Urinalysis is one of the important diagnostic methods. Research is considered mandatory during pregnancy. Often, women who are carrying a child have mucus discharge in their urine.
The reasons for this phenomenon are varied - from improper preparation for analysis to pathological conditions that occur in the female body. This article will help you understand what mucus in urine is and what it may indicate. In addition, the rules for preparing for the study and treatment methods that can eliminate the pathology are discussed.
What does it mean if there is mucus in the expectant mother’s urine?
The entire urinary tract is covered with mucous membrane consisting of epithelial cells. If a woman’s immunity functions normally and there is no infection, the epithelium will prevent the toxic effects of urea and will not give the slightest opportunity for harmful bacteria to gain a foothold.
From this we can conclude that if there is mucus in the urine during pregnancy, then the urinary system is working to reject a certain part of the epithelium. It is considered normal if the number of cells does not exceed the permissible norm. This indicator is usually assessed using a system of pluses. The minimum level, that is, the norm, is considered to be a urine density of 1010-1025, transparent, without protein, light yellow. The normal mucus content is indicated by one plus, and the maximum level by four.
One of the important diagnostic methods is urine analysis. During pregnancy, this study is necessary because expectant mothers often have mucous discharge in their urine. Let’s try to figure out why they appear, what they pay attention to, and how you can deal with it.
Visually or with a microscope?
It is considered normal if the urine contains a fairly small amount of mucus. In some cases it cannot be found. Mucus in the urine of women during pregnancy often appears due to the fact that epithelium is rejected from the urinary tract. These cells contribute to the secretion of mucus. Namely, it works to protect the organs of the urinary system from irritation.
If a person is healthy, mucus will be produced as much as necessary to prevent the effects of urea. In addition, mucus will not allow pathogenic microorganisms to cling to the walls of the ureter and bladder (this was already mentioned just above).
If the indicator is normal, then it is impossible to visually see the mucus. This can only be done using a microscope. If the result of the analysis shows that the mucus is higher than normal, this may indicate that there is some pathological condition in the body of the expectant mother. In addition, in this case, small flakes of white threads can be visually seen in the urine.
To determine whether there is mucus in the urine during pregnancy and what its level is, a woman is asked to do a general urine test.
Diagnostics and norm
Normally, urine contains very little mucus, sometimes it is not even detectable!
Mucus in the urine during pregnancy usually appears due to the fact that the epithelium is torn away from the urinary tract. These cells promote the secretion of mucus, which protects the organs of the urinary system from irritation. In a healthy person, mucus is secreted in the amount necessary to prevent the effects of urea. In addition, mucus prevents pathogenic microorganisms from clinging to the walls of the bladder and ureter.
When the indicator is normal, mucus will not be visually observed in the urine; it can only be seen using a microscope. If the analysis result shows deviations above normal, then this phenomenon may indicate various pathological conditions. In addition, mucous secretions are clearly visualized in urine - small flakes and white threads are visible.
To determine the level of mucus in the urine of pregnant women, a general urine test is performed.
To get accurate results, it is important to follow simple rules for preparing for the study:
- It is necessary that the reproductive system organs are clean. In addition, to prevent discharge from entering the urine, it is necessary to insert a cotton swab into the vagina before collecting urine.
- The container for collecting material must be sterile. A special container for urine can be purchased at pharmacies.
- Urine should be collected in the morning on an empty stomach.
- It is not advisable to have sexual intercourse before taking the test.
- The middle portion of urine is collected and the first is passed.
- Urine must be donated no later than three hours after collection.
The presence of a substance in urine is indicated by pluses. The norm for mucus discharge in urine is considered to be from one to four pluses. If the result exceeds this level, a referral is given for repeat testing and additional diagnostic methods. Once the underlying cause is determined, appropriate treatment is prescribed.
Rules that must be followed
To obtain the most accurate results for determining the level of mucus in urine, you must follow simple rules for preparing for the study.
The reproductive organs must be clean. To prevent discharge from entering the urine, a cotton swab should be inserted into the vagina before collecting urine.
According to the rules, urine is collected on an empty stomach, in the morning.
The first and last portions of urine are passed, and the middle portion is collected.
It is necessary to prepare a sterile container for collecting urine, or purchase a special container from the pharmacy.
There is no need to have sexual intercourse before taking the test.
Urine must be tested no later than three hours after it was collected.
When a urine test is checked (whether there is mucus during pregnancy or not, and if so, in what quantities), you should know that an indicator of one to four pluses is considered normal. If the result is a higher level, the doctor will give a referral for a repeat study, as well as, if necessary, for additional diagnostic methods. Once the underlying cause is determined, appropriate treatment will be prescribed.
Urine collection rules
To save yourself from unnecessary worries, collecting urine samples for analysis must be carried out following simple rules: 1. Use disposable and sterile containers for analysis. 2. Wash thoroughly before collecting urine. 3. Collect morning urine in sufficient quantity for qualitative analysis. 4. Do not store the material collected for analysis for more than three hours - after this time, changes begin to occur in the urine that may negatively affect the result of the analysis.
About the reasons for the appearance
The main indicators of urine (their level is subject to examination during pregnancy) are leukocytes and protein. In addition, they pay attention to the color of the urine and various impurities that may be found in it - mucus, blood, and the like. If there is mucus in the urine, this is considered normal.
This impurity is produced by the mucous organs of the urinary tract on an ongoing basis. When urine is taken for analysis, mucous veins sometimes enter it with vaginal discharge, but in a small volume.
If mucus is found in the urine during pregnancy, and the volume of its content exceeds normal values, this means that an inflammatory process is developing in one of the organs of the urinary canal. A similar impurity can be found in the excreted fluid if there is prolonged stagnation of urine in the body or when there are stone-like neoplasms in the kidneys and bladder.
Additional sources of mucous streaks in urine include failure to maintain personal hygiene of the genitals and proper diet (for example, if the expectant mother abuses certain foods). If there is an infection in the urinary tract, then in addition to mucus, an increased level of red blood cells is also found in the urine, and in some cases staphylococci may be present.
Treatment and prevention
After passing the necessary tests and laboratory tests, the attending physician will establish a final diagnosis. Next, the most effective and safe treatment for the pregnant woman and the unborn child is prescribed. If the cause of increased mucus production is an infection, an antibacterial drug is selected that has a minimum of contraindications during pregnancy. If symptoms disappear completely, before the end of the antibacterial course, therapy is not interrupted and the dosage of the drug is not reduced, since infectious diseases with incomplete treatment tend to become chronic.
When carrying out treatment and as a preventive measure for the occurrence of an unpleasant condition, an important role is given to dietary nutrition during pregnancy. You should limit your consumption of fatty and salty foods, meat, confectionery, and baked goods. Introduce more fresh fruits and vegetables, protein foods into the diet, replace animal fats with vegetable ones. It is preferable to consume steamed, boiled and baked dishes.
To prevent infections during pregnancy, you should follow these simple recommendations:
- Avoid hypothermia - do not stay in the cold for a long time, do not sit on cold benches.
- Adhere to the rules of personal hygiene - refuse aromatic soaps and intimate gels, use only laundry soap for washing.
- Visit your gynecologist monthly and take the necessary tests.
- If suspicious symptoms appear, do not try to eliminate them yourself, consult a doctor for help.
- Eat regularly and efficiently.
If you independently detect mucus in the urine, for your own peace of mind, you should undergo laboratory tests and rule out the presence of internal infections. Timely identification of ailments and carrying out the proper therapeutic course will prevent the occurrence of complications for the developing fetus, and therefore provide the pregnant woman with a comfortable state until the birth of the child.
Causes of increased mucus levels
So, mucus appeared in the urine during pregnancy. The reasons for its formation have already been stated above. Let's talk about the factors that increase the value.
If mucus is found in the urine, this is a sign of inflammation of the kidneys or urinary tract.
Its appearance indicates possible infectious and inflammatory processes occurring in organs: sexually transmitted diseases (their causative agents are gonococci, trichomonas, chlamydia). In some cases, an increase in mucus occurs if the rules for collecting urine are violated. It also has an effect if urination is delayed for a long time. The explanation for this is as follows: during stagnation of fluid, epithelial cells begin to work intensively, and this leads to the release of large amounts of mucus.
If bacteria and mucus are found in the urine during pregnancy, this may be evidence of some pathological process or incorrect collection of tests. In this case, the doctor prescribes a repeat test.
In expectant mothers, starting from the fourth month of pregnancy, due to the fact that the uterus enlarges, the outflow of urine worsens. This is due to the fact that the ureters and bladder are compressed.
How to determine pathology
A significant increase in the volume of mucus in a urine analysis collected according to all the rules can warn of pathological conditions:
- nonspecific inflammatory process in the urinary and reproductive systems;
- a specific infection transmitted through sexual contact;
- activation of opportunistic flora against the background of decreased immunity;
- urolithiasis or the presence of sand in the kidneys.
Infections are accompanied not only by an increase in jelly-like sediment, but also by high fever, pain and stinging during bladder emptying. With actively expressed pathology, leukocytes and bacteria appear in the urine.
And if mucus in the urine of pregnant women occurs due to the release of sand or calculus from the kidneys, then this process is often accompanied by severe cramping pain. It is called renal colic and is localized in the lower back with radiation to the groin area and inner thigh. The sharp edges of a kidney stone, passing through the narrow ureters, often injure and irritate the thin mucous membrane from the inside, which leads to pain and the appearance of fresh blood and mucus in the urine. Without proper treatment, an attack can cause a miscarriage.
A few more factors
Other factors that influence the appearance of mucous discharge can be identified:
- improper nutrition of the expectant mother;
- urinary tract injuries;
- hormonal changes occurring in the pregnant woman’s body;
- hypovitaminosis;
- genital hygiene is impaired;
- the container for collecting urine is not sterile enough;
- neurogenic disorders;
- The level of cholesterol in the body is increased.
Mucus production may increase due to the fact that a woman wears either low-quality or tight underwear, and urination is quite rare. In addition, mucous discharge also appears as a result of the occurrence of neoplasms in the organs of the genitourinary system.
Symptoms of existing mucus
Since mucus cannot be detected, you can recognize its presence by several symptoms:
- Itching and burning of the genitals.
- Presence of curdled discharge.
- Change in the color of urine and the presence of an unpleasant sour odor,
- Pain when urinating.
If these signs are noticed during pregnancy, you should immediately consult a doctor so as not to harm your health and your baby.
Is there a danger to the fetus?
So, there is mucus in the urine during pregnancy. What consequences might there be?
In the case when mucous exudate appears in urine only for physiological reasons, there is no danger for either the expectant mother or her baby. But if any inflammatory process of the urinary tract develops, then complications can be as follows: the development of gestosis, eclampsia or toxicosis, the risks of miscarriage and placental insufficiency increase.
It is necessary to pay attention to the fact that any of the infections can be transmitted to the baby from the mother’s body in a short period of time, especially in the early stages of pregnancy. If treatment for the underlying disease is not started on time, even intrauterine fetal death can be diagnosed.
About today's treatment
While expecting a baby, any type of treatment should be approached very carefully, because many drugs can harm not only the expectant mother, but also her baby. As soon as a mucous sediment appears in the urine, you must immediately visit a doctor to determine the root cause of this condition.
A particular danger may be the uncontrolled use of medications in the first three months of the “interesting situation.” After all, it is during this period that the foundations of all systems and organs of the future person are laid.
If the examination shows that the expectant mother has cystitis, antibacterial agents and uroseptics should be taken. A woman should drink more fluids. Decoctions of diuretic and anti-inflammatory herbs - rose hips, oats and others - will come to the rescue.
If pyelonephritis is detected, then antibiotics are needed, which only a doctor can prescribe, assessing the harm and benefits for each pregnant woman individually. Herbal remedies, nalidixic acid, will help. In some cases, the therapeutic regimen can be diluted with drugs of the nitrofuran series.
To prevent stones and sand from appearing, you should follow a special diet. It will be prescribed to the patient depending on the chemical composition of her stones.
It is advisable not to use products that dissolve formations and break down stones using shock wave lithotripsy. After all, while expecting a baby, these methods can cause a miscarriage.
We are trying to prevent
To prevent a situation in which mucus appears in the urine during pregnancy, the expectant mother needs to follow just a few recommendations:
- do not lift any heavy objects, do not get stressed and do not get hypothermic;
- Be sure to follow the prescribed diet;
- do not miss prescribed ultrasound examinations and routine urine tests;
- try to lead an active lifestyle, do special gymnastics;
- if symptoms of trouble suddenly appear, immediately go to the doctor;
- if there is no edema syndrome, drink as much fluid as possible;
- eat properly, excluding fatty foods; the menu should include a significant amount of fresh vegetables and fruits;
- Do not tolerate it under any circumstances and empty your bladder as soon as it is full.
The most competent approach to having a healthy baby is planning your pregnancy. Doctors recommend that you go through all the studies and take the recommended tests in another six months, or even earlier. If any pathology is discovered, especially in the urinary tract, preventive and therapeutic measures must be taken.
