In order to be sure of the health of the future baby, a woman is forced to regularly take various tests throughout her pregnancy. One of these is the study of urine for its protein content. Depending on the result, doctors can conclude on the state of health of the mother and child. Traces of protein in the urine during pregnancy are cause for concern, as they can indicate serious illnesses.
Protein in urine
Even in absolutely healthy people in urine, a fraction of the protein appears from time to time. A large portion of protein food is already an occasion for the remnants of a substance that are not absorbed by the body through the kidneys to go into the bladder. Therefore, if a pregnant woman at any period of gestation, the analysis shows a certain level of protein, then this is not a reason to panic. As a rule, in such cases, the doctor prescribes a repeated collection of urine and only after an additional study does he make the corresponding results. Often, the second analysis shows completely different results.
It is also worth considering that the body of a woman expecting a baby works for two, so the kidneys have an increased load. For this reason, traces of protein in the urine during pregnancy, reaching a volume of 0.033 g / l, are considered normal. For an ordinary person, such an indicator is high.
Medical classification
The protein content in urine in medical practice is called proteinuria. Depending on the amount of the above substance in the urine, four stages of this condition are distinguished:
- Microalbuminuria - with a protein level in the liquid corresponding to 3-300 mg per day.
- Proteinuria of mild degree - when the volume of the substance is from 300 mg to 1 g.
- Moderate proteinuria - if 1 liter of urine accounts for 1-3 g of protein.
- A pronounced degree of proteinuria is the protein content of 3 g or more.
Most often in the first two cases there is no cause for concern. The slight appearance of protein traces does not affect the course of pregnancy at all and passes without a trace. However, it is still recommended that one or more repeated tests be taken to ensure that the danger is completely absent.
Symptoms
The expectant mother may not feel any signs, even if she has traces of protein in her urine. During pregnancy, the norm of the substance in urine is up to 300 mg, so a mild form of proteinuria will not cause a woman any discomfort. However, if the protein appeared as a signal of a disease, and its level exceeds the permissible, the future mother may experience symptoms such as:
- Constant feeling of tiredness.
- Aching pain in the bones.
- Dizziness.
- A change in the shade of morning urine (the liquid may become greenish or slightly whitish).
- Digestive disorders, manifested by loss of appetite, as well as nausea and vomiting.
Of course, all of the above symptoms can be observed in a pregnant woman without proteinuria, since bearing a child is a complex process for the body. However, if suspicious test results have also been added to these symptoms, an additional examination is worthwhile to calculate the root of the problem.
Protein in the urine: causes
The body of a woman preparing to become a mother is very unstable, which is why it is not uncommon for doctors to find traces of protein in the urine during pregnancy. The reasons for such changes often lie in external factors, which may be:
- Psychological stress or increased emotional stress.
- Excessive intake of protein-rich foods.
- Taking certain medications.
- Increased physical activity.
Particular attention should be paid to the last point. Given that women are strictly prohibited from physical activity at any stage of pregnancy, this factor can affect not only the protein content in urine, but also the development of the fetus.
What diseases can proteinuria indicate
If after a series of tests it was clearly established that the level of protein in the urine is significantly increased, a general examination is prescribed to identify possible diseases. So, protein in urine often indicates such ailments:
- Impaired renal function (pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis).
- Inflammation of the urinary tract (cystitis, urethritis, etc.).
- Nephropathy
- Diabetes.
- Hypertension.
Very often, traces of protein in the urine during pregnancy of 36 weeks or more indicate the development of nephropathy. This disease is characterized by the appearance of severe edema in the extremities and is usually diagnosed in women at the last stages of gestation. Concomitant with this ailment may be high blood pressure.
As for the inflammatory processes in the kidneys, characterized by pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis, they are primarily caused by increased pressure of the enlarged uterus on the internal organs, including the urinary system.
Diagnostics
To determine the most accurate picture of the health status of a pregnant patient, doctors need to take the urine collected during the day for analysis. However, if a woman is not in hospital treatment, it may be rather inconvenient for her to conduct such an event. For this reason, traces of protein in the urine during pregnancy are usually detected by electrophoresis. To determine the results of the analysis, it is enough to take a single portion of the discharge.
If the obtained indicators are not normal, the doctor prescribes a second urinalysis. Sometimes the diagnosis includes complex methods, that is, in combination with urine samples, blood is given for analysis. According to the final indicators of both studies, the specialist makes a general conclusion.
How to collect urine for analysis
The first rule that women should remember in this case: urine should be collected only in the morning. Moreover, it is desirable that it was urine collected immediately after awakening. Also, special attention should be paid to hygiene of the external genital organs. Before collecting the fluid, it is necessary to wash thoroughly to remove the remnants of vaginal discharge. For this, it is not recommended to use antiseptic solutions or decoctions of herbs, because these substances can affect the accuracy of the test results.
The fluid collection vessel must be dry and sterile. This is very important for testing for traces of protein in the urine during pregnancy. Bacteria in the urine may be due to poorly washed containers, which means that the result will not be reliable, and the analysis will have to be retaken.
As for nutrition, before the study, do not lean on food that stains urine. Such products include carrots and beets. In addition, it is better to abandon diuretic drinks and medicines of similar action.
Detection of protein in urine at home
Without a visit to a doctorโs office, any pregnant woman can do a proteinuria test on her own. To begin with, you should observe the shade and external state of the liquid. If urine became cloudy, a saturated or slightly greenish color appeared, then we can assume the presence of protein in it. Also, with an increased protein content in the fluid, additional inclusions are often present: salts, white blood cells and epithelial cells. This becomes noticeable if you leave urine, placed in a transparent vessel, for a while at rest. After a few hours, the liquid will be covered with foam, and a pronounced precipitate will appear at its bottom.
Using normal boiling, you can also detect traces of protein in the urine during pregnancy. What does it mean? If urine with a high concentration of protein is heated to a boiling state, flocculent clots will appear on its surface.
What to do when protein is detected in urine
If the kidneys function normally, and the analysis still shows a positive result for proteinuria, then most likely you just need to adjust your lifestyle. First, try limiting your daily fluid intake. This will reduce the amount of urine. Secondly, many doctors recommend switching to a proper diet. Such a diet should be non-fried and spicy foods, consumed in moderation. It is advisable to exclude salt from your diet.
Proteinuria treatment
In case of unsatisfactory test results, therapy is prescribed, aimed primarily not at eliminating traces of protein in the urine during pregnancy, but rather overcoming the cause of this phenomenon. Depending on the initial diagnosis, treatment may be based on the following methods:
- Reception of anti-inflammatory drugs.
- The use of antibiotics.
- The use of drugs to enhance immunity.
- The appointment of drugs that lower blood pressure.
- Rest in resort areas.
- Adjustment of the daily regimen and diet.
Eliminating the root of the problem will help to cope with the main task - to reduce or completely remove traces of protein in the urine during pregnancy. Treatment should be timely, then it guarantees a speedy recovery.
Folk remedies
For help, you can contact not only a medical institution, but also to folk recipes. However, it should be understood that this method will only remove the symptoms, and the original disease will not completely destroy. Therefore, it is best to use alternative treatment in combination with traditional.
Cranberries are believed to be good at fighting proteinuria. It is necessary to prepare fruit juice from it, which can be used as a dessert and for therapeutic purposes.
Parsley-based infusions also help lower urine protein levels. The classic recipe looks like this: 1 tsp. seeds or chopped root (optional) parsley need to pour a glass of boiling water. Then the liquid should be allowed to infuse for a couple of hours.
Another old recipe is a decoction of birch buds. 2 tbsp the main ingredient is poured into a glass of water, after which the product is brought to a boil. In order for the broth to be completely ready for use, it must be insisted in a thermos for 2-3 hours.
Traces of protein in the urine during pregnancy are not so rare. The reasons (treatment relies precisely on their elimination) can be various, but the main thing is to recognize them in time.