appointment is a urine test. Pee on demand! You would think that it is easy for pregnant women because they pees all the time, however, that cannot be further from the truth. It is somewhat tricky and messy, especially as you get bigger and you are unable to see down there. But yet and still, at every single appointment, you have to produce a urine sample.
Have you ever questioned, if it is truly necessary to collect a urine sample at every pregnancy appointment? What are you really looking for? When should I be concerned? Well, read on.
What is the Urine Test for?
The official medical term for this test is Urinalysis. You can learn several interesting facts from a urine test. For example, you can measure bacteria, blood cells, protein, and glucose levels, which provides insight into mom’s health. In addition, the color, clarity, odor, and acidity (pH) of the urine sample are examined. This information can help determine if a patient has a urinary tract infection or a problem with kidney function.
In pregnancy, the urine test helps us to see if a pregnant lady has signs of an infection, pregnancy diabetes (gestational diabetes), or pregnancy high blood pressure (pre-eclampsia).
1 – Cloudy, foul-smelling, or the presence of blood cells in urine sample
Short anatomy lesson. The uterus is directly above the bladder which is why we pee a lot in pregnancy, especially as the baby increases in size. We pee through the urethra which is a tube that comes from the bladder. The bladder is connected to a left and right kidney (body’s filtration system) by tubes called a ureter. The kidneys are located below the ribs on each side of your spine. The bladder, urethra, kidney, and ureters make up the urinary system.
If bacteria or yeast invade the urinary system, it is called a urinary tract infection or UTI. All the changes in pregnancy, including hormone and physical changes, increase a women’s risk for a UTI. Typically, the bacteria or yeast will invade the urethra or the bladder. In pregnancy, if the infection extends into the kidneys, it can lead to more serious pregnancy-related complications. Including, but not limited to, an early birth (premature birth) or low birth weight of the baby.
Common urinary tract infection symptoms are painful urination, increased urination, or intense urges to pee, however, these symptoms may go unnoticed or be blamed on pregnancy. This is why the urinalysis at every visit is important, to help identify urinary tract infections. If you experience symptoms with lower back pain, fever and chills, blood or mucous in urine, CALL YOUR DOCTOR!
2 – Elevated Glucose in Urine Sample
Another short lesson! Your body changes certain foods you eat into glucose (a sugar), which then enters into the bloodstream. Insulin, a hormone from the pancreas, carries the glucose into your cells for further use. However, in diabetes, the body does not respond well to insulin. This results in higher amounts of glucose circulating in your bloodstream versus moving into your cells for your body to use.
Elevated glucose in the urine can be a sign of pregnancy diabetes also known as gestational diabetes. This can lead to several complications for you and the baby. Common complications can be an early birth (preterm birth), a big baby (macrosomia), plus an increased risk of developing diabetes after pregnancy.
Common symptoms of gestational diabetes are intense thirst, increased urination, nausea, or extreme fatigue, however, these symptoms may go unnoticed. This is why the urinalysis at every visit is important, to help us identify if we have gestational diabetes. If you notice these symptoms along with blurred vision and weight loss, CALL YOUR DOCTOR!
3 – Elevated Protein in Urine Sample
Another short lesson! Your body changes certain foods you eat into glucose (a sugar), which then enters into the bloodstream. Insulin, a hormone from the pancreas, carries the glucose into your cells for further use. However, in diabetes, the body does not respond well to insulin. This results in higher amounts of glucose circulating in your bloodstream versus moving into your cells for your body to use.
Elevated glucose in the urine can be a sign of pregnancy diabetes also known as gestational diabetes. This can lead to several complications for you and the baby. Common complications can be an early birth (preterm birth), a big baby (macrosomia), plus an increased risk of developing diabetes after pregnancy.
Common symptoms of gestational diabetes are intense thirst, increased urination, nausea, or extreme fatigue, however, these symptoms may go unnoticed. This is why the urinalysis at every visit is important, to help us identify if we have gestational diabetes. If you notice these symptoms along with blurred vision and weight loss, CALL YOUR DOCTOR!
Pregnancy high blood pressure is a preventable cause of maternal death. It is important that we identify and decrease elevated blood pressure quickly, usually through medications. If the blood pressure remains high, the mother could suffer a stroke (blood supply to a portion of your brain is interrupted) or it could result in premature delivery.
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What can I Do?
There is no guaranteed way to prevent a urinary tract infection, gestational diabetes, or preeclampsia. To optimize maternal health, it is important to maintain a healthy diet with adequate protein, water hydration, exercise, and rest/sleep. In addition, if you notice a weird symptom, advocate for yourself and contact your doctor!
I am glad that I found this article well documented and very informative.
Thank you and keep going, you do a great job!!