21 weeks pregnant, blood in urine, no...

[mymommymy]

...infection...? So, on Sunday my sister noticed that she had blood in her urine, she is 21 weeks pregnant. She called me and I told her to call her doc in the morning it was probablly a bladder infection or UTI (i had both during all 3 of my pregnancys) she went in to the OB and took a urine culture and had another culture sent off..The OB told her it was probablly an infection and put her on Micro Bid..The results came back today (Thurs) and said that there is NO infection, no bacteria, but still alot of blood...we are trying to figure out what could possibly cause this...she is going in for yet another urine culture today and is going to be sent to a urologist...she is RHneg...but has already had a rogam shot and is due to get another at 28 weeks...any help would be appreciated...Thanx..~very worried auntie to be~the blood is def coming from her urine..she has only a small amount of discomfort, and she says it feels more like pressure (her exact words were "it feels like he is playing soccer in there").. Her BP is 95/65...my family all runs very low like that..she is also vegitariian and does not drink caffeine at all..

[TX_momma0107]

FYI- if the blood is in the urine it does not mean the baby has died!!! there has to be some kind of infection of the urinary tract- otherwise she would not have blood in the urine. Make sure they do a complete screen on her urine- not just test for UTI or bladder....

[myangelsfuture]

Something with the Kidneys? Just relax and wait for the tests. Tell her to stay calm and stay off her feet for a while. She'll be fine. Good Luck Auntie to Be.

[RcJones]

It looks to me like she might have some kidney damage. Does she have high blood pressure? If it's not an infection it should heal itself within a couple of days. She should also watch her diet and avoid sodium and caffeine. Good Luck.

[~Logans Mommy~]

Are you, your sis, and her doc positive the blood is coming from her urinary tract and not her cervix opening? Has the doc checked to make sure there is still a heartbeat? If a pregnant women bleeds from the vagina (Not urinary tract) It could mean a few different things:Implantation bleedingThere can be a small amount of spotting associated with the normal implantation of the embryo into the uterine wall, called implantation bleeding. This is usually very minimal, but frequently occurs on or about the same day as your period was due. This can be very confusing if you mistake it for simply a mild period and don't realize you are pregnant. This is a normal part of pregnancy and no cause for concern.Threatened MiscarriageYou may be told you have a threatened miscarriage if you are having some bleeding or cramping. The fetus is definitely still inside the uterus (based usually on an exam using ultrasound), but the outcome of your pregnancy is still in question. This may occur if you have an infection, such as a urinary tract infection, get dehydrated, use some drugs or medications, are involved in physical trauma, if the developing fetus is abnormal in some way, or for no apparent reason at all. Other than these reasons, threatened miscarriages are generally not caused by things you do, such as heavy lifting or having sex, or by emotional stress.Complete Miscarriageou may have a completed miscarriage (also called a spontaneous abortion) if your bleeding and cramping have slowed down and the uterus appears to be empty based on ultrasound evaluation. This means you have lost the pregnancy. The causes of this are the same as those for a threatened miscarriage. This is the most common cause of first trimester bleeding.Incomplete miscarriageYou may have an incomplete miscarriage (or a miscarriage in progress) if the pelvic exam shows your cervix is open and you are still passing blood, clots, or tissue. The cervix should not remain open for very long. If it does, it indicates the miscarriage is not completed. This may occur if the uterus begins to clamp down before all the tissue has passed, or if there is infection.Blighted ovumYou may have a blighted ovum (also called embryonic failure). An ultrasound would show evidence of an intrauterine pregnancy, but the embryo has failed to develop as it should in the proper location. This may occur if the fetus were abnormal in some way and not generally due to anything you did or didn't do.Placenta previaThe placenta, which is a structure that connects the baby to the wall of your womb, can partially or completely cover the opening of your womb. When you bleed because of this, it is called placenta previa. Late in pregnancy as the opening of your womb, called the cervix, thins and dilates (widens) in preparation for labor, some blood vessels of the placenta stretch and rupture. This causes about 20% of third-trimester bleeding and happens in about 1 in 200 pregnancies.Uterine ruptureThis is an abnormal splitting open of the uterus, causing the baby to be partially or completely expelled into the abdomen. Uterine rupture is rare but very dangerous for both mother and baby. About 40% of women who have uterine rupture had prior surgery of their uterus, including Cesarean delivery. The rupture may occur before or during labor or at the time of delivery. Other risk factors for uterine rupture are these conditions:Fetal vessel ruptureThis condition occurs in about 1 of every 1,000 pregnancies. The baby's blood vessels from the umbilical cord may attach to the membranes instead of the placenta. The baby's blood vessels pass over the entrance to the birth canal. This is called vasa previa and occurs in 1 in 5,000 pregnancies.Ectopic pregnancyYou may have an ectopic pregnancy (also called tubal pregnancy). This would be based on your medical history and ultrasound, and in some cases laboratory results. Bleeding from an ectopic pregnancy is the most dangerous cause of first trimester bleeding. An ectopic pregnancy occurs when the fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus, most often in the fallopian tube. As the fertilized egg grows, it can rupture the fallopian tube and cause life-threatening bleeding. Symptoms are often variable and may include pain, bleeding, or lightheadedness. Most ectopic pregnancies will cause pain before the tenth week of pregnancy. The fetus is not going to develop and will die because of lack of supply of nutrients. This condition occurs in about 3% of all pregnancies.Blood in the URINE may be due to a bladder or kidney infection; this may be assessed by doing a simple urine culture and, if infection is confirmed, treated with antibiotics that are safe to use during pregnancy. Untreated urinary tract infections in pregnancy increase the risk of preterm labor and delivery.Blood in the urine may also be due to a kidney stone. Ultrasound or a single shot IVP (an X-ray test) may be done to diagnose this condition. Kidney stones may be difficult to remove during pregnancy, as lithotripsy -- smashing the stones with sound waves -- cannot be done, but secondary infections can be treated, and pain relief can be provided.Blood in the urine may also be a sign of bladder cancer. Although bladder cancer is rare in the age group in which women generally become pregnant, I will never forget a case we diagnosed while I was a resident -- a 32-year-old pregnant with her fourth child. By treating this cancer aggressively as soon as it was found, we were able to give this women a good chance of seeing her kids graduate from high school. Cancer can be diagnosed during pregnancy by performing cytology on a urine sample or by a procedure called cystoscopy to look into the bladder.Medical conditions such as lupus, sickle cell anemia or diabetes may also affect the kidneys and cause blood in the urine. In many of these medical conditions, elevated amounts of protein will be present as well. A thorough history and physical exam, along with carefully selected laboratory testing, will lead to the proper diagnosis in most cases.Persistent blood in the urine must be investigated, whether or not you are pregnant. If a urinary tract infection is ruled out on the basis of a negative culture result, and if there are no obvious medical conditions present that could account for the blood, a consultation with a urologist is the next step. Insist upon a Make sure to mention these concerns with your doctor. If he is unwilling to do a further work-up, I would go for a second opinion.