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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be a bit disconcerted in having piss in my handbag?

66 replies

YanknCock · 14/04/2009 16:33

Does everyone just take it as given that you are expected to take your pee home with you so you can reuse the container?

This is my first pregnancy, am 21 weeks. Last midwife visit, I was given a bottle and told to produce a urine sample. After she finished doing protein and sugar tests, she screwed the cap back on (I'm not sure how well!) and just leaned over and stuck the bottle of piss into the side pocket of my handbag, saying 'now just take that home to empty and wash, and bring it back next time.'

What if it had leaked? Couldn't they at least give you a sealed plastic bag in case? Or better yet, just give you a fresh container?

As it happens, I won't be using that one again. I completely forgot it was in there until three days later. Then took it out and noted that it seemed to have gone all cloudy and frankly a bit chunky. On seeing it, I had to quickly go barf in my kitchen bin (because EVERYTHING still makes me sick), then DH got rid of it for me and threw away the bottle.

The idea of carrying urine around and reusing containers seems awfully unhygienic and gross. Is this just a normal cost-saving measure I was previously unaware of? AIBU if I just ask for a new clean one each time? Should I bring a plastic baggie with me and intercept the midwife so she doesn't put it directly in my handbag?

OP posts:
Original poster
YanknCock · 14/04/2009 17:32

sticky, yes it's amazing what wee does when left to fester for three days. Makes me wonder if that protein test was entirely accurate

The MW is a bit of a character. DH can't stop calling her Pauline--she reminds him of The League of Gentlemen.

Thanks for all the replies. I will bring a plastic bag next time and perhaps get DH to do the emptying for me (at clinic) if I'm having one of my off days (wasn't that supposed to stop 7-9 weeks ago?!).

OP posts:
SazzlesA · 14/04/2009 17:37

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
YanknCock · 14/04/2009 17:39

nah, I'd much rather bring the container and do it when I get to the clinic. The less wee I have to carry/look at, the better.

OP posts:
MamaHobgoblin · 14/04/2009 19:05

Why on earth doesn't she tip it down the sink, run the tap, maybe rinse it for you? My midwife and GP always tipped the pee away, but both were pretty hot on reusing the containers. I used to pour boiling water in mine first, in case there was pee residue and it contaminated the new sample... (is there an acronym for Perfect First Pregnancy? )

LadyOfWaffle · 14/04/2009 19:13

My MW hands it back - I put it in a sealed plastic sandwich type bag. It's only widdle

Sidge · 14/04/2009 20:47

I used to work in a GP surgery and we weren't allowed to pour wee down the sinks. It contravenes Infection Control Policy, as the sinks are for handwashing.

As we didn't have time to go out to the toilet to pour away each patient's wee, we would give it back to them to dispose of and ask them to clean and reuse the pot. After all it's their wee!

poorbuthappy · 14/04/2009 21:02

When I had dd1 almost 5 years ago I got a new container each time (and was seen every 2 weeks due to a ovarian cyst so went through alot of containers...)
So when preggies with the twins last year I was horrified at my first MW appt when she poured it down the sink and gave the container back to me!

But towards the end of the pregnancy when I had to collect 24 hour wee samples (did it 3 times in total) you sort of get used to carrying around lots of wee!

acebaby · 14/04/2009 21:21

lol stoppinattwo - I thought the same thing. I was wondering if this was going to be one of those 'that time I resorted to DC's pampers' type of thread.

YanknCock - poor you feeling so poorly. At my gp's surgery strangely, the gp flushed it down the sink and the mw gave it back. First time round I thought it was gross. Second time round it was by no means the grossest thing in my handbag on an average day.

I would just invest in a bag of nappy sacks and pop it in there until you can get to a loo.

Samantha28 · 14/04/2009 21:24

If this worries you then you don't want to know what happens during/after birth

Mummy2LZ · 14/04/2009 21:27

I have to say it is pretty gross to have a pee splashed bottle handed back to you!

I would have thought that the bottle needed to be sterile when used in any case?
Don't they check it for blood, protein, glucose etc and maybe white cells to check for infection.
If its already been used then its contaminated surely??

I had my babies overseas in Australia and got a new pot every time.
But I also had to pay for my appointment so maybe there lies the difference.

The GP surgery could always recycle them!

I guess if that is the way it is then you will have to take the aformentioned sandwich bag with you next time to catch the drips

onebatmother · 14/04/2009 21:29

You are surely winning the 'Thread-Off: Apr 09' smack-down?

Though I did love FAQ's 'can i use a chainsaw to cut my pampas (quite urgent)' thread title.

Original poster
YanknCock · 14/04/2009 21:38

Mummy2LZ, I also wondered about the contamination issue. . .does seem odd, but presumably they've decided it's not a problem?

And for the record, I have never been so drunk or desperate that I peed in my handbag!

However, since being pregnant, I have peed myself a number of times during particularly violent vomiting episodes. I'm working on eroding my dignity completely so I'm ready for the delivery room (I understand you leave it at the door for the blessed event).

OP posts:
poorbuthappy · 14/04/2009 21:47

YanknCock - actually if you are really unlucky you will leave it at the door of the labour room and walk to the delivery room with your fanjo and arse completely out in the open for all to see...thank god it was 4am and they were quiet...

Gentle · 14/04/2009 21:51

YanknCock I love your name and I love your earlier comment that it "wasn't even a nice handbag".

That's all from me, I don't have any wee anecdotes as I have a very high tolerance for ick so you probably don't want to hear any right now...

oldraver · 14/04/2009 22:23

There will always be a toilet at a doctors surgery/hospital so there should be no need to collect wee before you go (unless 24hr collection). Same goes for emptying it out so I dont see the problem

She could wipe the bottle though

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 14/04/2009 22:35

Its not hygenic for the MW to put it down the sink. I put it down the sink, try and rinse it away, I get splashed when the taps come on and am hit in the face/jumper by a mix of water and your urine. Now thats not nice.

Tip it down the loo before the surgery if you're that bothered.

StripeyKnickersSpottySocks · 14/04/2009 22:36

before leaving the surgery even.

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 14/04/2009 22:52

My MW said she doesn't pour it down the sink because it makes the room smell of wee. Fair enough really. I used to rinse it in the surgery loos.

PussinJimmyChoos · 14/04/2009 22:55

Just don't do what I did will you...took my urine in at my very last check up before went into labour with DS, midwife gave it back to me etc etc....with my pregnancy brain, I forgot to take it out of the bag...

Fast foward a year (I kid you not!) later, I'm having a clear out of handbags....I find said urine....

vixma · 14/04/2009 23:01

We had to improvise, I luckerly went in to ask for proper pee tubes, some of the women bought in Nescafe coffee jars (good way of advertising), jam jars etc...however the first time you dont know it's gonna be done in front of other mums....no warning, I was relieved by me actions to get a tube (literally).

SlartyBartFastlaidanegg · 14/04/2009 23:05

how disappointing,
i thought, as others, you were actually having to piss in your hand bag, caught short,
i had a funny story to tell on same pissing subject.
will save it for another thread.

MrsMerryHenry · 14/04/2009 23:11

Am I the only one who's confused as to why someone who chooses the MN name YanknCock would be so upset about having a bottle of wee in their bag?

MrsMerryHenry · 14/04/2009 23:20

Oh dear, I see you're from the US. I have completely misunderstood your MN name. I thought it was describing a sex act.

As you were.

Poppity · 14/04/2009 23:22

Slarty, I want to know your story!

MrsMerry me too, your post made me lol!

Original poster
YanknCock · 14/04/2009 23:23

Why whatever do you mean, MrsMerryHenry?

The name refers to the fact that I am a 'Yankee' married to a 'Cockney'.

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