Elevated protein in the urine is often diagnosed during pregnancy. A slight increase in indicators is the norm for expectant mothers, but you need to follow the results of the tests in order to identify and start treating certain pathologies that cause such a symptom in time. The following are the causes and consequences of increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman. This can be triggered by the physiological characteristics of a woman’s condition, as well as various pathologies that are dangerous for the course of pregnancy. Fortunately, most complications can be avoided if the disease is detected on time.
Protein in urine
Almost all relatively healthy people have a small amount of protein in their urine. Proteinuria is usually caused by physical overwork, stress, or eating too much protein. At the same time, a slight increase in the indicator is considered normal and does not require treatment. In absolutely healthy patients, protein in the urine is not detected at all. In pregnant women, increased protein is allowed, but the increase should not exceed 0.002 g / l in a single serving of biological material. At the end of pregnancy, a value of up to 0.033 g / l is considered the norm. This is a mild proteinuria, because the load on the kidneys is very high. If the indicator is greatly increased, then this indicates serious pathologies.
Pathology: Concomitant Symptoms
Increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman - what is it? In medical practice, this phenomenon is called proteinuria and may indicate a serious complication of pregnancy. This condition may be associated with diseases of the kidneys, bladder or urethra. If an increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman is determined, this may not be a pathology. There is physiological proteinuria, which is caused by stress, severe physical exertion or overeating (affects the consumption of large quantities of meat and dairy products). A physiological increase in protein level is observed for a short time, after which the indicators return to normal. In this case, the general condition of the pregnant woman is not disturbed.
What does it mean - increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman? The laboratory assistant will write such a conclusion according to the results of a general urinalysis if the protein is found in biological material. An alarm should be caused by the appearance of protein in the urine in the first half of pregnancy, an increase of more than 0.3 g per day, the repeated appearance of protein. Laboratory signs are usually accompanied by a general deterioration in the condition of the woman. There is severe weakness, tachycardia, headaches, swelling of the hands and feet, legs, face (mainly in the first half of the day), lower back pain, visual impairment (clouding, flies appearing in front of the eyes), increased blood pressure, headaches, involuntary muscle twitches, disorders of urination (pain and burning, delayed or incontinence). The combination of symptoms is considered a pathology and requires the advice of a doctor.
Repeated urinalysis during pregnancy
A woman gives a general urine test during pregnancy before each visit to the doctor. If there are no complications, then the analysis is repeated every fourteen days to 30 weeks, and then every seven days. This is a mandatory analysis, according to the results of which a large number of pathological conditions can be detected at the preclinical stage. Usually, when an increased protein is detected in the urine of a pregnant woman, a second analysis is prescribed. Physiological proteinuria does not require treatment. At the same time, the amount of protein during repeated analyzes does not increase, and nothing in the state of health bothers the woman. If a pathology is detected, appropriate measures should be taken immediately.
Causes of High Protein
What does it mean - increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman? An observing physician can obtain such test results if a woman has simply not followed the rules for collecting biological material. In this case, re-analysis usually does not show complications. If an increased amount of protein is detected in repeated results, then you need to find out the causes of the pathology. The cause of increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman is usually gestosis. The doctor can suspect this dangerous condition not only on the basis of the results of the tests, but also for other symptoms. A comprehensive diagnosis is necessary to clarify the diagnosis.
What does an increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman mean? If the doctor detects gestosis, he will insist on hospitalization. It is quite difficult to distinguish this dangerous condition from kidney diseases, because many of them are characterized by the same symptoms. In any case, the pregnant woman should be under the supervision of medical professionals. Also, an increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman can be a sign of kidney diseases: pyelonephritis, glomerulonephritis, and so on. The exact diagnosis will be determined by the doctor.
An increase in urine protein in a pregnant woman can be triggered by diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heart failure, and polycystic. In rare cases, an increase in indicators can be triggered by the use of certain drugs, increased sweating before filling the container with biological fluid, elevated body temperature, eating a large amount of dairy products or eggs before taking the test.
Proper urine collection for analysis
The analysis is a mandatory study during the bearing of the child before each visit to the observing doctor. The causes of increased protein in the urine of pregnant women often consist only in the incorrect collection of biological material for analysis. It is necessary to prepare correctly. What increases urinary protein in pregnant women? The day before the analysis, it is desirable to limit the amount of meat dishes, salted, spicy and sour foods in the diet.
You need to collect morning urine in a clean container. It is better to use sterile jars to collect material from the pharmacy. Before filling, you need to conduct a toilet of the genitals. The jar needs to be filled with a medium portion. If there is a discharge from the vagina, you need to cover it with a cotton swab to prevent the discharge from entering the container. After this, urine should be sent to the hospital for analysis a maximum of two hours after collection.
For many pregnant women, collecting morning urine is a problem, because urination becomes more frequent, so in the morning there is literally nothing to collect for analysis. In this case, doctors recommend detecting an extreme trip to the toilet in a small night and fill the jar. In extreme cases, the collected urine can be stored in the refrigerator for four hours.
Symptoms and causes of gestosis in pregnant women
Elevated protein in the urine of a pregnant woman is most often caused by gestosis - late toxicosis. Late toxicosis is characterized by a deep disorder of vital organs and systems. “Pure” gestosis is observed in pregnant women who previously had no illness, but usually the pathology is observed against the background of hypertension, kidney and biliary tract diseases, pathologies of the endocrine system, and disorders of fat metabolism.
The reasons for the development of gestosis have not yet been elucidated. Currently, several possible theories of the appearance of pathology are being considered. Some gynecologists consider gestosis a kind of neurosis with a violation of the relationship between the subcortical formations and the cerebral cortex. Other experts are of the opinion that impaired functioning of the heart and blood vessels and blood supply to internal organs arise as a result of endocrine disorders.
There is an immunological theory according to which changes characteristic of late toxicosis of pregnant women arise due to an inadequate reaction of the body to certain antigens of fetal tissues (this is not observed with a normal pregnancy). Proponents of genetic theory point to an increase in the frequency of gestosis in women whose mothers also suffered from this pathology during pregnancy. Some doctors say that with a physiologically normal pregnancy, changes occur in the vessels of the uterus that feed the placenta. If this does not occur in full, late toxicosis occurs.
With an increased protein in the urine of a pregnant doctor, the doctor draws attention to the accompanying symptoms. Edema occurs, but edema is not always associated with gestosis during gestation. After the twentieth week of pregnancy, kidney damage may develop. This is manifested by an increase in blood pressure along with an increase in protein in the urine of a pregnant woman and edema.
Severe stage of gestosis develops in 5% of pregnant women (more often primiparous). Against this background, signs of central nervous system damage appear. In this case, the woman is bothered by a feeling of heaviness in the back of the head, nausea and vomiting, visual impairment (the appearance of flies in front of the eyes). The most severe stage of late pregnancy toxicosis (eclampsia) is characterized by a complex set of symptoms, the most common of which are seizures. Intracranial hemorrhage, i.e. stroke, can occur during an attack. Probably an early detachment, which can cause fetal death.
Pregnancy gestosis treatment
What does high protein in pregnant urine mean? This may indicate gestosis. Self-medication in the detection of late toxicosis is unacceptable, because this will lead to a deterioration in the condition of both the pregnant woman and the fetus. It is usually not possible to completely cure gestosis, but this condition can be controlled to prevent complications. A medical and protective regimen should be created for a pregnant woman, sedatives are prescribed, and the functions of important organs are restored by medication. Timely and careful delivery is necessary. If gestosis is amenable to correction, then doctors do not stimulate preterm delivery.
Kidney and urinary tract diseases
Pathologies of the kidneys are observed in 15-20% of pregnant women. This is accompanied by a decrease in appetite, an increase in body temperature, a deterioration in general health, constant weakness, pain in the side or lower back, increased sweating, and purulent pyelonephritis can cause vomiting. Symptoms of the inflammatory process are persistent pain in the kidneys. If you find such symptoms, you should definitely consult a doctor. If the tests confirm the presence of pathology, the woman will be referred to a nephrologist.
Pyelonephritis can cause premature birth, impaired fetal development due to poisoning by toxins, malfunctions in the mother's nervous system. The disease can become chronic if treatment is not started on time. Glomerulonephritis, an inflammatory disease that occurs due to failures in the central nervous system, is much less common. The condition is accompanied by an increase in blood pressure, high fever, side pain, severe swelling and convulsive seizures. The disease develops rapidly. May cause miscarriage, developmental delay.
With pyelonephritis, for example, anti-inflammatory drugs on herbs and diuretics are prescribed. In some cases, antibiotics are needed. To eliminate congestion, it is recommended not to sleep on your back. You should spend more time on the move and often get on all fours. Typically, protein levels decrease rapidly during treatment. If this does not happen, the doctor may suspect preeclampsia, the treatment of which is already much more difficult. Usually, doctors wait for the stabilization of indicators and support them normally before childbirth. Sometimes it is possible to fully bear the fetus for all nine months, but the threat of premature delivery with this pathology is always present.
The consequences of increased protein in the urine of pregnant women
A high protein content can signal various pathologies and diseases that are dangerous for preserving pregnancy. The consequences of increased protein in the urine of a pregnant woman can be acute insufficiency of blood supply, hemorrhage and convulsions, the child suffers from oxygen deficiency and develops more slowly. With a systematic identification and increased indicators, a pregnant woman is usually sent for inpatient treatment to monitor the condition of the future mother and fetus.
Pregnancy can also be successful with an increased protein content in the urine. It all depends on the pathology that provokes such test results. If you timely diagnose a dangerous condition and eliminate the causes of its occurrence, you can avoid the consequences of the disease. For example, it is enough to cure an inflammatory process or an infection in the kidneys in order to preserve the health of the mother and the unborn child with minimal damage. After the examination, they do not treat the symptom (that is, the high protein content), but the reason that caused it.
Prevention of pregnancy complications
A woman in a position should be aware of the seriousness of the situation, so you need to pay attention to good nutrition and in general your state of health. It is advisable to measure blood pressure twice a day. You can’t ignore ringing in the ears, darkening in the eyes, headache. Physiological tendency to edema during pregnancy involves controlling the amount of fluid. It is important to control weight, because extra pounds provoke the progression of gestosis. It is advisable to reduce the amount of fermented milk products, peppers, smoked meats, chocolate, salt, coffee and black tea, meat with a crust. A diet should be followed especially carefully in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy.
To facilitate the work of the kidneys, which already experience an increased load during pregnancy, many women are recommended herbal preparations, namely Kanefron or Fitolizin. "Kanefron", for example, has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic and antioxidant effects, which is caused by the herbal components that make up the drug. It is used both as part of therapy and for prevention. Diuretic teas on herbs, lingonberry and cranberry juice are quite effective. But before using any means, you must always consult a doctor.