urination

What can a doctor tell from a urine sample?

Urine, Urination And Urine Problems
Many infections can be detected by a urine test. When you go to your first prenatal appointment, you will be asked to leave a urine sample. Your urine sample will be checked for any type of urinary infections, dehydration, sugar, protein and a confirmed positive pregnancy test. At each other prenatal visit, you will be asked to leave a urine sample as well. Your health care provider will be checking for certain infections that can lead to complications during pregnancy.

A nurse or medical assitant will instruct you on how to complete the urine sample. Normally, you will be given a cup and asked to write your name on the cup. You will also be given an antiseptic wipe. Wash your hands thoroughly before you start. With clean fingers, separate your labia and swab your vuvla with the wipe. Urinate for a few seconds in the toilet and then slip the cup under the stream until you collect enough urine for a sample. Try not to touch the inside of the cup with your fingers. Finish urinating in the toilet. Only a small amount of urine is needed for the test. The nurse will dip a color-coded stick in your sample and compare the results to a chart. Your results will be recorded in your prenatal chart and your doctor will review the resulsts with you. The main things your doctor will be checking for will be sugar, protein, ketones and blood/bacteria in your urine. All of these will be paid close attention to for the duration of your pregnancy.

* Sugar

Elevated sugar in the urine is a sign that you may have gestational diabetes. Some sugar is okay, but if it is elevated or remains slightly elevated at several appointments, further tests may be needed to check for diabetes.

* Protein

Excess protein in your urine can signal complications. Protein in the urine can be a sign of a urinary tract infection as well as kidney damage or certain other disorders. Later in your pregnancy, it can also be a sign of preeclampsia if it's accompanied by high blood pressure.

* Ketones

Ketones occur when the body starts breaking down stored fats. If you are not getting enough carbohydrates, you increase your chances of producing ketones. When ketones are produced, you may feel nauseuas, vomit or lose weight. Your doctor will screen the urine and see if your reading is high. If you can not keep any food or liquid down-you may need IV fluids and medications. If the ketones are found in combination with sugar, it can be a sign of diabetes.

* Blood cells or bacteria

A urinary tract infection can also be found if you have blood cells or nitrites in your urine.

Frequent Urination
When you are pregnant, your body produces alot more fluids. The extra fluids make your kidneys and bladder work double time. One of the most common signs of pregnancy is an increased urge to use the bathroom. You may have noticed a more frequent need to use the restroom even before you realized you were pregnant. As your pregnancy progresses, your growing uterus will put pressure on your bladder. Unfortunately, you may notice that you need to get up to pee more often during the night. When you lie down, some of the fluid that you retained in your legs and feet during the day makes its way back into your bloodstream. It eventually ends up in your bladder. Avoiding tea and coffee can reduce your trips to the restroom. Many women also find that leaning fowards when you pee helps to completely empty the bladder. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day and cut back throughout the evening. For the first few days postpartum, you will urinate more frequently as your body rids itself of the extra fluids. Whn you feel the urge to urinate, do not hold it. Holding it in can cause an infection.

Problems
Doctors get lots of calls about urination. If caught early, urine problems are usually easy to treat.You need to talk to your doctor or midwife if you feel pain or burning when you urinate. You should call your caregiver if you feel the urge to pee even when you're only able to produce a few drops at a time. These could be signs of a urinary tract infection. UTIs are the most common kind of bacterial infection in pregnant women. If left untreated, a UTI can lead to a kidney infection. Preterm labor is triggered by an untreated UTI also. A urinary tract infection (UTI) is also referred to as a bladder infection. A bladder infection is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation in your bladder. Usually, you will feel a frequent urge to urinate and a burning sensation when you pee. Bladder infections are also called cystitis. Bacteria can infect any part of the urinary tract, which starts at the kidneys. Urine is made in the kidneys and continues through the ureters to the bladder. Your bladder holds the urine until you're ready to pee. The urethra carries the urine outside of your body when you urinate. When you get an infection of the urinary tract, it is because bacteria from your intestinal tract has traveled from your rectum up your urethra to your bladder. If not caught in time, it can cause a kidney infection. Pregnant women often require hospitalization to treat a kidney infection. Your doctor will want to monitor your treatment and check for any signs of preterm labor.

Pain, discomfort, or burning when urinating can be the first symptom of a bladder infection. It is not uncommon to have pelvic discomfort or lower abdominal pain. Foul-smelling urine and a frequent urge to pee are also symptoms. Occassionally, you will notice blood in your urine or a cloudy look to the pee.

If the bladder infection gets worse or goes untreated, it can lead to a kidney infection. When the infection has spread to your kidneys, you may experience a high fever, pain in your lower back or side and puss in your urine. You may also feel nauseas and may vomit.

Drinking plenty of water and some cranberry juice will flush your kidneys and discourage new bacteria from developing in the urinary tract. When you feel the need to pee, go. Do not hold it in and completely empty your bladder when urinating. Wiping from front to back after a bowel movement will prevent bacteria from getting near the urethra. Cleansing your genital area thorouhgly before and after sexual intercourse will also prevent the spread of bacteria. Feminie hygiene products can irritate your urethra and genitals and promote a breeding ground for bacteria. It is best to avoid sprays and powders and strong soaps. Douches are never recommended during pregnancy. Wearing all cotton underwear can also prevent an infection from developing.

Comments: urination

Comments 1 to 2 of about 2.

ryroz08@gmail.com - 900 days ago.
almost 19 weeks pregnant and i had a trip to the ER last night due to my MD thinking that i may have a UTI( increased frequency and lower ABD pressure but no pain, or burning) so i went and my urine was clear no bacteria sugar or WBC. but when the did a bladder scan they saw that i was having a ' retention' problem. so they inserted a foley catheter and sent me HOME WITH A LEG BAG!. i cried for 4 hours and was in more pain after my trip to the ER than before i went. so i know this probably was not the best of ideas... but i removed the foley at 4AM this morning with a 10cc syringe that was sterile and at my home. i know my MD is going to be pretty displeased with that decision, but i was unable to relax, sleep, stop crying, and the pain from the foley was worse than the pressure before it. it felt like my urethra was spamming and burning all night long. anyone know of a way to relieve retention without having to go through this. i was not in complete retention because i was still able to void my urine. please HELP.

emmaird - 1648 days ago.
I think my problem is opposite. I count the water I drink: 2-2.3 litres a day... but to pee...I pee only max 0.5-0.7 litres a day. Next day I weight 1-1.5 kg more . This happens everyday. I gain everyday between 0.5-1.2 kg, I weight myself after toilet, every morning. I am 26 weeks, I gain 30 pounds already, wedding ring doesn’t fit anymore. I go to sleep at 10 pm, i wake up by 9 am...no nights pee, morning...just a bit, no velocity, just some pee, bit coloured. I see that if I eat oranges I pee more, but not always. My neutrofiles are going up and up, from 8.5 to 9.6 in 10 weeks. Proteins in urine up from 0 to 0.15, platelets down from 176 to 153. red cells down from 11.9 to 11.2 ( anaemia - GP gave me ferrous to take)..... I have normal blood pressure... Do I just retain water..or something is wrong with my kidneys....or pre-eclampsia signs... I am most disappointed that my midwife keeps telling me I am ok, everything is normal for a pregnant woman...but I think she doesn't have a clue about pregnancy.