If there is protein in the urine of a pregnant woman. Re-test for protein during pregnancy. When to see a doctor

03.07.2019

Protein in urine during pregnancy is the first signal that the body is in danger. Therefore, in women in "expectation of a miracle" all indicators of urine analysis are carefully monitored. But it is not only complications of gestation that can lead to such a change in the composition of urine. Protein can be detected in other conditions, and even if the analysis is not collected correctly.

The main function of the kidneys is to filter the blood. At the same time, part of the liquid portion of the blood, the toxins and harmful metabolic products contained in it, seep through the "tangles" of capillaries. Forms of blood elements (erythrocytes, leukocytes, platelets), as well as proteins, must return back to the body. In pathological conditions, the "tangles" of capillaries can no longer hold elements useful for the body. As a result, protein complexes appear in the urine. Constant protein losses start a chain of pathological processes in the pregnant woman's body, which affects not only the woman's health, but also the baby's development.

What a "good" analysis looks like

Despite the seeming simplicity of the study, the indicators of the general urine analysis (OAM) indicate a number of changes and reflect the main functions of the woman's body, including those in "waiting for a miracle." The table shows which result is considered "good" when carrying.

Table - Normal indicators of OAM during gestation

Indicator	Norm	Pathology
Color	- Light (straw) -yellow	- Color deviations
Turbidity	- Transparent	- Reducing transparency
pH	- from 5 to 7
Density	- 1006-1022	- Less or more thresholds
Protein	- Not detected or traces up to 0.033 g / l	- Increase
Glucose (sugar)	- Not	- Availability
Ketone bodies	- Not	- Availability
Erythrocytes	- Not	- Availability
Leukocytes	- 0-4 in the field of view	- More than 4 in sight
Epithelium	- Up to 10 in the field of view	- More than 10 in sight
Cylinders	- Absent or single hyaline	- Hyaline; - waxy; - grainy; - epithelial; - erythrocyte; - leukocyte
Bacteria	- None	- Revealed
Mushrooms	- None	- Revealed

The norm of protein in urine during pregnancy is the same as that of all other people, that is, it is absent or traces of it are determined. The presence of protein in the urine is called proteinuria (from Latin protein - protein, urine - urine). During pregnancy, OAM is given at each visit to the antenatal clinic, and an in-depth examination of kidney function is given according to indications. The interpretation of the analysis results is carried out by an observing gynecologist, and, if necessary, by a nephrologist, endocrinologist, therapist.

Why protein may appear in urine during pregnancy

The appearance of protein may indicate the development of serious complications of pregnancy. Therefore, the doctor always carefully monitors the analyzes. But sometimes traces of protein in the urine of a pregnant woman are normal, and sometimes it's just an artifact - a consequence of other phenomena not related to the urinary system.

Wrong collection. Often women are encouraged to use reusable test collection containers. Sometimes they are not sufficiently processed and washed. When passing urine in such a container, the result will be incorrect. Most often, there is a false appearance of leukocytes and protein. Also, protein can get into urine from the labia, or from the skin of the perineum if the woman does not observe personal hygiene.
Inflammation in the vagina. If a woman has colpitis at the time of the delivery of OAM (she may not know about this), the discharge during collection may fall into the jar. And this is an "additional portion" of leukocytes and protein.
With other changes in the analysis. Not always, in the presence of protein in the OAM, there are problems with the functioning of the renal capillaries. Often, the cell wall of leukocytes, squamous or columnar epithelium is determined as a protein. Therefore, if leukocytes, erythrocytes and other elements are increased simultaneously with the protein in the OAM, you should not worry too much. As soon as the foreign elements are not detected, the protein will also leave.
Uterine pressure. After 30 weeks of pregnancy, the growing uterus presses all organs of the abdominal cavity, as well as the retroperitoneal space, including the kidneys. This can lead to the appearance of traces of protein complexes in OAM.
Special food. The increased content of meat, eggs, legumes in the diet can lead to the detection of traces of protein in the urine (up to 0.033 g / l).
Overwork. Physical exertion can also provoke a temporary appearance of small amounts of protein in the urine. This is due to increased blood flow in the kidneys, as well as an increase in uterine pressure on the kidneys.

Pathological conditions associated with the appearance of protein complexes in OAM can be represented as follows.

Pyelonephritis. A very common illness during pregnancy. Inflammation of the renal pelvis leads to an increase in the number of leukocytes, casts, and when analyzing the data, an increase in protein is also revealed.
Glomerulonephritis. One of the most dangerous kidney pathologies, including during pregnancy. In this case, the work of the main element of the organ - the renal glomeruli - is disrupted. Protein molecules can migrate from blood to urine without hindrance, causing a number of pathological conditions in a woman.
Cystitis and urethritis. Inflammation of the bladder and urethra leads to an increase in leukocytes and epithelial cells in the urine. When examined, they will also give a reaction to protein.
Urolithiasis disease. Kidney stones can be completely asymptomatic, and protein in the urine may be the only sign of an illness until a complete examination.
Kidney tumors. The appearance of protein complexes in OAM in tumors indicates the progression of the oncological process.
Diabetes. Especially the first type. In this case, the renal glomeruli are affected, their ability to retain protein in the blood is impaired.
Early toxicosis. With severe vomiting and electrolyte imbalance in the urine, in addition to acetone, protein may appear.
Late gestosis. This is the most formidable complication of pregnancy, in which protein appears in the urine. Based on its amount, the severity of gestosis is determined. At the same time, edema of the lower extremities or even the whole body appears, and blood pressure rises. Most often, gestosis develops at a later date - after 30-32 weeks. But in the presence of concomitant pathology, symptoms may appear much earlier.

What other studies to confirm

The screening method for detecting protein in urine is OAM. If even traces of it are detected, as well as if a latent pathology is suspected, in-depth research methods can be prescribed.

Research according to Zimnitsky. To do this, you need to urinate in jars during the day. And every three hours in a separate dish. As a result, 8 jars with different quantities of it are collected for analysis. After that, the total urine content is calculated, dividing it into night and day portions, as well as the maximum and minimum density. The study helps to assess kidney function, which is important in detecting protein.
Research by Nechiporenko. For analysis, an average portion of urine is taken. It calculates the total content of erythrocytes, leukocytes, cylinders.
Rehberg's test. For the study, blood is taken to determine creatinine (this substance is used to determine the speed of the kidneys), and daily urine is collected. Then, by counting, the glomerular filtration rate (SLE) is determined, which directly reflects the work of the kidneys.
Daily loss of protein. An informative study is the daily determination of protein. To do this, it is necessary to urinate in one large container during the day, after which the total protein content in it is calculated. Daily protein in urine during pregnancy should not exceed 1 g / l. Content from one to three grams is considered an average degree of proteinuria, more than three - pronounced.

Symptoms

In addition to detecting protein in the urine, you may notice other symptoms that may indicate this condition. First of all, it is swelling. Protein is a "building block" material for the cells of a woman and a developing intrauterine baby. It determines oncotic pressure - the pressure that opposes the transfer of the liquid part of the blood into the intercellular space. Daily loss of protein in the urine in conditions of its increased need during pregnancy leads to a decrease in its value in the blood. This inevitably leads to a decrease in the oncotic blood pressure and the release of the liquid part into the intercellular space. This is how edema is formed. First, it is swelling of the lower extremities, then the upper, abdomen and even the whole body (anasarka). Also, a woman may be disturbed by the following signs:

weakness, lethargy;
headaches;
pallor of the skin;
lowering blood pressure;
tendency to thrombosis due to thickening of the blood.

Than the condition threatens

The increased protein in the urine during pregnancy affects the well-being of a woman. If protein is a manifestation of renal pathology, the risk of edema, development of gestosis, serious renal dysfunction, up to acute renal failure increases. In addition, a decrease in protein in the blood during its loss in the urine explains why such a condition can be dangerous during pregnancy for a developing intrauterine child:

less protein comes to the fetus;
there are fewer carrier proteins of other building molecules;
the deterioration of a woman's condition leads to irreversible consequences for the fetus.

What to do

First of all, it is necessary to treat the condition that led to the appearance of protein in the urine during pregnancy. If it is pyelonephritis, anti-inflammatory treatment with antibiotics is required, preeclampsia - drugs that improve blood supply to organs and lower blood pressure, other kidney pathology - appropriate treatment. The therapy is carried out in a hospital under the dynamic control of the protein content in the urine and the supervision of medical personnel.

If necessary, transfusion of plasma or blood proteins (albumin) is performed. At the same time, the required level of proteins is artificially restored, which stops the progression of edema, somewhat improves the condition of the pregnant woman.

If protein losses exceed three g / l per day, in the early stages there may be a question about the advisability of continuing the pregnancy, in the later stages - about early delivery.

Some women are interested in how to get rid of protein in urine and edema during pregnancy at home, whether it is possible to use some folk remedies for this. It is dangerous to self-medicate in situations like this. At any time, the condition can worsen and develop a serious complication for the woman and baby. You can use traditional methods, but only in consultation with your doctor.

While waiting for a miracle, it is helpful to know how to properly prepare for urine collection to avoid false positive results.

Banks. It is better to use special laboratory glassware sold in pharmacies. You can also collect urine in inexpensive and generally available disposable jars, after rinsing them with boiling water. Before taking the analysis, reusable jars should be additionally rinsed and rinsed with boiling water.
Hygiene. Before collecting urine, you must thoroughly rinse the external genitals and perineum with warm water and soap. When urinating, it is better to cover the entrance to the vagina, for example, with a gauze swab, so that the discharge does not get into the dishes.
Time. Collect urine in the morning, ideally right after the night.
What a portion. For a general analysis, it is better to take urine in the middle of urination.

What is useful for prevention

All women, especially those who have kidney problems or are at risk for the development of preeclampsia, should know that they should not eat smoked, salty, spicy foods. In addition, they need to adhere to the following rules:

limit physical activity;
drink one and a half to two liters of clean water per day;
if necessary, take medicated renal fees;
regularly take urine tests and visit a doctor.

Protein in urine can be a sign of serious functional disorders of the kidneys, or it can be an artifact resulting from a violation of the rules for collecting urine. But only a specialist can establish the true causes of protein in urine during pregnancy. You should not self-medicate, since only timely detection and treatment of pathological conditions helps to endure and complete pregnancy with minimal consequences for the woman and child.

If the protein in the urine during pregnancy is 0.1, then this indicates that the woman is doing well. Higher rates are the presence of kidney disease or gestosis.

A pregnant woman should carefully monitor her health. Therefore, the doctor asks her to regularly take tests, for example, urinalysis. This examination is necessary because it is important to control the amount of protein in the urine of a pregnant woman. If it is increased, then it is possible that the woman has health problems.

A pregnant woman may have a slightly increased protein content, because during this period, the load on the kidneys increases.Doctors call this physiological proteinuria, which is not a cause for concern. everything returns to normal after childbirth. Proteinuria is a protein in the urine that is determined by laboratory tests.

What does protein in urine mean during pregnancy 0.1 g / l? This means that the woman is doing well, the protein test is negative. If it rises to 0.3 g / l, then this is insignificant proteinuria. From 1 g / l - moderate, and more than 3 g / l - significant. Consider how much protein should be in a given week of pregnancy:

At 1-12 weeks - should not exceed 0.002 g / l in one portion of urine.
At 13-27 weeks - the daily rate is from 0.08 to 0.1 g / l.
At 28 - 40 weeks - the daily rate is up to 0.033 g / l.

If the increase in protein is insignificant, less than 0.3 g per day, while the woman does not have other symptoms of the disease, then this does not always indicate some pathology. Moreover, one should not worry when it was observed only once. There are a number of reasons why the protein in the urine rises, and this is not associated with disease.

Reasons for increasing protein

Why protein in urine can be elevated, what is the reason? One bad analysis says nothing. It is worth worrying when the analysis has shown several times that the protein in the urine is increased.

Reasons that are not hazardous to health

Sometimes there is protein in the urine because a pregnant woman did not take the tests correctly. There are some important points to follow. If she does everything correctly and then retakes the analysis, the result will be different. How to take a urine test correctly:

Physical activity is prohibited the day before testing. At this time, you can not do gymnastics or yoga.
Before delivery, you need to correct your menu, exclude meat food from it, everything salty and spicy.
The dishes must be sterile, it is better to buy them at the pharmacy.
You need to collect urine in the morning, and do it right: first go to the toilet, then to the dishes, and then back to the toilet.
Dishes with urine should be in the laboratory within 2 hours; they should not be shaken on the way.

If you did everything correctly, and your result was still higher than normal, then there are other reasons due to which the protein in the urine was increased, and this is not a sign of pathology. Before taking the analysis, you could overload yourself physically, despite the ban, or you were very worried that day. Stress affects the outcome. Also, the protein in the urine will be increased if a woman has previously eaten a lot of cottage cheese, eggs, drank milk, or took medication. High temperature also affects the result. Then this protein does not indicate pathology. You just need to retake the analysis, observing all the rules, and next week the result will be different.

Analysis speaks of illness

If a pregnant woman constantly has high protein in the urine, what is the danger, what does it mean? This may indicate either kidney and urinary tract disease, gestosis. An accurate diagnosis must be made by a doctor, based on additional symptoms. These can be the following diseases:

Pyelonephritis. With this disease, the patient's temperature rises, he complains of weakness, nausea and vomiting. Side hurts, small swelling appears, a woman often runs to the toilet.
Cystitis. There is a pain in the bladder, frequent urination, she goes to the toilet every quarter of an hour, pain appears at the beginning and end of urination. The urine is cloudy.
Glomerulonephritis. The urine changes color, there is blood in it, the face and feet swell, the person is thirsty, suffers from shortness of breath. He has weakness, a headache, and his blood pressure rises.
Polycystic kidney disease. The stomach and lower back hurts, weakness torments, a lot of urine is released (up to 2-3 liters per day), it is light, blood pressure rises, nausea torments, a person loses weight.
Urolithiasis disease. The lower back also hurts, there are renal colic, nausea and vomiting torment.

There are other kidney and bladder diseases, but a specialist should diagnose and treat. If the protein in the urine appears at a later date, i.e. at 28 weeks, this may indicate gestosis, a dangerous disease that occurs in 10-15% of women, most often during the first or multiple pregnancy. It is impossible to diagnose only by analyzing urine, there must be other symptoms: swelling, increased blood pressure, dizziness, weakness. It can be difficult to distinguish gestosis from kidney disease, but its signs most often appear at 25-28 weeks of pregnancy, sometimes earlier.

What to do if the protein level is elevated, what is the treatment? An accurate diagnosis must be made first. If it is inflammation of the urinary tract or kidneys, then anti-inflammatory drugs or antibiotics are used. If this is gestosis, then the treatment is prescribed by an obstetrician-gynecologist. If this is the first degree of gestosis, then the treatment is carried out on an outpatient basis. The patient is provided with peace, monitored her nutrition, fasting days are made, motherwort and valerian are prescribed. With an increase in pressure, the pregnant woman should drink drugs that reduce it. If the gestosis is moderate or severe, the woman can be hospitalized.

Whatever the reason for the increase in protein in the urine, a pregnant woman should not be nervous. It is good that the disease was detected immediately, so it will be easier to cure it. Modern medicine is capable of much, so a woman can give birth to a healthy child and get rid of the disease herself.

During pregnancy, the expectant mother is repeatedly examined: starting from the day when she found out about her interesting situation and got registered, until the moment of giving birth. As usual, a pregnant woman takes a urine test before each trip to the gynecologist. This is surprising to many. It would seem that what is new can be seen there? However, this simple analysis can tell about the slightest deviations from the norm. This is very important for the prevention and elimination of pathologies in the early stages.

It is most important to keep urine protein and leukocyte levels under control during pregnancy. An increased protein content is a frequent occurrence during this period, it signals congestion and kidney defects.

During pregnancy, the load on the genitourinary system doubles. Therefore, the kidneys become extremely vulnerable to various infections. The constantly growing fetus and the enlarging uterus put pressure on the ureters, which only complicates the situation.

A certain amount of protein is present in the urine of almost all healthy people. Its increased content is the so-called proteinuria - due to the abuse of protein foods, stress or physical fatigue. In such situations, a temporary increase in the amount of protein in the urine is considered normal.

In absolutely healthy people, protein is not detected, and in pregnant women, an increase in the level of up to 0.002 g / l in a single portion of urine is taken as normal. But at the end of pregnancy, doctors allow an excess of the norm of up to 0.033 g / l (the so-called mild proteinuria), because the load on the kidneys is extremely high. If the indicator goes off scale - 3 g / l or more - then we can talk about serious pathologies.

Re-testing for protein during pregnancy

Usually, with an increased rate, the pregnant woman is prescribed an additional urine test for protein to confirm or deny the preliminary diagnosis.

The fact is that proteinuria may not be associated with disorders in the body, but have a physiological nature. Protein in urine can be detected due to the fact that the pregnant woman, on the eve of the test, consumed protein foods: milk, eggs, cottage cheese. Either she abused physical activity, or against the background of a stressful state, accompanied by moral exhaustion. The reason for the increase in the amount of protein in the urine can be an increased body temperature, profuse sweating, and even a cold shower on the eve of the test.

The so-called false proteinuria is caused by non-observance of the rules for collecting urine or intimate hygiene. To find out if the protein in the urine of a pregnant woman is false positive, it is necessary to retake the analysis, having previously prepared. In the morning, you need to thoroughly wash yourself, remove the discharge from the vagina (if any) and, covering it with a cotton swab, collect the middle urine in a sterile container (in the middle of the urination process). Only then can the optimal result be obtained.

Causes of high protein in urine

Pathological proteinuria occurs against the background of serious diseases. The first cause of high protein in urine during pregnancy is considered to be a disease such as preeclampsia... This is an extremely dangerous pathology, which a doctor can suspect not only on the basis of the results of a protein test. To clarify the diagnosis, this indicator should be combined with severe swelling caused by increased vascular permeability and chronic hypertension, accompanied by tinnitus, dizziness, and severe weakness. Basically, gestosis occurs in the second half of pregnancy.

If the gynecologist suspects you have this disease, then he will definitely insist on hospitalization. The fact is that it is sometimes very difficult to distinguish gestosis from kidney diseases, since many of the latter differ in the same signs.

A pregnant woman should be under round-the-clock supervision of medical workers so that the pathology is detected and eliminated in time.

Also, increased protein in the urine may be a sign of such kidney diseaselike pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis. The first is characterized by characteristic painful sensations in the lumbar region and bladder.

A striking sign of the second is the unusual color of urine - the color of meat slops. In addition to the presence of protein, with these diseases, an increased content of leukocytes and erythrocytes is found in the urine.

Treatment

If traces of protein in the urine are detected, treatment is prescribed based on the picture of the symptoms. If the indicator in the analysis is higher than 0.033 and is a consequence of inflammatory processes in the kidneys, then it is necessary to treat the root cause, to eliminate the root of the problem.

If diagnosed, for example, pyelonephritis, the gynecologist should prescribe to the pregnant woman anti-inflammatory drugs based on herbs and diuretics ... In acute and chronic form of the disease, prescribe antibiotics .

If this did not happen, then the cause is much more serious, for example, gestosis. The treatment of this disease is an extremely difficult process. Basically, doctors seek to stabilize the indicators and maintain them normal until delivery. Sometimes a full 9-month gestation is possible. But with gestosis, the threat always remains.

The most terrible outcome is the death of the mother and child, so doctors will first of all offer to terminate the pregnancy. If a woman still decides to preserve the fetus, she needs to go to the hospital and listen to all the recommendations of the gynecologist.

In this position, the pregnant woman should be prepared for the fact that she will not be able to give birth on her own and will have to do a cesarean section. Gestosis cannot be cured, but it is possible to reduce the level of protein in the urine - primarily through diet.

Prevention of late gestosisand, therefore, one of its symptoms - high protein in the urine - is a special diet. In case of refusal of a pregnant woman from inpatient treatment, it is necessary to show consciousness in relation to her condition. First of all, monitor the pressure. Measure it regularly twice a day, listen to the slightest shifts in health for the worse: headaches, ringing in the ears, darkening in the eyes.

With a tendency to edema, strictly monitor the amount of fluid consumed - it should not exceed the amount secreted. Limit or completely abandon the use of salt, pepper, smoked meats, fried meat with a crispy crust. Weigh yourself daily and monitor your weight. The rapid set of extra pounds is the first sign of progressive preeclampsia.

To facilitate the work of the kidneys, you can take herbal preparations in parallel: kanephron or phytolysin. Diuretic herbal teas, cranberry and lingonberry juice are very effective. But first you need to consult a doctor!

And remember, the main thing is your attitude. If you find yourself in such an unpleasant situation, your first task is to take care of the health of your unborn baby. And if mom is calm and confident, everything will end happily.

I like!

During the period of bearing a child, any test results that differ from the norm require immediate diagnosis and careful monitoring of the woman's condition. Increased protein in the urine during pregnancy is an alarming sign for the expectant mother at any time during the gestation period. The appearance of such a symptom often ends with hospitalization and treatment of a pregnant woman in inpatient conditions.

When is protein in the urine of a pregnant woman dangerous and how to avoid this condition?

Why is it so important to pay attention if you have found protein in your urine during pregnancy?

Protein in urine - what does it mean?

In the human body, all fluid passes through renal filtration and enters the urinary sediment. Therefore, urine normally contains a small amount of proteins, leukocytes and erythrocytes.

What does protein in urine mean during pregnancy? In pregnant women, the load on the kidneys increases, which is facilitated by the uterus, an increase in the volume of blood passing through the kidneys, etc. During the period of childbearing, the genitourinary system works "for two" - it removes toxic substances and decay products from the body of the mother and fetus.

During pregnancy, women may develop mild proteinuria (increased protein in the urine) under the influence of physiological factors or as a result of the development of severe pathological conditions. Therefore, any deviations in the results of urine analysis serve as a reason for a thorough examination of the pregnant woman.

Important! The acceptable protein level that is not pathological is 0.033 g / liter. These are the so-called "traces of protein in urine", upon detection of which a woman should not fear for her health.

Proteinuria is classified according to the severity of the condition of the pregnant woman and the reasons for the appearance of protein:

Functional proteinuria. There are slight deviations (0.034-0.14 g / liter), indicating small disturbances in metabolic processes in a pregnant woman. In this case, the woman does not experience signs of malaise, the course of pregnancy is normal. Protein indicators can both increase in periods and return to normal on their own. The condition is considered benign and is corrected by changing the daily routine and prescribing a diet.
Pathological proteinuria. If the norm of protein in urine during pregnancy exceeds 0.25 g / liter, then we are talking about the development of pathological conditions. Initially, the cause of this condition is inflammation of the genitourinary system and kidneys, disorders of the cardiovascular system, tumors in the adrenal glands and kidneys. This is a dangerous condition that requires immediate treatment.
False positive proteinuria. When the protein in the urine during pregnancy is increased, but no signs of disease in a woman have been identified, such a condition is differentiated as false proteinuria. The reasons are: improper collection of urine, inadequate hygiene, infections in the genitals.

Despite the form of proteinuria and the reasons for the increase in protein in the urine, a woman with such indicators in the analysis is at risk and must be registered with a nephrologist.

Protein norms in urine

Normally, protein should not be present in urine during pregnancy. The appearance of protein in the urine that exceeds the permissible level is a dangerous sign indicating dysfunction of the kidneys. Therefore, a woman undergoes a thorough examination and passes additional tests in order to diagnose pathology in time and exclude its negative impact on the child.

Protein in urine during pregnancy: norm, table

If the daily analysis exceeds the norm, a re-collection of urine is prescribed, while it is recommended to follow the rules for collecting urine, adjust a diet and eliminate stressful situations before the examination. If the repeated sampling of the material shows a high concentration of protein in the urine analysis, the pregnant woman is assigned an examination of the genitourinary system in order to exclude or identify possible inflammatory processes.

Note! Protein levels can rise with the course of pregnancy due to increased stress on the mother's body. In some cases (multiple pregnancies), a level of 0.14 g / liter is considered acceptable in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

Deviations from the norm:

Up to 1 g / day - mild proteinuria;
Up to 3 g / day - medium;
More than 3 g / day - severe.

With moderate to severe proteinuria, a woman should be placed in a stationary environment, because this condition poses a threat to her health and the life of the fetus.

It is important to take care of your health during pregnancy and remember that when you visit the antenatal clinic, you should be tested for the presence of protein in the urine

How to donate urine for protein

The daily protein in urine determines the general blood test, which is included in the list of mandatory studies during pregnancy.

To prevent the result from becoming false positive, special recommendations should be followed when collecting urine:
On the eve of taking the test, you should limit the consumption of salty, sour, spicy and meat dishes.
Thorough genital hygiene should be performed before collecting urine.
To collect urine, it is best to purchase a special plastic container at the pharmacy.
The container should be filled with a medium portion of urine: the first few seconds you need to urinate in the toilet, then collect the urine in a container (approximately - 50 g).
The material for analysis should be delivered to the laboratory no later than two hours after the urine was collected.
If any vaginal discharge is present, a cotton swab should be used to prevent it from entering the collection container.

A protein test is performed at each visit.

Causes in pregnant women of protein in the urine

The appearance of protein in the urine is not a disease, but a consequence of the development of pathological processes in the body. However, proteinuria can be provoked by various external factors that are not associated with the onset of diseases and which can be easily eliminated by changing the conditions and lifestyle.

Non-dangerous physiological causes of proteinuria:

Improper collection of urine (poor personal hygiene, non-sterile collection container).
The nutritional features of a pregnant woman are eating high-protein foods (milk, fatty cottage cheese, poultry, etc.) on the eve of the analysis. Typically, this situation occurs in pregnant women who arrange "protein" fasting days before urine collection.
Excessive physical stress (overstrain, overwork, inadequate sleep, insufficient rest) and psycho-emotional nature (excitement, stress,).
Taking certain medications that affect the composition of urine.
Excessive fluid intake (increased water load on the liver).

The physiological reasons for the appearance of protein in the urine include the normal growth process of the uterus during pregnancy. The growing uterus begins to press on the urinary tract and kidneys, which interferes with their blood supply. This condition is not dangerous, but requires constant monitoring.

There are more serious reasons for the appearance of proteinuria, especially if there are consistently high levels of protein in urine. These can be pathologies of the genitourinary system, stagnant, gestosis of varying severity. Any of these pathological conditions requires careful diagnosis and immediate specialized treatment.

In order for the results of urine tests to be reliable, you need to follow the rules for taking tests and do not forget about basic hygiene before the procedure.

Pathological causes of protein in urine:

... This is an infectious kidney pathology, accompanied by chills, high fever, lower back pain. In addition to protein, erythrocytes and leukocytes can be found in urine during pregnancy.
... Inflammation of the bladder, characterized by frequent urge to urinate.
Glomerulonephritis. Acute infectious process in the kidneys. In the urine, the content of leukocytes, protein and erythrocytes is increased, and the urine itself acquires a slightly reddish tint.
Polycystic kidney disease. A chronic, severe genetic disease.

In late pregnancy, proteinuria occurs for the same reasons as in the first months of gestation. However, at this time, such a dangerous condition as gestosis is added to them. It usually develops after 34 weeks of pregnancy, but it can occur at 20 weeks, which indicates a severe course of the disease.

Gestosis is characterized by a deterioration in the functioning of the kidneys, brain and blood vessels of a pregnant woman, the appearance of protein in the urine and increased arterial. In late pregnancy, severe swelling of the extremities is added to such symptoms.

Important! Preeclampsia in late stages is diagnosed in 10-15% of pregnant women. Usually, the disease is observed with multiple and first pregnancies.

Gestosis in severe forms can lead to placental abruption, seizures, abnormalities in the development of the fetus and its death.

Symptoms of the development of proteinuria

The manifestations of proteinuria depend on the cause that caused it. If the appearance of protein is associated with the reproduction of pathogenic flora and inflammatory processes in the kidneys, the following symptoms may appear in women:

Chronic weakness;
Pain in the kidney area;
Decreased working capacity;
Frequency of urination;
Sharp bouts of vomiting;
Increased blood pressure.

With gestosis, the woman's condition worsens sharply - in the third trimester, gestosis can manifest itself with the following symptoms:

Nervous system disorders;
Swelling of the limbs;
Disruption of hormone production;
Seizures;
Deterioration in fetal development indicators.

Visually, protein can be detected if flakes and a strong sediment are present in urine when taking a morning urine sample.

Danger of protein in urine

If a pregnant woman has protein in her urine, the woman will be advised to regularly visit a gynecologist and nephrologist. Constant medical supervision will help prevent the dangerous consequences of proteinuria.

With proteinuria, which is permanent and not temporary, especially if the protein indicators are constantly increasing, the woman is hospitalized and transferred under constant observation in a hospital environment. In difficult situations, a woman may be offered an abortion.

What is the danger of protein in urine in a pregnant woman:

Kidney failure;
Child developmental defects
Accession of purulent inflammation;
Blood poisoning;
Oxygen starvation of the child;
Infection of the placenta and fetus;
Premature birth.

Any disorders accompanied by an increase in protein in the urine of a pregnant woman require immediate medical attention, because constitute a danger to the health and life of the baby and the expectant mother.

Treatment

Before starting treatment for proteinuria, the doctor determines the cause of the presence of protein in the urine. If the condition is not associated with diseases, then the therapeutic measures are reduced to the normalization of the lifestyle:

Compliance with a certain diet that excludes chocolate, citrus fruits, strong tea, coffee, fatty, smoked, salty and spicy foods.
Inclusion in the menu of a large number of fruits, vegetables, herbal decoctions, fruit drinks.
Adjust the amount of fluid consumed: Excessive fluid intake provokes swelling and protein in the urine.
Avoid excessive fluid loss - do not stay in direct sunlight for a long time or in a very hot room.
Do an exercise to unload the liver - every day, at least 5-6 times a day, take a knee-elbow position for 10-15 minutes. This reduces the pressure on the organs of the genitourinary system, which is especially important in the last months of pregnancy.

With an increase in blood pressure in order to prevent gestosis, a pregnant woman should keep a special diary, which records blood pressure in the morning and evening, as well as the reasons that caused it (overload, overwork, physical or mental work).

Note! A small increase in protein does not require hospitalization and therapeutic measures are carried out at home. With gestosis, it is necessary to place a woman in a hospital.

To prevent gestosis of a pregnant woman, plant-based medicines are prescribed - Fitosilin, Kanefron, decoctions of lingonberry leaves, cranberries, rose hips, etc.

With infectious pathologies of the kidneys, a woman is prescribed anti-inflammatory and diuretic phytopreparations.

In acute and chronic forms of glomerulonephritis and the patient is prescribed antibiotics.

Increased protein in the urine (proteinuria) is a condition that requires special attention, even if the general well-being of the woman is satisfactory and the pregnant woman does not express any complaints. During the period of childbearing, a protein test is an important indicator, and any deviation from the norm is a reason to see a doctor.

The content of the article:

From the first day of a pregnant woman's registration, she begins a series of examinations and tests. The period of thorough diagnosis lasts until the birth itself. Before each visit to the gynecologist, the pregnant woman must undergo general blood and urine tests. The latter is necessary to determine the presence of a protein, which plays an important role in identifying various pathologies. The thing is that while carrying a baby, the kidneys become vulnerable to many infections, due to an increase in the load on the urinary system. Therefore, high protein in the urine of pregnant women is not uncommon.

Protein in urine during pregnancy: what does it mean?

Proteins are useful substances that take part in all vital processes of the cells of the human body, as well as in their formation. Without them, no biochemical reaction occurs. When proteins, useful substances, are removed from the body, it means that the body has malfunctioned against the background of the development of pathology.

The norm of protein in urine during pregnancy and the reasons for its increase

In an ideal state, there should be no protein in the urine at all. However, experts still admit its insignificant presence in the urinary system, even in absolutely healthy pregnant women. Indeed, sometimes, the following can provoke the appearance of traces of protein in the urine:

1) excessive physical activity;
2) consumption of protein foods in large quantities;
3) violation of the conditions of sterility during urine collection;
4) increased body temperature;
5) stress;
6) increased sweating before collection of the test material.

The presence of protein in the urine due to these factors indicates temporary proteinuria (excretion of protein in the urine). Depending on the trimester of pregnancy, there are certain norms, which can be found in the table below for protein content in urine during pregnancy.

In addition to temporary deviations from the norm, there are pathological ones, which can be caused by many diseases. Among them are:

1. Diabetes. In addition to an increase in blood glucose, the disease also provokes an increase in the amount of albumin - simple proteins.