Getting a urinalysis in pregnancy

A urinalysis is a routine test that a doctor uses as part of prenatal care. While urinalysis is used for pregnancy screening, this article discusses urinalysis as part of your routine prenatal care.

How is a urine test done?

Your doctor will ask you to collect a small, clean, medium-sized urine sample into a sterile plastic cup.

Chemically prepared test strips are dipped into a urine sample to determine certain indicators.

Further analysis can be done by testing a urine sample in a laboratory.

When are urine tests performed?

A urinalysis should be scheduled at your first prenatal visit and then at least periodically at future prenatal visits.

It would be normal for your doctor to monitor your urine at every visit.

What does a urine test show?

Urinalysis is used to evaluate for bladder or kidney infections, diabetes, dehydration, and preeclampsia by looking for high levels of sugars, proteins, ketones, and bacteria.
High sugar levels may indicate gestational diabetes, which can develop around the 20th week of pregnancy.
A higher protein level may indicate a possible urinary tract infection or kidney disease.
Pre-eclampsia can be a concern if higher protein levels are found later in pregnancy, combined with high blood pressure.

What can the results of a urinalysis show?

Sugar: Having sugar in your urine does not mean you have diabetes.

It is normal for your kidneys to pass sugar from the bloodstream into the urine. This is especially to be expected if you eat a lot or drink a very sweet drink.

You should be tested for gestational diabetes if: