UTIs (Urinary Tract Infections) are bacterial infections that are especially common in pregnant women. Between 2 to 10-13 %[i] of pregnant women experience UTIs, and their reoccurrence frequency increases during pregnancy. Generally, UTIs are not something to be too worried about since you can treat them. However, if left untreated, a UTI becomes dangerous to the health of both the mother and the fetus.

What is a UTI?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection of the urinary system that commonly occurs in the kidneys (pyelonephritis), ureter, bladder (cystitis), and urethra (urethritis). A UTI may occur in both men and women but are most common in women, especially those who are pregnant and those who are very old or very young.

Why are UTIs Most Common During Pregnancy?

Although UTIs are the reason behind 8 million visits to the doctor annually and the second most common kind of infection in the body, they are most common in pregnant women, with around 31% of women experiencing it.

Pregnancy leads to high levels of hormones in the blood, such as estrogen and progesterone, which cause changes to the urinary tract. Furthermore, when excreting, the body releases more proteins, hormones, and sugar than the average amount, which leads to an increased risk for urinary infections.

With time, a pregnant woman’s uterus increases in size and puts more pressure on the bladder, which is located directly beneath the uterus. As it becomes hard to urinate, the urine stays in the body, and like anything left untreated or extra, this urine causes infection in the body.

If left untreated, UTIs may spread to the kidneys and cause infection of the kidneys. That can affect the baby as it leads to early labor or a baby with less weight.

Types of UTIs

Pregnant women usually experience three types of UTIs:

Asymptomatic UTI

This is also known as asymptomatic bacteriuria. In this kind of UTI, the woman usually does not feel any UTI symptoms during pregnancy. Around 7% of pregnant women have this type of UTI, and the chance of the infection progressing into the bladder or the kidneys is 25%.

Cystitis

Cystitis occurs in the blood, and its UTI symptoms during pregnancy are the ones that are common in UTI, such as pain while urinating, small amounts of pee, and an urge to pee all the time.

Pyelonephritis

This type of UTI occurs when the infection spreads to the kidneys and leads to many serious issues, which include the UTI pregnancy signs of cystitis and also include anemia, septic shock, excessive amounts of lung fluid, and early labor. Your baby may be smaller in size too. Since the kidneys are involved, it may also lead to pain in your sides and lower back.

UTI Symptoms during Pregnancy

The following signs and symptoms of UTI may help you detect the infection at an earlier stage:

• Having trouble while peeing. You may feel discomfort or a burning sensation.
• You may feel like your bladder is full even when you relived yourself.
• Peeing frequency increases.
• Your tendency to urinate more increases.
• You may experience incontinence or leaking i.e., peeing before you reach the toilet.
• Your urine turns cloudy and has a stench to it.
• Urine contains blood, so it becomes reddish or has a bright-pink tinge.
• The area around the bladder hurts too, and you may feel pain or pressure there.
• The lower abdomen hurts, and you may experience cramps there.
• The patient may experience fever, nausea, or vomiting. That usually occurs in patients with a kidney infection.

UTI symptoms may also vary according to the trimester you are going through. At week 6 of pregnancy, the risk of acquiring a UTI goes high. During the first trimester, 41% of US women are diagnosed with UTIs. Then, around 20% of women are diagnosed with the infection during the second trimester. Finally, in the third trimester, 10% of women are diagnosed. However, women experiencing pyelonephritis usually find out about it in the second or third trimester. As these women are nearing their pregnancy, it becomes riskier for the baby. Hence, get diagnosed as soon as possible.

Causes

A UTI may occur because of the following reasons:

• Sugar in the urine increases the risk of UTIs, which is why women with diabetes, who already have high blood glucose levels, are at higher risk of the infection.
• Weak pelvic floor muscles do not allow the bladder to empty itself, so urine stays accumulated, and this leads to the rise of UTIs.
• Bacteria in the gut can cause infection and damage the urinary tract.
• Getting involved in a lot of sexual activity means that the chances of bacteria moving around in the genitals increase their chances of entering the urinary tract.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Usually, a urinalysis and a urine culture help detect an infection. A urine test is done regularly for pregnant women. Routine urine tests are not specifically done to check for UTI symptoms of pregnancy, so if you experience UTI symptoms, tell your doctor immediately. The sooner you get treatment, the better it will be for you and your baby.

Some doctors may also recommend a physical examination, with special attention to signs of UTI around the abdomen. However, people with asymptomatic bacteriuria usually do not show any signs of UTI during the physical examination.

Since bacteria cause UTIs, they can get treated with antibiotics, which are also safe for pregnancy. Visit your doctor, who will prescribe you the right kind of antibiotics. Make sure to follow the course of 3 to 7 days so the bacteria can disappear instead of becoming more resistant. If you experience nausea, vomiting or have a fever or chills, or still have trouble peeing after the course of the antibiotic, contact your doctor immediately.

It is also essential that you increase your water intake so you may flush out the toxins in the urinary tract.

In case the urinary tract infection progresses to the kidneys, the doctor will assign you a strong antibiotic, or you may have to take one intravenously at a hospital.

Prevention of Urinary Tract Infection

In the following ways, you may prevent the onset of UTI and prevent yourself from going through the trouble of treating it later on:

• Increasing the intake of fluids, especially water, can help flush out the bacteria in the urinary tract.
• Taking steps to avoid constipation. Making sure that the urinary tract is clean and not accumulating food will ensure that infection does not arise.
• If you have any vaginal infection, seek treatment for it immediately.
• Wear cotton underwear.
• Keep your genital area clean by wiping it from front to back after going to the toilet.
• Urinate after having sex.
• Do not hold back and urinate as soon as you feel it.
• Make sure to empty your bowels before going to bed.
• Try not to wear clothes that are tight or wet.
• Avoid using soap or body wash that can damage your genitals.

See Also: Uti Vaginal Discharge – Should I Be Concerned?

Conclusion

As a woman starts getting used to the changes in her body that come with pregnancy, she might ignore the UTI symptoms of pregnancy. Furthermore, 1 in 10 pregnant women don’t experience any UTI pregnancy symptoms, so it is best to get yourself tested before it is too late. Our experienced technicians at Family Medicine Austin can help you diagnose the infection and get you treated. Book your appointment now!