The presence of protein in the urine, scientifically known as proteinuria, is a common and normal change in pregnancy, which is usually linked to increased kidney work to filter out excess fluid from this new phase of a woman’s life.
However, when the amount of protein in the urine is very high, usually higher than 300 mg per day, this can mean health problems, such as a minor infection or even preeclampsia.
- Therefore.
- All blood or urine tests performed by the pregnant woman should always be evaluated by the obstetrician to determine if more tests are needed to diagnose possible health problems and start early treatment.
Some of the most common causes of excess protein in your urine include:
Pregnancy is a time of many changes and adaptations in the life of the pregnant woman and, therefore, the level of stress can be very high, in general, greater stress leads to an increase in body function, which also results in greater filtration in the kidneys.
Thus, the appearance of protein in the urine test is common, however, this change is temporary and disappears within a few days, without affecting the health of the pregnant woman or the baby.
What to do: To relieve stress during pregnancy it is important to adopt certain strategies, such as exercising regularly, doing activities you like, eating healthy and resting, so you can decrease the amount of protein in your urine and enjoy pregnancy.
The existence of a urinary tract infection is one of the main causes of proteinuria, due to the presence of bacteria, in these cases other signs such as an increase in urination frequency, feeling heavier in the bladder or discomfort when urinating, for example.
Although urinary tract infection does not directly affect the baby, it should be treated quickly to avoid other complications such as preterm birth or birth weight loss.
What to do: Treatment of urinary tract infection during pregnancy is done with the use of antibiotics, which should be indicated by the gynecologist and used as recommended, as some antibiotics are not recommended during pregnancy and may have consequences on the baby’s health.The most suitable antibiotics for the treatment of urinary tract infections during pregnancy are cephaloxin or ampicillin, which are usually indicated for 7 to 14 days.Learn more about treating urinary tract infections during pregnancy.
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy complication, characterized by high blood pressure, rapid weight gain and high blood pressure during pregnancy, which should be identified as soon as possible to avoid health problems in the pregnant world, in these cases excess protein appears after the second trimester of pregnancy and is associated with other changes such as increased blood pressure , headaches or swelling of the body.
If preeclampsia is suspected, it is important to repeat the urine test and consult your obstetrician to assess your blood pressure.
What to do: In case of high blood pressure during pregnancy, it is recommended that the woman rest during the day and drink plenty of fluids, in addition to maintaining a balanced diet low in salt and processed foods.In addition, it is recommended to practice light physical activities, such as walking, yoga or aquagym for example.See how high blood pressure is treated during pregnancy
While pregnancy leads to an increase in the amount of protein in your urine, this change is not always a sign of pregnancy; In fact, several health problems can cause the same change:
For example, when the urine test indicates the presence of protein, it is important to consult your family doctor to evaluate the need for additional tests to help determine if there is a health problem to be treated.
Understand the importance of different changes in blood tests.