Protein in Urine

[JJAZ]

For those who have previously had PE... How early did the Dr notice there was protein in your urine... and did they only act when the protein was combined with swelling or higher blood pressure?

The reason i ask is beacause i had severe Eclampsia with my last pregnancy and am 14 weeks pregnant now... and Dr noticed protein in my urine at my last check up obviously it is to early for PE to start but could it be a sign that it is going to happen again? Should my doctor be doing something about it? etc;

Any help or advise would be great - i am not stressing about it just curious and want my doctor to be actively doing what they should be doing...

[Hokey Pokey]

I would try not to worry too much just yet.
I always had protein in my urine when pregnant but never suffered with swelling, my midwife always told me it is quite common and often appears when you may have a slight uti without even having any symptoms of having one. Do you drink enough water?

[JimJamsMum]

I had PE last time and protein wasn't picked up in my urine until I already had high bp. My doctor doesn't do routine urine tests at every visit so who knows how long the protein had been present for.

As long as your bp stays down and you don't have any swelling you should be right.

According to a doctor friend of mine, protein can be found in the urine for any number of reasons and may just be because the output from the placenta puts a bit of extra strain on your kidneys.

[bootiful]

it is more a combination of issues rather than just 1 or the other.

if you have the high bp and protein in the urine then that is a sign that you might have PE but just protein isn't such a worry.

also, PE can start early, lots of women get it round 20wks. i got it @ 30 wks.

[Zoey]

Are you sure the protein has only just re-appeared or is it being caused by previously damaged kidney under strain? If you haven't already I'd request a baseline 24 hr urine collection so that you can accurately assess the amount of protieninuria, and having something to compare future specimens to if needed.

Since you had eclampsia last time I assume they are planning to monitor you closely this time around, so I doubt a little protien in your urine would cause an experienced high risk care giver too much worry. At least this time you have the added protection of being hyper-aware of the danger signs.

[naiwen]

I think my problems started around 24 weeks, my issues were more HELLP related though.

[JJAZ]

Thanks everyone for your replies - I am being monitored more closely and have a BP monitor at home so am able to keep a good eye on that - I was just curious to know what the Protein meant thats all...... I guess i will just have to wait and see what happens as my pregnancy continues!!

Thanks again for your replies!

Jes

[bubaloop]

[QUOTE=Zoey;3634659]Are you sure the protein has only just re-appeared or is it being caused by previously damaged kidney under strain? If you haven't already I'd request a baseline 24 hr urine collection so that you can accurately assess the amount of protieninuria, and having something to compare future specimens to if needed.


:iagree: with this. I have developed pre-eclampsia with all 3 of my pregnancies. My last one protein started showing around the 14wk mark. My dr's refered me to a renal specialist who said it is probably damage from my previous PE pregnancies she monitored me through out my pregnancy. She did a base line 24hr urine by 17wks I was showing 4+ protein on the dipstick things they use. We started doing 24hr urine collections every 2wks at that stage. I was officially diagnosed with PE at 24wks when my BP spiked and refused to come down and the protein in my urine had tripled from the base line at 14wks but with lots of monitoring and close calls we made it to 34wks. I have known other women who previously had PE and developed protein early in there pregnancy to go on and PE free pregnancies. Good luck with it all.