Raised leukocytes, previous preterm labour

[whyyy321]

Hi all,

Just wondering if anyone can reassure (I've asked the midwife to call back, but whilst I'm waiting).

24 weeks with second baby, 1st came spontaneously at 35w 4 days. They aren't really sure why, but "could have been" something like thrush upsetting things. Had a consultant apt a week or two ago, she said to be vigilant for UTI and thrush to be safe.

24 week apt with midwife today and urine sample shows raised leukocytes (just a trace) so midwife will send off the sample for testing for UTI. Said this probably won't get a result until earliest Sunday evening, so unlikely to get treated till Monday (if it is a UTI).

Given my previous conversation with the consultant I'm in a complete spiral of this meaning a premature labour and feel panicked that I won't know if it's a UTI and therefore get antibiotics until Monday??

Any reassurance or sense talking appreciated. DS wasn't really that early but did end up staying on post natal ward for 8 days with zero sleep and felt bullied in to formula, which I attribute a lot of my pnd I had with him to so am totally freaked out.

Sorry should say first came at 36 weeks and 4 days! 3 days later would have been term...

Hey can't offer too much reassurance but I thought that nitrates have to also be present to indicate a UTI? I always have leukocytes in my urine without UTI it can be discharge influencing that. I'd assume if they thought you may have they'd give you a delayed prescription perhaps something you could ask? Best of luck!

It could be contamination from something like vaginal discharge, especially if only a trace and no other positives on the dipstick like nitrates or blood. And especially if you have no symptoms of a UTI?
Even if it is a UTI, that doesn't mean preterm labour is guaranteed, in fact it would be the rare cases that go into preterm labour. Think how common UTIs are in pregnancy and how the vast majority are fine.
Plus, it would more than likely need to be a severe infection that was left untreated and developed into pyelonephritis in order to have an impact on preterm labour... All of this to say, sounds very unlikely in your case
😊
I wouldn't worry. If you happened to become unwell over the weekend then contact triage. It takes a few days to culture a urine sample so it is a case of waiting it out for the full report, but they can treat on symptoms without the result back if you become unwell.

I had high leukocytes in all my pregnancies. Just seemed to be normal for me. Babies were a little early, but not premature.

Thank you all, that's really reassuring and helpful to have it explained so clearly! Just getting in my head about another "premature" baby (he was so close to 37 weeks!)

Midwife rang back and basically said she's not worried and will update me over the weekend as she'll be checking my results. Similar to above she suggested it's more let's not leave a UTI untreated than the risk of the UTI causing something.

If anyone reading this thread had an early baby first and then a term second, I'd love to hear your story too!