Protein in urine, do i have an infection?

[PrammyMammy]

Hey,
I am 16weeks pg - dated from my scan.
On Tuesday i was in horrible pain at work, under my ribs, like a really bad stitch. I ended up coming home from work and not going in on Wednesday. I made an appointment to see the midwife, who took blood and urine tests. She said i have protein in my urine and sent the samples away. I have to call up next week for my results.
I was up last night with the same pains in my ribs and a thumping headache. I always need the loo but i dont actually pass urine, just feel the need to wee.
Does this sound like a urine infection? Will i get antibiotics next week when i call for my results?

My guess would be that your proteinuria and your pain are unrelated. The pain sounds much like a gall bladder attack, while the protein in the urine could be an infection, contamination or nothing at all.

Hi Prammy,

it does sound like it could well be - is the pain under your ribs at one side, in line with your waist? If it is it could be kidney pain in which case you shouldn't wait until next week to get antibiotics. Urine infections spread to kidneys more easily during pregnancy and it's something you need to deal with right away. I would phone your duty doctor and explain what's happening and get some antibiotics on the go today. Don't worry about antiobiotics by the way, I had to take them throughout my last pg because of recurring urine infections (a problem I already had) and dd was and is absolutely fine.

Let us know how you get on.

You may have. I had this when pg with dd2, you are more susceptible to UTIs when pg. I had antibiotics and they kept a close eye on it through the rest of the pregnancy - I had to send samples in at regular intervals. (Which were fine.) Hope you feel better soon

How was your blood pressure?

ps it's very common to have protein in urine when pg but no infection - it's really whether your pain is kidney pain. if you think it is, i'd speak to someone today.

It is just in one side, the left. I told the midwife about it and she said it is my muscles streaching. But i don't remember having anything like this when pg with ds, i said that and she said all pgs are different.

Sorry, my blood pressure was fine, but has been high in the past.

A couple of things you can do to check - one is squeeze your kidneys (a bit in from your waist under your rib.) If one of them hurts it does sound like an infection. Also, when you do manage to wee, do it in a jar and if it is very cloudy that is another sign (although wee can be cloudy anyway in pg)

I really would consider phoning duty GP for his/her opinion. Your midwife may well be right but I think if it was a urine infection gone to your kidneys it's quite important to deal with it straight away in pg - so a call to be safe is probably an idea.

I only know all this by the way because I've been plagued with urine infections (although been clear since dd born - hurrah) and read up a bit when I was pg last time.

Do you have a fever at all?

Pre eclampsia is somethign worth keeping in mind too, I had this with dd, although later on in pregnancy than you are now and I ended up giving birth prematurely. Headaches are a sign, high blood pressure, protein in urine, seeing stars etc. It may well not be that but keep it in mind.

Thanks littleteapot.
It does hurt to touch, just on the one side. No fever though.
Sorry you've had infections a lot, i've never had anything like this, and never want it again. Did you only have them while pg?

Jodie, This had crossed my mind as my vision was really blurry before when i had a terrible head ache, but my midwife said it occurs after 20 weeks. I am only 16 weeks atm.
When i was pg with ds i complained because i had morning sickness, now i realise that was nothing lol.

No, I had them pretty chronically for about 3 years before pg - was pretty grim - it's exhausting and brings you down as well, I found. I'm so glad they've cleared up as it's a lot to cope with with a little one too.

Just one side is normal - you'd be very unlucky if it was both. Sorry to sound like a broken record, but I would call your doctor today. Not only do urine infections spread faster in pg but there can be a problem if they get bad with aggravating the uterus which can even lead to prem labour. I don't think you're in that situation now, but for that reason I don't think you should wait till next week to speak to someone. Sorry, don't mean to be scary, and after all I am not a doctor, but that's what I've read.

Good luck, hope you feel better soon. Keep us posted. Maybe the doc will say it's muscles after all!

ps i've had headaches with urine infections in the past, but that's not really saying anything - headaches are pretty common in pg anyway...

It is actually possible to get it before 20 weeks but it's quite rare, I guess someone has to be the rare one though. With the visual changes you'd had I'd keep that in mind and go in to be checked to be honest with you. Not meaning to worry you as it is rare before 20 weeks but it's also serious and worth ruling out by seeing a doctor imo.

Thanks, you've been so helpful. I will call someone today.

Oh and pain under your ribs is also another sign of PE.

www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23069028/

Oh and pain under your ribs is also another sign of PE.

www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23069028/

Good luck Prammy, let us know!