Urine analysis of leukocytes is prescribed to all pregnant women periodically throughout the entire period of carrying the child. Why pass a urine test to expectant mothers?
This simple study, which can be performed in any municipal clinic, sheds light on the state of the kidneys, urinary system and metabolism. It is no secret that during pregnancy a woman’s body undergoes serious changes, during which long-forgotten health problems can worsen, and even new ones can appear.
Moreover, the kidneys and the heart, as well as other organs of the internal secretion of the mother, work during pregnancy for two, providing all the necessary needs of the growing child and the woman herself.
That is why the health of the future mother is in the zone of special attention of physicians, especially carefully refer to the analysis of women who have any chronic diseases.
Preparing for analysis
Despite the apparent simplicity, urinalysis is of great importance for diagnosis, including during pregnancy. For this reason, it is necessary to take seriously the collection of material for analysis. To do this, follow a few simple rules:
- First morning urine is suitable for analysis;
- before urination, hygiene of the genital organs must be carried out;
- A small, clean, dry container with a lid is suitable for collecting urine; a special container can be purchased at a pharmacy;
- so that the discharge from the genitals does not get into the container with urine, it is necessary to close the entrance to the vagina with a piece of cotton wool;
- the collected sample can not be stored for a long time, on the same day it should be taken for analysis to the clinic.
The rate of white blood cells in the urine of a pregnant woman
The number of leukocytes in the field of view is one of the main indicators that controls urinalysis. However, do not rush to panic if you are pregnant and you have a higher white blood cell count than normal rates.
This is quite normal. Leukocytes are blood cells that react sensitively to the appearance of inflammatory processes in the body.
With the onset of pregnancy, the female immune system is rebuilt under the action of hormones. The body's defenses are significantly reduced, it is necessary for carrying a child, because the immune system perceives the embryo as a foreign body and rejects it.
The mechanism of reducing immunity is intended by nature as a way to preserve pregnancy. For this reason, the woman's body becomes more vulnerable to "enemy attacks", the increase in leukocytes in the urine is a reaction to such changes. Especially this development is typical for the first weeks of pregnancy.
For a non-pregnant woman, 2-3 leukocytes per field of vision are considered the norm, for a pregnant woman, the rate rises to 10.
Leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy increased: causes
But if the leukocyte count in the urine exceeds 10? What reasons could cause this?
In most cases, a poor analysis of leukocytes indicates an inflammatory process in:
- bladder;
- the kidneys;
- urinary tract;
- vulva and vagina.
The correct diagnosis can only be made by an experienced doctor; you should not experiment with self-treatment, especially during pregnancy.
Elevated leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy: signs and symptoms
Most diseases can be felt by various symptoms in order to suspect them that they do not have to be tested. However, the first "alarm bells" should be the impetus for seeking medical help. Thus, the following symptoms may accompany an increase in leukocytes in the urine:
- pain and pain when urinating;
- blood in the urine;
- unusual discharge from the genitals: white, cheesy or yellowish with an admixture of pus;
- genital itching;
- a slight increase in body temperature;
- frequent urge to urinate, sometimes false.
These are symptoms of various diseases that should alert a pregnant woman. Among the possible diagnoses are the following:
- cystitis;
- pyelonephritis;
- vulvovaginitis;
- candidiasis.
Increased level of leukocytes in the urine during pregnancy: what to do, how to reduce their number?
Of course, it is impossible to influence the physiological processes in the body of a woman, which lead to an increase in leukocytes, because a certain decrease in immunity contributes to safe bearing.
However, from infections that can affect the level of white blood cells, it is possible to protect themselves. Here are the basic measures that every pregnant woman should follow:
- hypothermia should be avoided;
- it is necessary to empty the bladder in time;
- follow personal hygiene carefully;
- Give preference to linen made from natural materials;
- time to pass all the tests prescribed by the doctor in the antenatal clinic, they will help identify infections at the initial stage of their development;
- If you have candidiasis, treatment should be carried out simultaneously with the sexual partner, at the time of therapy should refrain from sexual intercourse, in order to avoid re-infection.
Additional diagnostics
It is not enough one general analysis of urine for statement of the exact diagnosis. After all, the deviation of leukocytes can talk about a number of diseases. Therefore, in most cases, doctors prescribe the following studies:
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
- urine analysis according to nechyporenko;
- smear on the vaginal microflora;
- general blood analysis.
Of course, the complaints of the patient herself are also taken into account, so a pregnant woman should be very attentive to her health.
Treatment
Of course, only a doctor should prescribe treatment to a pregnant woman, because in this case only a limited list of drugs is applicable. Many believe that during childbearing can be treated with the help of traditional medicine recipes.
However, this is misleading. Herbal drugs, at times, have no less a list of contraindications than pharmaceutical drugs. Therefore, before using during pregnancy, recipes "from grandma's chest" you need to consult with your doctor.
Treatment is prescribed depending on the diagnosis established by the doctor. Inflammatory processes are treated with antibiotics, but only those that are allowed at this time of pregnancy. Thus, aminopenicillin is used in the first trimester; in later periods, the list of drugs is significantly expanded.
If candidiasis occurs, which happens quite often, modern antifungal medications are used. For example, pimafucin can be used from the first days of pregnancy.
Among other things, doctors recommend during the treatment period:
- avoid spicy, rich in protein and fatty foods to reduce the burden on the kidneys;
- with candidiasis, sweets must be excluded from the diet;
- drink as much fluid as possible in order to detoxify the body faster;
- drink fruit drinks and other cranberry drinks, it is a natural remedy that helps urinary tract to cope with infection;
- bearberry, dogrose, chamomile - natural antiseptics, decoctions of which help suppress inflammation.
Complications and consequences
A disease such as cystitis in most cases will not affect the development of pregnancy in any way, but it can trigger the onset of nephritis - inflammation of the kidneys, which is fraught with much more serious complications.
The same can be said about candidiasis, which is known to many as thrush, although this ailment is not extremely dangerous, but it can cause a lot of discomfort to a pregnant woman.
For this reason, it is necessary to consult a doctor at the first symptoms of trouble in the urinary area and to follow medical prescriptions clearly.
And finally, additional information on elevated leukocytes is in the next video.
