urine samples... what do you use as a container?

[SusieFlo]

Hello, at most of my antenatal appointments so far I've been asked whether I've brought a urine sample with me (answered no) and then sent off to the loo to produce one. My GP has since told me that I should take a urine sample with me to every appointment, however nobody has given me any containers.

So - the question is - what do people use? I have a 28-week glucose screening today and am wondering whether turning up with a jam jar would be de rigeur...?

They should give you one if you ask, although I'd prefer to just wee on a stick, rather than carry a sample round in my bag.

I was given a sample pot on my booking in appointment, and told not to lose it, as I'd not get another!

I once had to take a sample to a job interview and used an empty nail varnish remover bottle. Judging by the look I got, I'd probably not washed it out properly! Nor did I get the job.

Lol, I dread to think what your test looked like :-)

It does seem odd to expect me to pee into something that may not be clean. I wonder if they just forgot to give me a container? I do have some nice clean jam jars purchased for jam-making, but it seems a shame to waste one of them on urine... I might just go without.

I have to ask at the GP surgery's reception desk for a new one each time. Get into the habit of asking for one when you leave each appointment.

My GP has a stock of those tube things on reception that you can ask for.
I often forget to take one though as the surgery has a testing toilet which has a place in the toilet bowl for a pot that you then put in a to way cupboard for the midwife to pick up, it's about 100 times easier to wee into that than the rubbish tubes.

Am sure a jam jar is fine, just make sure it's uber clean - I suspect any traces of jam would screw up your test results somewhat!!

I also got given a container at my booking in appointment but agree trying to wee in them is quite tricky (and from previous experience, is even harder when you have a massive bump). But in my last pregnancy, when I forgot to take one then they just gave me another pot when I was in the doc's and I did another one.

Another thing to remember if they give you a pot to keep is to remember they don't always rinse it out afterwards - particularly in the early weeks where you have 8 weeks between appointments it can be fairly gross when you go back to use it 8 weeks later.. as you can tell I learned the hard way (sorry, TMI)

Ooh, update: I have just discovered I still have an unused poo sample container from the vet's that I got for one of my kittens. Perhaps I will use that. It is clean and about the same size as a urine container...

They really should give you a tube container! If they don't, they shouldn't really expect you to bring a sample.

I hate that they expect you to re-use the container! I mean, ieewwww! It's not as if they are very expensive! Fortunately, last time I was at the hospital for my scan, I went to the loo there afterwards and discovered to my delight that in the loos, they provided a whole box of the wee containers. Guess who walked out with a handbag full of them

And yes, it does get very tricky to wee into them once the bump has reached a certain size... Almost impossible, I'd say. I now use a plastic cup and then transfer.

I bought a funnel when weeing into the sample pot became too tricky and messy :)

CountScoutula, that is genius. I am stealing your idea.

I asked at the GP's receptionist and she gave me about 5 to start off with. I pick up a new one from the antenatal unit at the hospital or GP whenever I have to hand one over.

I'm accurate where I hold it so don't get the outside wet after much practice but agree that a funnel is a good idea too or, if you're doing it at home, an old clean jam jar and then decant.

when I was pg I bought a "special for the purpose" cheapy plastic jug from asda and weed into that then decanted

You can buy them on Ebay, I learnt the hard way too and left it in my hand bag for 3 weeks and it was revolting. They arent very expensive and then I just use a new one each time.

you can buy them at chemist for 50p, had to buy my own this time, whereas last time was given one and told to re-use.

When I was in labour with my PFB, I noticed on my millions of wanders around the hospital corridors that they had an exhibition on the walls. It was photographs of all the weird containers people have brought samples in.

My favourite was a Jack Daniels miniature bottle.

I was given a sample tube at my booking appt and use that. Wash it out after every use, and refill when needed. It is very hard to aim in one so I keep a muller rice pot in my bathroom that I have cut a little lip into so I pee in that and pour into sample tube. Hey presto! :)

When pg with DD2 DH worked in a chemical factory and I used their glass sample containers, like mini jam jars about 2 inches tall.
I'm sure the m/w thought I was some obsessive wierdo who kept little glass jars of pee in her house.

I always ask at reception for a bottle or two, if you ask really nicely at the hospital (if you happen to be there) you can sometimes get the larger bottles with a bigger neck...all the better for your aim when you are near the end and huge!

I just ask my midwife & she gives me a few so I always have one spare!
At 36 wks it is getting tricky to aim so think I will be copying the yogurt pot method someone mentioned!

Hi SusieFlo, only just seen this thread. I'm amazed that some of you have been asked to reuse your sample containers as surely that completely defeats the point: the sample is to test for infection, so if you aren't peeing into a sterile container then your test is likely to show bacteria in your sample from any contamination in the pot.
Having said that, if you do get a positive test then hopefully they'll get you to provide another sample before putting you on antibiotics, but it seems a bit stupid to me.
I'd ask for a new pot each time if I were you. Fortunately my MW always gives me a fresh pot so I haven't had to ask.

I recommend this website Amazon . You will spend only a few minutes and will certainly get what you want.

resuse??? jam jars??? Dear god it really is a postcode lottery isn't it? In my civilised neck of the woods at each appointment I'd hand over my full sample pot and they'd take it and give me a new one for next time.

During pregnancy they are testing for sugar and protein so the pot just needs to be clean rather than sterile hence re using. For wee infections it should really be sterile. Remember hearing of someone who had a wee infection which was difficult to clear, doc wanted a sample once she had completed antibiotics so she gave a sample in the bottle the tablets had come in. The bug-killing tablets. That wasn't that useful to culture!

Jam jars are fine. I always pee in a jam jar and pour it into the tube because they are to narrow.

It's a lot of petrol to go to my GP and fetch a tube if I forget.

The funnel is genius, I'm stealing that idea.

Like the stories of the different containers!
It would never have crossed my mind as I just get given a nice clean pot on each midwife visit for the next visit. The more I read on mumsnet the more grateful I am for my midwife/doctors surgery!