A urinary tract infection is something that women should be mindful of at all times, but especially during their pregnancy.
Not only are UTIs more common during pregnancy, but they can also have an adverse effect on your developing baby, so you need to be aware of the risks and symptoms so that you can effectively treat a UTI should one develop. In today’s blog, we explain why UTIs tend to be more common in pregnant women, and we explore their symptoms and treatment options.
Pregnancy And UTIs
A urinary tract infection occurs when bacteria enter and grow within the urinary tract. When you are pregnant, pressure from your expanding uterus puts additional pressure on your bladder and urinary tract, making it less likely that you’ll be able to completely empty your bladder when you urinate. The longer urine stays in your body, the higher the likelihood that bacteria contained in your urine will grow and develop into an infection.
The three most common types of UTIs during pregnancy are:
-
Asymptomatic – Roughly 7% of pregnant women develop a UTI that doesn’t cause symptoms. About 1 in 4 of these asymptomatic infections will progress to a more advanced stage of UTI.
-
Cystitis – The most common type of UTI, this infection is localized to the bladder and presents with symptoms that we commonly associate with a bladder infection, like frequent and painful urination.
-
Pyelonephritis – This UTI affects the kidneys and can lead to more serious issues, like shock, anemia, excess lung fluid and even preterm labor.
If you are dealing with any of the symptoms mentioned above, or other common symptoms of a UTI like a burning sensation when peeing, blood or mucus in the urine, foul smelling urine, fever, chills or incontinence, reach out to your women’s care specialist to figure out exactly what’s going on in your body. A UTI should not cause any harm to your baby so long as the infection is treated early enough.
Diagnosing And Treating UTIs While Pregnant
If you present to your women’s care provider with some of the above symptoms, they will likely order a urinalysis, which involves testing a sample of your urine to look for the presence of certain bacteria. Should your urinalysis suggest you are dealing with a UTI, your provider will walk you through your treatment options.
Fortunately, UTIs can safely and effectively be treated with antibiotics, even during your pregnancy. Your doctor will likely prescribe a short course of antibiotics that is safe for both you and your developing baby. Most women see a noticeable improvement in their symptoms after just a day or two of taking antibiotics, and most infections are resolved after seven days of treatment.
Antibiotics are an effective form of treatment, but like all medical issues, prevention is preferred to treatment. To help reduce your risk of developing a UTI while you’re pregnant, keep the following tips in mind:
-
Drink at least six glasses of water a day.
-
Limit your intake of caffeine, alcohol and sugary substances.
-
Urinate before and after intercourse.
-
Focus on completely emptying your bladder when urinating.
-
Eat a healthy diet to help boost your immune system.
-
Change your underwear every day.
If you can keep the above tips in mind, and you reach out to your women’s care provider at the first sign of an issue, we’re confident that a UTI won’t cause major issues for you or your developing baby during your pregnancy. For more information, or for help with a different women’s care issue, reach out to the team at MetroPartners OBGYN today at (651) 770-3320.