[AuntG]

Can someone talk to me about protein in urine? i got my strips in today and did a test tonight. I got a protein reading of 30, and the booklet tells me it's supposed to be somewhere between 0-10.<br><br>
Did I do it too late in the day or should I not do it right after I eat, or what? This is my third pregnancy and I am terrified of something going wrong -- I want to do my OWN care and my OWN birthing! I didn't have preeclampsia witht the first two so I figured I had nothing to worry about but now EVERYTHING is making me worry! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[mommy2two babes]

I just wanted to let you know that high protien does not neccesarlily me Pre-e. If you can go to a drug store or something and get you BP done then you will know. I do know that higher protiens can also mean a baldder infection. I think as long as your BP is not high you don't have anything to worry about.<br>
HTH<br>
Krista

 

[AuntG]

Thanks for your response.<br><br>
My blood pressure cuff has gotten just outside the index of too small so I got a larger one tonight and the reading was just fine.<br><br>
I'm just worried!<br><br>
I saw that there are loads of reasons why a protein reading may be high, but none of these sites actually tell you what the possible reasons are!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">:<br><br>
I get anxious when something isn't turning out just right. If something goes wrong, I can live with it, but not if it's my fault, or something that could have been avoided!<br><br>
I read somewhere else in MDC that someone found out they had a UTI using test strips, but never had any other obvious symptoms. Oh dear! There's so much to worry about! Yikes! I need to relax!!!!

 

[Mommyintraining2]

Mine was too high too. Not sure what the reading was. But my midwife (yes, I'm getting pre-natal care) said that it can be caused by not eating enough protein the day before. Could that be a possibility for you?

 

[zofranland]

it can also be an indication of a urinary tract infection

 

[mamaverdi]

It could be from not drinking enough water or vaginal secretions in the urine. It could be from blood in the urine or a urinary tract infection.<br><br>
There are sort of endless possibilities. Unless there is something you are specifically testing for, it's not a very specific test on it's own.

 

[AuntG]

<span style="font-size:large;"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/jaw2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="jaw2"> OH MY GOODNESS!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/yikes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="EEK!"><br><br>
THERE IS <b>SO</b> MUCH THAT COULD BE WRONG WITH ME!!!!</span><br><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> Well, I won't worry cause everything else is <i>just fine</i>!<br><br><br>
For now.<br>
<scary music><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/headscratch.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="headscratch">

 

[2bluefish]

You can do a "clean catch" to eliminate vaginal secretions. UTI you would see nitrites or leukocytes usually. I would check BP and watch my protein intake, and test again in a day or so. Sometimes things just come up random too - 30 is just above trace on my sticks. I usually get a little trace when I haven't eaten.<br><br>
I just had a really high reading of urobilinogen. I think it was cause I haven't eaten or drank yet (I know I'm horrible!), and my urine was concentrated. I'll check that again later.

 

[AbbieB]

I caught my UTI with test strips just this past week. The nitrates were the clue for me. (That and felling pelvis pressure/discomfort that never made me think bladder or infection.)<br><br>
I ALWAYS have protein in my urine. Pregnant or not. During my last pregnancy, my midwife thought that it could be because of my history of strep/scarlet fervor infections as a kid (I don't know anything past that). I did a complete blood and urine teat pre-pregnancy this time around and there was the protein. Same levels. This time it was blamed on vaginal secretions in the urine.<br><br>
It seems to me that everyone has a "normal" for them and as long as your protein doesn't climb I would not be concerned. BTW I just looked at my strips, my normal is 30.

 

[mama in the forest]

See, isn't testing great? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> I wouldn't do any more of those test strips unless you REALLY think it will help you.

 

[manitobamama]

I have only done 2 strips and I'm almost 30 weeks. The first one showed 30 on the protein which is only one step up on my strips. I had dh do some research since he was online at the time. And he came across infection or fighting illness... and then he said well you are fighting a cold right now ( and he would be the one to panic <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> ) The next one I did came out fine (other than a trace of Leukocytes which everyone told me wasn't something to worry about) so I am totally not worrying... visualizing a healthy pregnancy and babe!

 

[AuntG]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>mama in the forest</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/8006514"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">See, isn't testing great? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"> I wouldn't do any more of those test strips unless you REALLY think it will help you.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
No kidding! I spent an hour this morning trying to figure out why my bilirubin was blotchy, the pH was very high alkaline and the leukocytes were high too. I told my husband, "Better get a good look now, cause by the afternoon, I'll be dead!!!! I've either got a kidney infection or a rare infection found only in random parts of the tropical rainforest!" However, the protein was back to trace.<br><br>
Sheesh. The only good things about these sticks is that I have learned what the heck a urobilinogen is, although I still wouldn't know one if I met it! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[mama in the forest]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">No kidding! I spent an hour this morning trying to figure out why my bilirubin was blotchy, the pH was very high alkaline and the leukocytes were high too. I told my husband, "Better get a good look now, cause by the afternoon, I'll be dead!!!! I've either got a kidney infection or a rare infection found only in random parts of the tropical rainforest!" However, the protein was back to trace.</td>
</tr></table></div>
<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/biglaugh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="laugh">: Could be a brain tumor too! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/biglaugh.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="laugh">: Those sticks might be better spent stirring a martini for yourself. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[AuntG]

<span style="font-size:medium;">Thanks to everyone who has replied!</span><br><br>
I have to laugh at myself, but I am genuinely concerned too that I don't "mess this up." Of course, DH keeps pointing out that I am much healthier with this pregnancy and even if I can't get the Brewer diet right this time, it's still much better than the <span>Ben & Jerry's</span> diet I used last time! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink"><br><br>
I have been doing the clean catch, and for some reason it makes me laugh....because I always think of the posters in the gyn office they stick up on the backs of the stall doors in the restrooms. You know, the pretty 20's-something girl giving you a tutorial on how to get a clean catch. Gosh, how I want to draw her a mustache and glasses! She's probably 15 and a drama student at some high school in L.A.<br><br>
Strange that one of you mentioned Scarlet fever. You just don't hear about that much anymore. My mother had it as a kid and that was the suspected cause of her Multiple Sclerosis. So everytime I hear "scarlet fever" my face automatically scrunches up. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/angry.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="angry"><br><br>
That, and you know that's what made Mary Ingalls blind. Gosh, I love Little House on the Prairie!<br><br>
Ok, so what was the subject? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol"><br><br>
Thanks to everyone! Thanks for keeping me focused and steering me back to that all-important confidence!<br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/heartbeat.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="heartbeat">

 

[AuntG]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/fever.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Fever">: Brain tumor, you say??? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/bigeyes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="bigeyes"><br><br><span style="font-size:x-large;">OH NO!</span><br><br><br><br><br><br>
Hee hee, thanks Mama!

 

[mamaverdi]

Urobilinogen and bilirubin in the urine are both very non-specific, and to quote The Merck Manual: "Bilirubin and urobilinogen, although a standard part of many dipstick tests, no longer play a significant role in evaluation of renal or hepatic disorders."<br><br><br>
But <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/yikes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="EEK!"> you might get a brain tumor stirring that stick into your martini. Ick.

 

[AuntG]

<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/BFPChart2.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Chart">: Counting the days until I can have that martini!<br><br>
*Ahem, that DOUBLE martini!<br><br><br><img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/drink.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="drink">

 

[jee'smom]

I didn't read the other responses, but just wanted to say that last week, there was protein and glucose in my urine and my GP said that that was normal when you're pg.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/shrug.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="shrug"> (of course it shouldn't be TOO high...)