Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Urine testing is one of the basic tests during pregnancy. Pregnant women should perform urinalysis at least 7 times. It involves assessing the urine sample for its physical and biochemical characteristics. What information does a urine pregnancy test result provide? How to interpret it?

Pregnant urine testsare usually ordered by the doctor every month. Why so often? Because the changes appearing in it may indicate diseases that are dangerous or cause complications during pregnancy.

Urine test during pregnancy: doctor's interpretation of the results

Your doctor will pay close attention to three things while viewing the results: urine for sugar, protein, and signs of urinary tract infection (high white blood cell count). The detection of sugar in the urine requires verification for diabetes. Higher protein values ​​may occur in the case of urinary tract infection, kidney disease or severe pregnancy-induced hypertension (pregnancy poisoning). And an increased number of leukocytes is a sign of urinary tract infection, which may be asymptomatic. If untreated, asymptomatic infection can pose a risk to pregnancy, which is why your doctor will perform a general urine test every month to help you fight them effectively if they are found.

Urine test during pregnancy: interpretation of the result

  • Colors

Norm: light yellow color.

Red or bloody color indicates the penetration of red blood cells into the urinary system (e.g. in severe kidney damage, in hemorrhagic diathesis or due to the presence of stones in the urinary tract).

Brown indicates the presence of bilirubin.

  • Transparency

Standard: clear, clear.

Freshly voided urine is clear, then becomes cloudy. Urine from the beginning cloudy is present in purulent inflammations of the urinary tract and some forms of nephrolithiasis.

  • Reaction (pH)

Norm: acidic, i.e. approx. 5.5 pH (in the range of 4.5-7.8).

Persistent alkaline reaction may indicate impaired ability of the kidney to acidify urine, urinary tract infection with ammonia-decomposing bacteria, or kidney stones.

  • Density (specific gravity)

Norm: 1.023-1.035 g / cm3.

Urine specific gravity should not be close to that of water (1 g / cm3), as it may indicate a loss of a very important function of the kidney, which is urine concentrating. It is often the first symptom that suggests kidney failure is beginning.

  • Bacterie

Norm: should not be present.

The presence of bacteria in the urine may indicate a kidney or urinary tract infection. But it is not sufficient evidence of infection as the bacteria can come from the skin or mucosa of intimate parts (if adequate hygiene has not been followed when collecting a urine sample). If bacteria are found, urine culture must be performed. Only the result of this test shows whether the urine sample contains bacteria, in what quantity, what species and to which antibiotics are susceptible.

  • Protein

Norm: should not be present.

In the urine of he althy people, small amounts of protein are excreted (up to 100 mg per day). Proteinuria is the excretion of more than 150 mg of protein in the urine per day, but in pregnancy it can be up to 200 mg per day. Protein in the urine may appear during high fever, under the influence of intense physical exertion or freezing, but it is most often caused by diseases of the urinary tract. Note: detection of protein in the urine of a pregnant woman may indicate gestosis (pregnancy poisoning).

  • Sugar (glucose)

Norm: should not be present.

The result can be given in numbers, e.g. 50 mg / l (the higher the number, the more glucose) or in pluses - the greater the number of pluses, the greater the amount of glucose. If there is sugar in your urine, you will need a blood test for diabetes - a glucose load test.

  • Bilirubin

Norm: total bilirubin: less than 1.1 mg / dl; Conjugated bilirubin: less than 0.3 mg / dL

In pregnancy, an increase in total bilirubin does not necessarily mean anything worrying. On the other hand, an increase in the concentration of bound bilirubin signals liver problems, e.g. it may mean cholestasis.

  • Erythrocytes

Norm: no more than 3 in the field of view.

The presence of erythrocytes (red blood cells) in the urine is called hematuria (when there are few of them) or hematuria. Hematuria, like proteinuria, is a common symptom of urinary tract diseases. The source of hematuria or hematuria may be damage to both the kidney and any section of the urinary tract. The most common cause is kidney stones, especially an attack of renal colic. The presence of more than 10 blood cells in the field of view may suggest blood coagulation disorders, circulatory failure, liver cirrhosis.

  • Leukocytes

Norm: no more than 5 in the field of view.

Having more leukocytes (white blood cells) in the field of view usually indicates a bacterial infection of the urinary tract or kidneys.

Which pregnancy tests are mandatory?

Important

Urine test during pregnancy: how to get the sample correctly?

The most valuable is the test of the urine sample from the first morning voiding (urination) and the so-called the middle urine stream and after thoroughly washing the area around the mouth of the urethra. The urine sample is best collected in a specially designed container (you can buy it at a pharmacy), and finally in another, thoroughly washed container with an airtight seal. The urine specimen should be tested within two hours of collection.

"M jak mama" monthly

Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!

Category:

Pregnant examinations