High Protein In Urine During Pregnancy But Normal Blood Pressure – A urinalysis is part of routine prenatal testing to diagnose any condition during pregnancy, including kidney infections, preeclampsia, and the XA pregnancy disorder characterized by high blood pressure, water retention, and protein in the urine. and gestational diabetes i XA, a condition characterized by elevated blood sugar levels due to the hormonal and physical changes of pregnancy. . It also detects an increase in leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy, which may indicate an infection or inflammation of the genitourinary or urinary tract. You may also need a urinalysis to check the functioning of the mother’s organs (1) (2).

Read on to learn about the causes, risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, management, and prevention of leukocytes or white blood cells in the urine during pregnancy.

High Protein In Urine During Pregnancy But Normal Blood Pressure

Leukocytes, or white blood cells, are part of your immune system and include granulocytes (neutrophils, eosinophils, and basophils), monocytes, and lymphocytes (T cells and B cells). Together, these WBCs help the body fight infections and other diseases.

Help Read Results Protein In Urine

In general, measuring the white blood cell count is part of a complete blood count (CBC) (3). However, if urinary tract infections (UTIs) or inflammation are suspected during routine prenatal testing, your healthcare provider may recommend a urinalysis to detect leukocytes (especially neutrophils). Urine is normally sterile, so the normal range of leukocytes in urine is low, ie up to 5 WBCs per high power field (WBC/HPF) (4).

According to obstetrician Dr. Alan Lindemann, also a former clinical assistant professor at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks,

Leukocytes are increased in the blood and urine during pregnancy, but normal depends on where you start. If your non-pregnant WBC is 5,000, then 10,000 or 11,000 WBC is probably normal during pregnancy, but if you start your pregnancy with a higher WBC, that normal for you may rise to 15,000.

A urine WBC may not mean a bladder infection, but it can predict problems. An elevated white blood cell count may indicate a group B strep infection, so a urine culture is needed because group B strep cystitis can cause kidney inflammation and preterm labor or delivery.

Urine Protein Electrophoresis Test

X Also known as urinary retention, is a blockage in the flow of urine through the bladder or urethra. . Also, most immunological changes in the urinary tract reach their maximum during this phase (8).

Symptoms of WBCs or leukocytes in the urine samples of pregnant women can vary depending on the underlying cause. Some of these symptoms include (13) (14)

There are two ways to check leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy: a clean urine sample or sterile catheterization. If there is more vaginal discharge during pregnancy, sterile catheterization is the most accurate leukocyte test during pregnancy

Leukocyte esterase test results may be affected by storage of urine specimens. There is a possibility that positive samples may become negative after 24 hours of storage (19).

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The urine sediment from a fresh urine sample is centrifuged at 1500-3000 rpm for five minutes and resuspended in the remaining fluid for analysis. One drop is placed on a clean slide, covered with a cover glass and viewed under a microscope.

XAutomatic screening device that analyzes urine to diagnose urinary tract infections (UTIs). . Therefore, urine samples from pregnant women may occasionally be positive for white blood cells (20).

Treatment options may vary depending on the cause and the level of leukocytes in the urine. Some standard treatments that may be included in your prenatal regimen to help balance or reduce leukocyte levels in the urine during pregnancy include:

In order to avoid adverse consequences of obstetric care, treatment should be started soon after high levels of leukocytes are detected in urine samples. Some maternal complications include (10)

Urine Color Meaning

Here are some tips that can help prevent leukocytes in the urine and improve the health of the mother (13) (18):

Yes. Normally you can have 0-5 WBC/HPF in your urine even during pregnancy. However, if the level exceeds 5 WBC/HPF, it may be a sign of infection or inflammation in the urinary tract and treatment may be necessary (4).

Yes. In addition to UTI, an increase in leukocytes in the urine of pregnant women can be due to cystitis, pyelonephritis, or various genital infections, which increase the risk of fatal fetal complications. However, fetal death is rare in such cases (10).

An excess of leukocytes in the urine for too long can indicate a serious infection. Severe infections can also cause other symptoms. Therefore, prompt treatment is essential to avoid adverse effects on the health of the mother and fetus.

Are Urinary Tract Infections Harmful During Pregnancy?

A high level of leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy can occur due to various bacterial or fungal infections. Symptoms of high WBC levels depend on the underlying cause, but may include frequent urination, fever, and nausea. This condition is usually discovered during routine urine tests during pregnancy, after which you may be prescribed antibiotics or home remedies depending on the cause and severity. Thus, the condition is manageable with timely and effective medical intervention. However, a delay in treatment can cause an extreme increase in leukocytes, which can lead to complications.

An increased presence of leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy indicates an infection. Identifying early symptoms and their causes is crucial for proper treatment. Let’s take a look at the infographic below that explains the various possible symptoms and causes of leukocytes in urine during pregnancy.

Discover the possible causes that can cause high white blood cells in the urine during pregnancy and when to consult a doctor about it

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Dr. Esha Chainani is an obstetrician, gynecologist and laparoscopic surgeon based in Mumbai. She has over four years of experience and specializes in pregnancy care, high risk pregnancies, fertility, vaginal bleeding, fibroid surgery, fertility surgery, PCOS and endometriosis. Dr. Chainani has authored several internationally published research papers and health articles. She is the founder of Premaa, the non-profit organization mothers… more

Reshmi Das has over four years of experience as a Clinical Coordinator, Medical Content Writer and Medical Conference Coordinator. His continued interest in medical journals and writing leads him to write well-researched articles for the journal. She writes health and wellness articles for children and pregnant and lactating women. Reshmi graduated from MITS School of Biotechnology with a degree in Biotechnology, … more

Rebecca is a pregnancy writer and editor with a passion for providing science-based and engaging content on fertility, pregnancy, birth and postpartum. She graduated from Osmania University Loyola Academy in Biotechnology and Genetics and obtained a certificate in “Nutrition and Lifestyle during Pregnancy” from Ludwig Maximilian University (LMU) Munich. He has been involved in health and… more

Aneesha holds a BSc in Biotechnology from USTM, Meghalaya and an MSc in Applied Microbiology from VIT, Vellore. With two years of experience, he has worked in various research projects in the field of food sciences. In addition, he has an internship experience with Oil India Limited as an R&D project intern. As a writer, Aneesha ensures… more Testing for protein in your urine during pregnancy is part of your routine prenatal care (1) . During pregnancy, urinary protein excretion doubles and can reach up to 300 mg/24 h compared to 150 mg/24 h in non-pregnant women.

Complications During Pregnancy (symptoms And Diagnosis)

According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), if your urinary protein excretion exceeds 300 mg in a 24-hour collection, protein/creatinine contains.

A urinary residual muscle XA ratio of ≥0.3 mg/mg or a urine dipstick reading of 2+ or greater can be defined as proteinuria or high protein in the urine during pregnancy (2).

Read on to learn about the causes, risk factors, symptoms, and how to treat high protein in the urine during pregnancy.

Certain risk factors that can increase the likelihood of protein in the urine during pregnancy include (6) (7):

Protein In Urine During Pregnancy: What Does It Mean?

You may not notice any symptoms of a mild increase in protein in your urine. However, high levels of protein in the urine during pregnancy can cause the following symptoms (8).

Additionally, since proteinuria is strongly associated with preeclampsia in the later stages of pregnancy, you should also look for symptoms of preeclampsia. These symptoms may include (9):

Proteinuria is not a disorder but a condition caused by various factors and health conditions of pregnant women. However, you should be aware of your protein in your urine and don’t neglect it.

If you have a mild increase in protein in your urine, you may benefit from simple diet and lifestyle changes. Proteinuria during underlying conditions such as hypertension and infection requires treatment of the condition with drugs to eventually cure the proteinuria (8) (11). Your doctor may also recommend lifestyle changes, such as increasing exercise and avoiding certain foods, to reduce the amount of protein in your urine.

Normal (and Abnormal) Urine Test Results And What They Indicate

Although proteinuria cannot be prevented during pregnancy, you can take the following measures to control it

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