Importance of Urine Test During Pregnancy

As wonderful as it is to experience the feeling of being pregnant, before hopping into the zone immediately, it will be wise to visit the doctor once. It is better to be completely sure about it than finding out the real truth and facing disappointment. Your medical practitioner will be conducting tests on you, which will include a complete urinalysis to determine your pregnancy. Urine test during pregnancy will not only determine your pregnancy but also help catching other disturbances, if any, in your body.

What is a Urine Test During Pregnancy?

It is a complete urine profile done at the beginning of a pregnancy. It is a part of your prenatal care and it is complete normal for your doctor to test it multiple times during your pregnancy. Urine test during pregnancy are extremely important, for if done routinely will help to keep a constant check on your body and your baby’s health.

How is the Urine Test Performed?

Your doctor will ask you to provide a sample of your urine which has been caught midstream and clean-caught. To do so, you must first wipe yourself clean, wait for a few seconds on the toilet, then collect the required sample in the container provided. You must take care not to touch the insides of the cup with your fingers. After that, testing strips, which has been chemically prepared, will be dipped into the sample for indications of certain chemicals present in your body. Some clinics can provide an in-depth analysis of your sample with the help of laboratory assessment.

What is the Best Time to Perform Such Tests?

Urine test during pregnancy are usually done during prenatal examinations, but some doctors may advice it to be done every month or so. Monitoring your urine is very important during this period.

Why Should a Urine Test be Done?

Prenatal urine tests are done to assess if your body is doing fine or not. They check to see if you are having any kidney infections during your pregnancy, or if you have diabetes, preeclampsia or dehydration. They determine this by screening your urine for sugars, ketones, bacteria as well as proteins. Having high levels of sugar can be bad for your body, especially if it develops around week twenty of your pregnancy. It is an indication of gestational diabetes. Having high proteins mean that, you might be a victim of urinary tract infection or a serious kidney disease. Hence, urine test during pregnancy are a pathway to regulating diseases in your body.

What Should be Done After the Test Results Arrive?

If your urine culture test during pregnancy shows certain abnormalities, try not to panic and take excessive stress. You should contact your trusted doctors and follow their advice closely. This is the first step that must be taken if all is not well.

If You Sugar Levels are High:

This is normal in most cases. If you have high glucose content in your urine culture test during pregnancy, even if you do not have any, know that it is very common for women to have higher sugar in their bodies at this time. In fact, 50% of pregnant women have higher sugar during this time, so it really is a minor issue. However, if the levels don’t go down after subsequent urinalysis, you may need to perform a screening test to figure out what’s wrong.

If  Your Protein Levels are High:

Having a higher amount of protein in your urine means that there is a chance that you may have urinary tract infection, or UTI. It can also mean kidney damage or certain disorders. If your protein levels are higher in the later stages of your pregnancy, it can be preeclampsia. To determine that, a blood pressure test must be done as soon as possible. If your BP levels are high, you must contact your doctor. If your BP remains normal, then the tests must be done again.

If Your Ketones are Misbehaving:

Ketones in your body are produced when the stored fat in your body is being broken down. This is an indication that your body is not getting enough carbohydrates for energy. If you are experiencing vomiting and feel nauseated, and have lost weight, your urine will be checked for the presence of ketones, and if you cannot eat without vomiting it out, fluids and medications should be taken in place of solids.

Your urine tests during pregnancy will be kept in observation for a total of 48 hours before being handed over to you. If abnormalities are found, be sure to clarify them with your doctor and cure it as soon as you can, because having a healthy body will help you raise a healthy child in you.