Protein in Urine During Pregnancy

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Routine urine tests are part of prenatal visits to screen for infection or other conditions. Testing for the presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria) is necessary to determine if your kidney function is normal. Although proteins are normally absent in the urine, having a small amount of it during pregnancy is common. It can indicate kidney dysfunction, but it can also be related to infection, stress, or other conditions that need to be evaluated further. Causes of Protein in Urine During Pregnancy 1. Preeclampsia. Women with this condition have high blood pressure during pregnancy, accompanied by water retention and protein in their urine. It can lead to complications including babies with low birth weight. However, if diagnosed and treated early, affected women can deliver normal babies. Treatment includes consuming a healthy, low salt diet and engaging in regular exercsie as recommended. Watch a video for more: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2t4BKI6NtTk 2. Kidney Infection or Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). UTI can cause protein to appear in the urine. If you feel the urge to urinate more frequently and suffer some discomfort during urination, you may have a UTI. If not treated promptly, this condition can cause kidney infection, which manifests as fever and chills, nausea, vomiting, and back pains. UTI may not adversely affect your baby but a kidney infection can lead to premature labor and low birth weight babies. 3. Other Causes. Factors that can cause transient increases in urinary protein include emotional stress, fever, exposure to extreme temperatures, dehydration, medications, and strenuous exercise. Some medical conditions, however, can cause proteinuria that needs further investigation, such as heart dise... ... middle of paper ... ...mple. This test confirms the presence of infection and suggests which antibiotics may be used to treat infection effectively. Screening for UTI is important even in women who do not experience any symptoms. The risk of developing UTI late in pregnancy is relatively small if your urine test is found negative for UTI during your first prenatal consultation. Summary Protein in urine during pregnancy may or may not indicate a serious condition. A routine urine test must be done during prenatal visits to screen for protein and other substances associated with conditions that can affect mother and the baby. Works Cited http://voices.yahoo.com/what-does-protein-urine-during-pregnancy-mean-8385193.html?cat=5 http://www.babycenter.ca/x542263/what-does-it-mean-if-i-have-protein-in-my-urine http://www.babycenter.com/0_urine-tests-during-pregnancy_1699.bc?showAll=true

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