Pregnancy is the biggest transitional stage in a woman’s life. This is the time when she is experiencing many emotional and physiological changes. Some of these physical and moral changes cause several symptoms that range from mild to very dangerous. Routine blood tests and urine tests are required to track these changes. These tests are performed at every prenatal appointment.
Since urine is a striking indicator of the health of mother and baby, minor changes in it, of course, mean a lot. Especially important is the number of white blood cells in the urine of a pregnant woman. Many women in labor experience an increase in their amount in urine. There are several common causes that lead to this pathology in the body of a future mother.
What are white blood cells?
White blood cell is the technical name for white blood cells. They are the basis for immune responses that protect people from infection. Elevated white blood cells in the urine during pregnancy is a common phenomenon and occurs more than half of women who expect a baby.
These white blood bodies are part of a number of processes, including phagocytes and lymphocytes.
Phagocytes are produced in the bone marrow. Their task is to absorb foreign particles, such as bacteria. This is manifested in the environment of the particle, its internalization and destruction.
Lymphocytes - cells that recognize foreign particles based on previous encounters make up "adaptive" immunity. This is the complex ability of the immune system to remember the infection and trigger more specific reactions to it.
Lymphocytes also produce antibodies that bind to foreign particles, so that they can be recognized for destruction.
There are other types of white blood cells. For example, cytotoxic white blood cells have the ability to kill other cells.
What do high white blood cells in urine mean?
The presence of elevated white blood cells in the urine during pregnancy can mean inflammation in the bladder or kidneys.
However, the presence of certain white blood cells does not always mean infection. The level should be high. A urine sample should also be done carefully because infection can occur, for example, from the genitals.
White blood cells and nitrites
When doctors use the test to determine the level, they detect certain chemicals. The norm of white blood cells in urine during pregnancy is a maximum of 6 units.
Chemical test strips can collect substances known as leukocyte esterase and nitrite in urine. Both of them are potential indicators of infection.
The presence of nitrite in the urine is very specific for bacterial infection. However, this does not mean that there will be no bacteria at all.
If there is no leukocyte esterase in the urine , this means that infection is unlikely.
What are white blood cells in urine without nitrite?
If the test for leukocytes is positive, and for nitrites - negative, then this means the presence of infection in the body. What does white blood cells mean in urine during pregnancy without nitrite?
The reason for this is the specific limitations of nitrite. This means that it can pinpoint a bacterial infection. However, it is not very sensitive, which means that not all bacterial infections can be detected.
If white blood cells in the urine are detected without nitrite, then this can also mean a false positive result. This is an indicator suggesting a bacterial infection when it actually is not. In this case, further laboratory tests can be performed.
The presence of white blood cells in the urine does not always mean that there is an infection in the pregnant woman's body. If there are white blood cells, but no nitrite, then the test may be negative.
Basically, this happens when there is another reason for the presence of inflammation in the urinary tract, or in women who may have leukocytes in their urine from their genital canal when sampling.
Before analysis, thoroughly rinse the genitals, preferably without soap and other detergents.
For diagnosis, it is necessary to start the fence from the middle of urination. The initial amount of urine that comes out may be contaminated and therefore should not be trapped.
Pregnancy tests often include urinalysis, which can detect the presence of white blood cells, as well as red blood cells and substances such as glucose and protein. The causes of white blood cells in the urine during pregnancy are usually the same as in non-pregnant women. The most common culprits are urinary tract and genital infections.
Various reasons
White blood cells or white blood cells are important cells of the immune system that protect the body from all kinds of infections and foreign materials. The presence of white blood cells in the urine is a sign of inflammation and infection of one or more species.
Causes of an increase in white blood cell count during pregnancy
Here are some of the causes of elevated white blood cells in your urine during pregnancy that can affect your level increase:
- Urinary tract disease. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are common in women of childbearing age. Although UTI is usually a relatively small problem for a non-pregnant woman, the development of the disease while waiting for the baby is more associated with possible complications, both for the mother and her unborn child.
- Lower urinary tract disease. Lower urinary tract infection refers to infection limited to the bladder. Commonly known as a bladder infection or cystitis, it has symptoms associated with lower UTI and limited by increased urgency and frequency of urination, as well as pain with urination.
- Upper urinary tract disease. Pregnancy leads to changes in the female urinary tract, which increase the likelihood that bacteria in the bladder will move up and infect one or both kidneys. This is a condition known as upper UTI or pyelonephritis.
Symptoms of high white blood cell count
Usually, the disease is manifested by symptoms of a bladder infection along with additional symptoms, including:
- Fever and chills.
- Pain in the side (in the back below the chest).
- Intermittent abdominal pain.
- Nausea with or without vomiting.
- General feeling of weakness.
Asymptomatic bacteriuria
Asymptomatic bacteriuria means the presence of bacteria in the urine, often with white blood cells, but without any symptoms associated with an upper or lower UTI. Although this condition is often harmless in non-pregnant women, asymptomatic bacteriuria often progresses to pyelonephritis if left untreated.
Genital infection
Genital infection during pregnancy can potentially lead to white blood cells in the urine. When one or more of these infections is present, vaginal and external genital secretions containing white blood cells are often mixed with urine when collecting a sample. Examples of genital infections that can lead to the presence of white blood cells in the urine during pregnancy include:
- Chlamydia
- Vaginal yeast infection.
- Bacterial vaginitis.
- Gonorrhea.
- Genital herpes.
Precautionary measures
Pregnant women usually experience increased vaginal secretion, which often contains white blood cells, even if they do not have a genital infection. By cleaning the external genitalia with a hygienic wipe before collecting a urine sample, they avoid possible infection with vaginal secretions.
When washing before taking the test, you need to ensure that the discharge does not fall into the container, otherwise the protein and white blood cells in the urine during pregnancy will be higher than normal.
Even if there are no leukocytes in the urine, doctors recommend screening for asymptomatic bacteriuria with a culture of urine from 12 to 16 weeks of pregnancy to reduce the risk of infection of the kidneys, premature birth and other possible complications. Treatment significantly reduces the risk of these complications. You should talk with an obstetrician-gynecologist about the frequency of diagnosing urine leukocytes, especially if there is diabetes, a history of UTI or other urinary tract problems.
If you experience any symptoms of a bladder, kidney, or genitals, see a doctor immediately after pregnancy. Early diagnosis and treatment minimize the risk of possible complications for the mother and the unborn child.
Treatment
Because of the danger of complications in the mother and the fetus, emergency care should be aimed at identifying and treating asymptomatic and symptomatic bacteriuria, as well as ensuring that an alternative process does not cause symptoms.
Treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women is important because of the increased risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) and its associated complications. Care may include the following:
- The introduction of appropriate substances.
- The introduction of fluid if the patient is dehydrated.
- Taking antibiotics if there are any signs of complex UTI.
Recommendations
Tips that can be used to ensure good hygiene and reduce bacterial contamination of the urethra help prevent inadequate treatment and recurrent infection. Recommendations include the following:
- Avoid bathtubs.
- Wipe the genitals from the abdomen to the back, after urination or defecation.
- Wash hands before going to the toilet.
- Use washcloths to clean the perineum.
- Use liquid soap to prevent the growth of bacteria.
Antibiotic therapy
Oral antibiotics are an effective treatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria and cystitis. Appropriate oral regimens include the following:
- "Cephalexin" - 500 mg 4 times a day.
- Ampicillin - 500 mg 4 times a day.
- "Nitrofurantoin" - 100 mg twice a day.
- "Sulfisoxazole" - 1 g 4 times a day.
How to get rid of white blood cells in urine without antibiotics
If the white blood cell count in a urine test during pregnancy is elevated and caused by bacteria, here are some natural ways to lower it without using antibiotics:
- To drink a lot of water. This helps to reject bacteria. Eight glasses a day is the optimal dose for withdrawal. Add fresh lemon or lime to enhance the taste and help with detoxification.
- To relieve pain at high temperature (inflammation and irritation from UTI can leave a woman with pressure and pain around the pubic region or lower back), heat therapy is necessary. Put a heated pillow for about 10-15 minutes.
Folk methods
Traditional methods of treatment include:
- Eating more Vitamin C: This vitamin, found in berries (like cranberries), citrus fruits, melons and cabbage, can help balance urine's acidity, which helps maintain a healthy urinary tract.
- Eat Yogurt: A popular dairy product filled with probiotics.
- Move away from irritants: it's time to focus on health, so you need to remove things that can irritate the bladder. Caffeine, nicotine, spicy foods, alcohol, carbonated drinks and those artificial sweeteners that are not suitable for humans. You need to consume more carbohydrates that are high in fiber, such as grains, and healthy fats, like nuts and olive oil, are all good for digestion.
- Water with parsley: this natural diuretic helps cleanse the urinary system.
- More Blueberries: It contains ingredients that can work to prevent and treat UTIs.
These tips will not only help treat any infection, but also reduce the risk of infection. First of all, it is necessary to eliminate the causes of white blood cells in the urine during pregnancy and, together with the gynecologist, select the necessary safe treatment.