24 Hour Urine Collection

bubbles231211

So after my crazy high blood pressure and L&D visit yesterday I was put on a 24 hour urine collection.  I was so happy that I was just doing dinner at my IL's with just MIL, FIL, and Grandmother IL because it was so embarrassing having to ask to make a space in the fridge for my collection bottle and every bathroom trip having to get it and then put it back.  If i did the big family thanksgiving like we do every year I would have been mortified!!!

But anways...I was wondering:

1.  If anyone has had to do this during the pregnancy and what exactly are they looking for?

and 2.  If it comes back positive or negative or whatever a bad outcome would be, do you think they will induce me or somehow make Rocco come out early??

maggiemooandyou

Hey, Yeah I've had to do it. Except I did it when I was in the hospital on MAG. THANK GOD I had a catheter (even though they suck). I can't imagine having to take out a pee bucket hanging out next to the left over turkey!!

 They're looking for protein in your urine. Which is an indicator of Preeclampsia. Like when I did my 24hr collection, I had a total spillage of 700(mild preE). Anything over 250 is considered PreE. My doctor was like THATS NOT bad at all, and they don't do anything different until it gets to like 5,000 or greater. Which is when kidney involvement is there. (Basically means your kidneys aren't working like they should/failing.)

They also look for Ketones, which is associated with Glucose/Diabetes.

Like I ended up going back to the hospital for my BP getting high- and I was not spilling any protein, but I was spilling ketones. The reason they want you to do a 24hr is because the amount of protein in each urine sample varies throughout the day.

 My doctor said that spilling that little amount of protein (700) doesn't change our plan. We're still trying to keep him in until 36 weeks. (hopefully we can make it)

Now your doctor may do something different. But I'm suspecting unless you are spilling ALOT of protein, your doctor will probably just put you on some Blood Pressure medicine (like Procardia or Labetolol). If you have kidney involvement and are spilling alot baby Rocco may be coming out sooner than you think! Either way, take your bags packed to your next dr. appt in case you get sent to the hospital.

BB8785

If you have a lot of protein in your urine, they will induce. That's what I've always heard.

maggiemooandyou

I just saw how far along you are---being that far along, I would say your Doc will probably be like lets get him out if you are starting to get or are preeclamptic. At this point, it may be better for him out than in, especially if your blood pressure is crazy.

bubbles231211

maggiemooandyou:

I just saw how far along you are---being that far along, I would say your Doc will probably be like lets get him out if you are starting to get or are preeclamptic. At this point, it may be better for him out than in, especially if your blood pressure is crazy.

Thanks for all your info.

I have never had BP issues until this week.  And it was able to drop to normal at the hospital.  But I have been having quite painful swelling in my legs for weeks now, it starts at my knees and goes down to my feet.  So maybe this will help move things along so they can get him out of me and I can get rid of this pain/swelling

decemberbean

I had to do the 24-hour urine collection when I was about 34 weeks along due to high blood pressure, severe swelling, and a trace of protein in my urine during a routine visit.  Basically, they are looking to see how much protein is in your urine since it is symptom of preeclampsia.  I was told that if my test results were above 300 then we would talk about induction and a diagnosis of pre-e.  I don't know if results differ from practice to practice or not, but I was told that if my result was above 300 I would be diagnosed.  My result ended up being 278. They have been monitoring me very closely since I was borderline and making sure that everything stays on target.  If it did not, they would induce.  So far, I have been doing fine.  I go to the doctor 4x a week for this issue as well as being high risk for other issues. 

Being that you are over 37 weeks, your doctor may want to discuss induction based off of how high your protein results are.  I think the main reason they hesitated with me was due to the fact that I was only 34 weeks along at the time.

I totally agree about how uncomfortable it is to have to carry around that big red collection jug!!!   I took off work the day that I had to do it

Good Luck!  I hope it all works out and that baby Rocco can stay put for a few more weeks! 

shaw

I had really high BP this week at my appointment.  160/80.  However, I didn't have any protein in my urine.  My doctor was talking about inducing at 37 weeks due to my blood pressure.  I go back on Monday (I will be 35 weeks) and if it is still super high....they might induce then!!!!!  (Yikes)  I am on bed rest hoping to bring the BP down a bit!!

pinkness09

Good Luck to you, I had to do a couple 24 hr collections as well, and it is such a pain when you are at home, I'm glad there were only a few people at your Thanksgiving!

Bedrest does work wonders for blood pressure and protein, I was put on bed rest 4 weeks ago and my numbers have turned around!

jessrenee11

while I havent had to do the 24 hour urine yet, they are in the talks of it. Honestly though if my bloodpressure stays up I am pretty sure they will induce at this point, as she will do better outside the body then in. They wanted to make sure I made it to 36ish weeks first so who knows now. We are just in the wait and see phase....bedrest is killing me though and it has only been 7 days. I am about ready to jump out of my skin. Good luck!

LittleDucky

I was diagnosed with pregnancy induced hypertension at 34 and a half weeks after my BP starting rising and I did a 24 hour urine collection after having protein show up on a couple of dipstick tests.  The results were 400-something on the 24 hour.  I was not diagnosed with pre-e though.  They put me on bed rest and my BPs have been very good (on the low side, even) when lying town, although they go up to 150/95 or so as soon as I sit up and are high at the dr's office.  I am supposed to take my BP 3 times a day both sitting and lying down and record what it is.  I also go in for twice a week NSTs and urine checks and weekly fluid checks.

I would guess that if your 24 hour urine comes back ok, they might put you on bed rest and just watch you closely for the rest of your pregnancy.  Even if your 24 hour is borderline, they might not induce yet, although every doctor is different and I've seen PIH and pre-e managed many different ways.  I think other doctors would have induced me already, while my doctor is happy to let me wait since nothing has gotten worse in the past few weeks and my labs look okay.  She is talking about induction toward the end of next week (when I am 39 weeks) and does NOT want me going past my due date at the latest.

Good luck!  

Mrs. K in TX

They're checking for protein in your urine that can accompany preeclampsia.  Lucky you for being able to do it at home.  I've been in L&D all day doing mine.  It has sucked.

mrsdchastain

bubbles231211:

So after my crazy high blood pressure and L&D visit yesterday I was put on a 24 hour urine collection.  I was so happy that I was just doing dinner at my IL's with just MIL, FIL, and Grandmother IL because it was so embarrassing having to ask to make a space in the fridge for my collection bottle and every bathroom trip having to get it and then put it back.  If i did the big family thanksgiving like we do every year I would have been mortified!!!

But anways...I was wondering:

1.  If anyone has had to do this during the pregnancy and what exactly are they looking for?

and 2.  If it comes back positive or negative or whatever a bad outcome would be, do you think they will induce me or somehow make Rocco come out early??

 

1. I did. It was NOT fun. They are looking for everything. Extra protein in your urine, high sugar, everything.

2. Depending on what they find and considering your other symptoms (I read you had high blood pressure and swelling) they may either induce you or keep you on bed rest at the hospital. It all depends on what they find.

I ate too much sugar the day they did mine so the next time I went in for a doctor's visit I had to fast that morning, my blood sugar was fine that time. So watch what you eat. lol

GL!