Managing Urinary Tract Infections During Pregnancy
By Author name on 11 Nov, 2023
When you are pregnant, there is an increased chance of getting a UTI infection because of the changes in your body during that time. One reason for UTI during pregnancy is the change in hormones. This changing hormone affects your urinary tract’s bacterial nature and makes you more prone to UTI. It also leads to vesicoureteral reflux, a condition where the urine flows back from the bladder to the kidney, increasing the risk of UTI. Another reason for UTI is the increased uterus pressure on the bladder, making it difficult to urinate fully. So, there will be leftover pee, which is bacterial and leads to UTI.
There are additional risk factors that can increase your risk of getting UTI during pregnancy. They are:
- Sexual activity can push the bacteria inside your urethra and cause UTI
- Gestational diabetes, the increased sugar can encourage bacterial growth inside your urethra, increasing the chances of an UTI.
How do you know if you have a UTI?
UTI comes with specific symptoms with which you can detect its presence. It is important to get diagnosed with UTI if you see any of the symptoms below because leaving it undiagnosed, especially during pregnancy, will affect your delivery. These are a few symptoms of UTI:
- Painful or burning urination
- Cloudy, dark or bloody urine
- Frequent urination
- A strong urine odour
- Pelvic or back pain
- Nausea and vomiting
These are some of the symptoms to look out for, and if you do, go to a doctor immediately for a diagnosis to manage the condition.
Can UTI affect pregnancy?
UTI during pregnancy can create complications to your health and your baby’s health if left undiagnosed. UTI can increase the chance of kidney infection, which will cause danger to both the baby and the mom. It can lead to increased blood pressure, kidney damage, and sometimes sepsis, a severe infection in the mother. Whereas regarding the pregnancy, it will increase the risk of premature labour or early birth, hence leading to low birth weight of the baby. UTI can put you both at risk in the long term. So, get yourself treated when you see signs of UTI during pregnancy to avoid these health complications for both.
How to treat UTI?
UTI is a problem that can be treated with medication. Once you get diagnosed with UTI, it is generally treated using antibiotics that effectively kill the bacteria. In addition, to keep yourself away from this whole hassle of UTI, there are ways to prevent it. They are:
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Do not delay passing urine when you feel the urge
- Urinating after sex
- Avoid douching
- Avoid using strong soaps and body wash in the genital area
Urinary tract infection(UTI) is a common infection, but it has severe implications during pregnancy. So, be aware of UTI and its symptoms to protect yourself and your baby’s health. It is always better to take preventive measures, so keep yourself hydrated and have a safe pregnancy.
