Should I be worried about this? Pregnancy related

[BubblyBurn]

Sorry - shamelessly posting for traffic.

I'm 35 weeks pregnant now. I was admitted to hospital about two weeks ago (for something else related to the pregnancy) and mentioned I thought I might have a UTI because I had a constant urge to pee. They did a urine dip and said there was protein in my urine so they were sending it off for a urine culture to be done. I was discharged from hospital a few days later but they said a urine culture can take up to five days so they'd phone with the results - they never phoned so I assumed the results were all fine.

I saw my midwife on Sunday and she did a urine dip that showed protein and nitrates in my urine and I mentioned I thought I might have a UTI. She said I needed antibiotics and gave me the option of going to the hospital then to get some. We had plans with DS for after the appointment so the midwife said we could get them from the GP on Monday (yesterday) but stressed that it was really important that I make sure that I get them - and she specified which antibiotics she thought would be best because I'm allergic to some antibiotics. On the way home I phoned the hospital to double-check if the cultures had shown anything (because that might confirm whether the midwife's recommended antibiotics would fight the infection) and they told me that the urine sample had been sent to the lab in the wrong vial (a red lid instead of a white lid...) so they hadn't done the urine culture at all.

Yesterday morning I phoned my GP and explained that I needed antibiotics because the midwife had found protein/nitrates in my urine. The receptionist said I needed a GP appointment and said the GP would phone me. The GP phoned and said they wouldn't prescribe antibiotics without doing their own urine test so to request one on the online system. I put the request through and the online system says they'll "aim to respond within five working days". When I've previously used this system it said two working days, not five, and they've never previously done it within the time frame. The midwife was very clear on Sunday that I needed to ensure I got the antibiotics yesterday.

Is this something to be worried about? The internet is full of complete horror stories but also lots of things to indicate it's not urgent so not to worry at all - so looking for a bit of perspective.

The risk of a UTI is preterm Labour. If your midwife wanted you to get the antibiotics asap call her and get her to intervene with your GP or get you seen at your day assessment unit

This run around they have given you is just ridiculous and unacceptable. The hospital made a mistake which could have consequences for you. Call your midwife and get her to intervene.

I agree you should call your midwife. This isn’t acceptable. I’m amazed everyone is so relaxed about protein in urine of a woman who is 35 weeks pregnant. Is your blood pressure ok?

You probably won’t be able to get hold of your midwife very easily so I’d call the day assessment unit and explain. Unfortunately you’ll have to go in and go through everything and wait for a doctor to write a prescription but it will be sorted out.

Thank you - a bit more background context (I didn't want to go overboard on the initial post and didn't know if it was relevant then).

My midwife isn't connected to my GP surgery because my GP surgery's midwife has a waiting list (that I've been on since I found out I was pregnant at 5 weeks). When my booking hospital realised I hadn't been able to see a community midwife, they found me one that's connected to a different GP surgery and had availability. So, my GP surgery won't communicate with or interact with my community midwife because she's not "their" midwife. My midwife did try to get me the antibiotics through the GP she's connected to but couldn't because I'm not registered with them and I can't register with them because I'm not in their "catchment" area. We tried going as a temporary patient but they said I needed to be staying in their catchment area temporarily for that to be the case. The GP surgery I'm registered with are the only GP surgery for my address.

I haven't heard of a day assessment unit? Is that a maternity-specific thing or like an out-of-hours/minor injuries unit?

Be really care of the symptoms of pre - eclampsia - have a low threshold for getting it check out!

Yes your hospital should have a day assessment unit attached to their maternity department. I’d give them a call for advice. I’m sure if you Google it you’ll find a number. It’s where you’d go if you had reduced movements for example. Your notes might have a number to call as well. Have you had your blood pressure taken recently?

@Cap89 @DarlingDarwin Thank you. I have a blood pressure cuff and I think my blood pressure is fine. I have found my diastolic pressure sometimes gets high but my systolic never does (so, sometimes it'll be 120/75 or 115/65 but then a few hours later it might be 120/98 or 115/93). My midwife checked it on Sunday and was happy with it then.

I did have an awful headache but they did a blood test back when I was in hospital and found my haemoglobin levels were very, very low (which can cause headaches) and the headaches have pretty much disappeared since I've been on the medication. I also have nausea/vomiting but I had HG so that's not too abnormal - it has been getting worse but that could be because of the UTI or because of the iron medication. Other than that, I don't have any signs of pre-eclampsia but I'll keep a close eye on things just in case.

Does sound like a UTI, but definitely needs treating!!

Ok, so antibiotics are being sorted out via another GP surgery who accepted me as a temporary patient but I won't have them until Thursday or Friday. I'm feeling increasingly sick and rubbish which isn't great.

Really poor. The NHS is so rubbish for things like this. Simple things that could be sorted out in a few minutes end up wasting everyone's time.
I really recommend keeping a stash of medication at home for this type of thing. Any unused antibiotics etc save them up and at least you have a few to tide you over in this scenario, where a medical person has told you you need them but there's a delay getting hold of them.