Urinary Tract Infection in Pregnancy

Urinary tract infections (UTI) are common in pregnant women. The infection can occur in any part of the urinary system, which includes the:   

• Kidneys   
• Ureters; the tube from each kidney that carries urine to the bladder   
• Bladder, which stores urine until you are ready to void   
• Urethra, the tube that takes urine from the bladder to the exterior   

UTI is more common in pregnancy because of the following reasons:   

• Pregnancy hormones cause changes in the urinary tract that makes infection more easy, these include relaxation of the muscles that usually tighten the junctions between these structures   
• Pregnancy may increase the amount of sugar or protein in your urine, increasing the chances of bugs growing and multiplying faster   
• The urine in a pregnant woman is less acidic, creating a favorable environment for bugs to thrive    
• Pressure on the bladder by the growing uterus may prevent you from voiding completely, increasing the risk of infecting the leftover urine
   

Symptoms of UTI   

• An urgent need to urinate   
• Urinating more often than usual   
• Painful urination   
• Having trouble voiding completely during urination   
• Burning sensation in the lower back or lower belly during urination   
• Foul-smelling urine   
• Cloudy urine   
• Streaks of blood in urine   
• Coke-colored urine   
• Fever   
• Nausea   
• Vomiting   

Treatment of UTI in Pregnancy   

Treatment of urinary tract infections generally includes antibiotics to clear out the bugs; your healthcare provider may also recommend:    

• Drinking lots of water to flush out the bacteria   
• Urinating when the need arises   
• Getting plenty of rest to help support your body’s immunity   
• Drinking cranberry juice is said to help with the symptoms of UTI.
   

Complications of UTI in Pregnancy    

Left untreated, UTI in pregnancy may cause serious complications, including:   

• Sepsis, the term for severe illness from an infection. This tends to occur if the infection spreads to the kidneys and blood   
• Preterm labor   
• Rarely, stillbirth   

Preventing Urinary Tract Infection   

Since the risk of UTI is higher in pregnancy, pregnant women can take some steps to lower their risks. These include:   

• Drink plenty of water   
• Wash genital areas and anus carefully with clean water   
• Avoid holding urine, and urinate when the need arises   
• Urinate before and after sex to prevent incubating bugs   
• Attend routine prenatal checks, where doctors screen for urinary problems