During a woman’s expectation of a baby, she should be routinely tested for urine and blood. Thanks to the data received, the doctor can monitor the condition of the expectant mother, monitor how the fetus develops. The absence of any deviations and impurities in urine is a sign of normal functioning of the kidneys and urinary organs. If mucus appears in the urine during pregnancy, then the woman should understand that a similar sign means and what measures should be taken in this case.
What does it mean if there is mucus in the expectant mother’s urine?
The entire urinary tract is covered with a mucosa consisting of epithelial cells. If a woman’s immunity is functioning normally and there is no infection, the epithelium will prevent the toxic effects of urea and will not give the slightest opportunity for harmful bacteria to gain a foothold.
From this we can conclude that if there is mucus in the urine during pregnancy, therefore, the urinary system works to reject a certain part of the epithelium. It is considered normal if the number of cells does not exceed the permissible norm. Such an indicator is usually evaluated according to the plus system. The minimum level, that is, the norm, is the density of urine 1010-1025, transparent, protein-free, light yellow. The norm of the mucus is denoted by one plus, and the maximum level is four.
One of the important diagnostic methods is urinalysis. During pregnancy, this study is necessary, because often in expectant mothers mucous secretions are found in urine. Why they appear, what they pay attention to and how to deal with this, let’s try to figure it out.
Visually or with a microscope?
It is considered normal if urine contains a fairly small amount of mucus. In some cases, it is impossible to find. Mucus in the urine of women during pregnancy often appears due to the fact that epithelium is rejected from the urinary tract. These cells make mucus stand out. Namely, it works as a protection of the urinary system from irritation.
If a person is healthy, the mucus will be secreted as much as it is necessary to prevent exposure to urea. In addition, mucus will not allow pathogenic microorganisms to catch on the walls of the ureter and bladder (this was already mentioned just above).
If the indicator is normal, then visually mucus cannot be seen. This can only be done using a microscope. If the result of the analysis shows that the mucus is above normal, this may indicate that there is a certain pathological condition in the body of the future mother. In addition, in this case, visually in urine, you can see small flakes, white colored threads.
To determine if there is mucus in the urine during pregnancy and what is its level, a woman is asked to do a general urine test.
Rules that must be followed
To obtain the most accurate results for determining the level of mucus in the urine, it is necessary to follow the simple rules of preparation for the study.
The organs of the reproductive system must be clean. In order to prevent secretions from entering the urine, you should introduce a cotton swab into the vagina before collecting urine.
According to the rules, urine gathers on an empty stomach in the morning.
The first and last portions of urine are passed, and the middle one is collected.
It is necessary to prepare a sterile container for collecting urine or a special container is purchased at the pharmacy.
Before you take the analysis, you do not need to have sex.
Urine should be taken for analysis no later than three hours after it has been collected.
When a urinalysis is checked (there is mucus during pregnancy or not, and if so, in what quantities), you should know that one to four pluses is considered normal. If, as a result, the level is higher, then the doctor will give direction for re-examination, as well as, if necessary, for additional diagnostic methods. Once the root cause has been established, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.
About the reasons for the appearance
The main indicators of urine (their level is subject to investigation during pregnancy) are white blood cells and protein. In addition, pay attention to the color of urine and various impurities that can be found in it - mucus, blood and the like. If there is mucus in the urine, this is considered normal.
This admixture is produced by the mucous organs of the urinary tract on an ongoing basis. When urine is taken for analysis, mucous streaks sometimes enter it with vaginal discharge, but in a small volume.
If mucus is found in the urine during pregnancy, and the volume of its content exceeds normal values, this means that an inflammatory process develops in some of the organs of the urinary canal. A similar impurity can be found in the excreted fluid if there is prolonged stagnation of urine in the body or when stone-like neoplasms exist in the kidneys and bladder.
Additional sources of mucous streaks in urine include non-observance of personal hygiene of the genitals and a proper diet (for example, if the expectant mother is abusing certain foods). If there is an infection in the urinary tract, then in addition to mucus in urine, an elevated level of red blood cells is also detected, and in some cases staphylococci may be present.
Causes of increased mucus
So, mucus appeared in the urine during pregnancy. The reasons for the formation have already been stated a little higher. Let's talk about the factors of increasing value.
If mucus is found in the urine, this is a sign of inflammation of the kidneys or urinary tract.
Its appearance speaks of possible infectious and inflammatory processes taking place in the organs: sexually transmitted diseases (their causative agents are gonococci, trichomonads, chlamydia). In some cases, an increase in mucus occurs if the rules for collecting urine are violated. It also affects if urination is delayed for a long time. The explanation is this: during stagnation of the fluid, increased work of epithelial cells begins, and this leads to the release of a large amount of mucus.
If bacteria and mucus are found in the urine during pregnancy, this may be evidence of some pathological process or incorrect collection of tests. In this case, the doctor prescribes a re-examination.
In expectant mothers, starting from the fourth month of pregnancy, due to the fact that the uterus increases, the outflow of urine worsens. This is because the ureters and the bladder are compressed.
A few more factors
You can also identify factors that affect the appearance of mucous secretions:
- improper nutrition of the expectant mother;
- urinary tract injuries;
- hormonal changes occurring in the body of the pregnant woman;
- hypovitaminosis;
- genital hygiene is impaired;
- a container for collecting urine is not sterile enough;
- neurogenic disorders;
- the body has high cholesterol.
The production of mucus can increase due to the fact that a woman wears either poor-quality or tight underwear, and urination is quite rare. In addition, mucous discharge appears as a result of the occurrence of neoplasms in the organs of the genitourinary system.
Is there a danger to the fetus?
So, in the urine is mucus during pregnancy. What consequences could there be?
In the case when the mucous exudate appears in urine only for physiological reasons, there is no danger to the expectant mother or her baby. But if any inflammatory process of the urinary tract develops, then complications may be as follows: the development of gestosis, eclampsia or toxicosis, the risks of miscarriage and placental insufficiency increase.
It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that any of the infections can be transmitted to the baby from the mother’s body in a short period of time, especially at an early stage of pregnancy. If therapy of the underlying disease is not started on time, even fetal death can be diagnosed.
About the treatment of today
While waiting for the baby, any type of treatment should be approached very carefully, because many drugs can harm not only the expectant mother, but also her baby. As soon as a mucous precipitate appears in the urine, you must immediately visit a doctor to establish the root cause of this condition.
A particular danger may lie in the uncontrolled intake of drugs in the first three months of the “interesting situation”. Indeed, it is during this period that the foundation is laid for all systems and organs of the future person.
If the examination showed that the future mother has cystitis, antibacterial agents and uroseptics should be taken. A woman should drink plenty of fluids. Decoctions of diuretic and anti-inflammatory herbs - rose hips, oats and others - will come to the rescue.
If pyelonephritis is found, then antibiotics are necessary, which only a doctor can prescribe, assessing the harm and benefit for each pregnant woman individually. Herbal remedies, nalidixic acid will help. In some cases, the therapeutic regimen may be diluted with nitrofuran drugs.
To avoid stones and sand, you should adhere to a special diet. She will be assigned to a patient depending on the chemical composition of her calculi.
It is advisable not to use products that dissolve formations and break down stones using shock wave lithotripsy. After all, while waiting for the baby, these methods can provoke a miscarriage.
We try to prevent
To prevent a situation in which mucus appears in the urine during pregnancy, the expectant mother needs to follow only a few recommendations:
- Do not lift any heavy objects, do not receive stress and do not supercool;
- mandatory observance of the prescribed diet;
- do not miss the prescribed ultrasound examinations and planned delivery of urine;
- try to lead an active lifestyle, engage in special gymnastics;
- if symptoms of distress suddenly appear, immediately go to the doctor;
- if there is no edematous syndrome, drink as much fluid as possible;
- eat right, excluding fatty foods, the menu should have a significant amount of fresh vegetables and fruits;
- in no case tolerate and empty the bladder as soon as it is full.
The most competent approach to the birth of a healthy baby is pregnancy planning. Doctors recommend another six months, or even earlier, to go through all the tests and pass the recommended tests. If any pathology is found, especially with regard to the urinary tract, it is imperative that preventive and therapeutic measures be taken.