urine testing/strips when pregnant

[finnegansmom]

I vaguely remember with my last pregnancy testing my own urine in my MW's office using one of those strips, to check for protein.

I think I did it every appt, not sure.  Maybe just near the end?  It was in the summer and I did have a lot of swelling and a history of high BP.

This time, I haven't been asked to do that at all.  I'm 34 weeks and am seeing a different midwife.

Is this something that is important?

I'm not really into tons of tests and even like to skip a prenatal now and again (or make the time in between greater).

My BP has been low athough I do have some swelling some days...

Is this something I should bring up or will that open a can of worms?

[nia82]

You can ask for it, but the old midwife just wanted to make sure that there are no signs of pre-E... With normal blood pressure it seems unlikely that you have it... Swelling, high BP and protein in the urine would be signs of pre-e.

I'm 34 weeks too and don't have my next appointment til 36 weeks. So far I haven't had one pee stick test in this pregnancy (I have them at home though).... My legs are a tad swollen and my wedding band isn't too loose anymore like before, but normal BP, so I'm not worried, most pregnant women swell up somewhat towards the end of the pregnancy.

However if you are concerned, just ask them for a urine stick.

[Marissamom]

my MWs have me test protein and sugar at every appointment. the strips used by OBs usually test other thing too, and can catch signs of bladder infection too. 

[myk]

i get tested each appointment, it's routine here. i guess if your blood pressure is normal and you have no signs of pre-e, you can probably skip it.. so that may be why they're skipping it! if you're not worried, i wouldn't bring it up. unless you're simply curious and don't mind peeing in a cup. totally up to you. i happily get tested all the time because i have a history of pre-e :)

[LSUtwinMama]

I guess it just depends with your comfort level.... I started spilling large amounts of protein in my urine 2 weeks before my blood pressure started to rise when I was pregnant with my twins.

My BP didn't get to pre-e lvls (140/90) until the night my twins were delivered via emergency csection because twin A was showing signs of serious distress. If we had just been going off of my BP readings, there's no telling when my pre-e would have been caught.

This time around I test at home and at every prenatal appointment.

[Peony]

Some providers do not feel the strips are effective and do not use them. Out of 4 providers I have used over the years, only 1 used them. 

[mylilmonkeys]

I'm grateful my midwife still uses them.  We caught a UTI before symptoms started, so I was able to treat without having to make an ER run to another city.  I live in a small town with little medical availability.  I've heard some are not using them anymore, but I see a use for them as a basic routine screen that can give a midwife a heads up that something may need further investigation.

[Ola_]

My midwife asked me to do them before every appt (they have the sticks in their bathroom and I just let her know what the result was).  These are only for protein/sugar though.  I believe I started around 22 or 24 weeks?

[finnegansmom]

Thanks for the replies!

I don't think I have pre-E at all, and had my 34 week today and my BP was 105/65 which I think is good.

Just wondering if I was missing something exciting (guess I"m not, LOL).

[noahs.mom06]

My MW has me do them at every visit too, hers check for more than just protein and sugar. They are really just a non-invasive way to watch for early signs of anything going on, but they don't necessarily mean anything. I almost always spill a little protein, and last time had some hemoglobin, which she said was probably because I hadn't had enough to drink.