How to prevent uti during pregnancy

UTI During Pregnancy: How to Treat

Medically reviewed by Janine Kelbach, RNC-OB — By Chaunie Brusie on January 7, 2017

About halfway through my fourth pregnancy, my OB-GYN informed me that I had a urinary tract infection (UTI). I would need to be treated with antibiotics.

I was surprised I’d tested positive for a UTI. I had no symptoms, so I didn’t think that I could have an infection. The doctor discovered it based on my routine urine test.

After four pregnancies, I had started to think that they were just making us preggos pee in a cup for fun. But I guess there’s a purpose to it. Who knew?

A UTI occurs when bacteria from somewhere outside of a woman’s body gets inside her urethra (basically the urinary tract) and causes an infection.

Women are more likely to get UTIs than men. The female anatomy makes it easy for bacteria from the vagina or rectal areas to get in the urinary tract because they are all close together.

UTIs are common during pregnancy. That’s because the growing fetus can put pressure on the bladder and urinary tract. This traps bacteria or causes urine to leak.

There are also physical changes to consider. As early as six weeks gestation, almost all pregnant women experience ureteral dilation, when the urethra expands and continues to expand until delivery.

The larger urinary tract, along with increased bladder volume and decreased bladder tone, all cause the urine to become more still in the urethra. This allows bacteria to grow.

To make matters worse, a pregnant woman’s urine gets more concentrated. It also has certain types of hormones and sugar. These can encourage bacterial growth and lower your body’s ability to fight off “bad” bacteria trying to get in.

Signs and symptoms of a UTI include:

• burning or painful urination
• cloudy or blood-tinged urine
• pelvic or lower back pain
• frequent urination
• feeling that you have to urinate frequently
• fever
• nausea or vomiting

Between 2 and 10 percent of pregnant women experience a UTI. Even more worrisome, UTIs tend to reoccur frequently during pregnancy.

Women who’ve had UTIs before are more prone to get them during pregnancy. The same goes for women who’ve had several children.

Any infection during pregnancy can be extremely dangerous for you and your baby. That’s because infections increase the risk of premature labor.

I found out the hard way that an untreated UTI during pregnancy can also wreak havoc after you deliver. After I had my first daughter, I woke up a mere 24 hours after coming home with a fever approaching 105˚F (41˚c).

I landed back in the hospital with a raging infection from an undiagnosed UTI, a condition called pyelonephritis. Pyelonephritis can be a life-threatening illness for both mother and baby. It had spread to my kidneys, and they suffered permanent damage as a result.

Moral of the story? Let your doctor know if you have any symptoms of a UTI during pregnancy. If you’re prescribed antibiotics, be sure to take every last pill to knock out that infection.

You can help prevent UTIs during your pregnancy by:

• emptying your bladder frequently, especially before and after sex
• wearing only cotton underwear
• nixing underwear at night
• avoiding douches, perfumes, or sprays
• drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated
• avoiding any harsh soaps or body wash in the genital area

Most UTIs during pregnancy are treated with a course of antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic that is pregnancy-safe but still effective in killing off bacteria in your body.

If your UTI has progressed to a kidney infection, you may need to take a stronger antibiotic or have an intravenous (IV) version administered.

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Last medically reviewed on January 8, 2017

• Parenthood
• Pregnancy
• Pregnancy Health

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

• Chen YK, et al. (2010). No increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in women with urinary tract infections: A nationwide population‐based study. DOI:
  10.3109/00016349.2010.486826
• Delzell JE, et al. (2000). Urinary tract infections during pregnancy.
  aafp.org/afp/2000/0201/p713.html
• Managing urinary tract infections in pregnancy. (2011).
  bpac.org.nz/BPJ/2011/april/pregnant-uti.aspx
• Matuszkiewicz-Rowinska J, et al. (2015). Urinary tract infections in pregnancy: Old and new unresolved diagnostic and therapeutic problems. DOOI:
  10.5114/aoms.2013.39202
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs). (2015).
  acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq050.pdf/

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

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Medically reviewed by Janine Kelbach, RNC-OB — By Chaunie Brusie on January 7, 2017

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Never Get Another UTI While You're Pregnant

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December 3, 2019

Urinary tract infections or bladder infections (UTIs) are common in pregnancy with between 2-10% of women diagnosed with them while pregnant. Pregnant women are at increased risk for UTIs starting in week 6 through week 24. So if you’re in a similar situation, this info might help you maintain your urologic health and your sanity throughout your pregnancy.

See also: What is your pee color telling you?

Normal urine is sterile and contains no bacteria. However, bacteria may get into the urine and travel from the urethra into the bladder causing a UTI. Bacteria can grow in damp, dark, moist areas. It accesses the body through the urethra or through small tears in the skin. Bacteria is also present on the skin and the rectal area. The abundance of bacteria in this area is why your urologic health should be paid extra attention.

Women have shorter urethras than men, allowing for bacteria to have easier access to the bladder to grow. UTIs can cause the lining of the bladder and urethra to become red, irritated and inflamed which causes symptoms. If the bacteria moves up the urinary tract into the kidneys, it is then classified as a kidney infection (pyelonephritis). Symptoms of a kidney infection are similar to a UTI, but often include back pain, fever, nausea or vomiting and blood in the urine. Kidney infections are a more serious condition and should be treated quickly.

Pregnant women are more prone to UTIs because the growing fetus puts pressure on the bladder and the urinary tract, often trapping bacteria or causing urine to leak.

Additionally, as early as six weeks gestation, most pregnant women experience urethral dilation causing the urethra to expand. Therefore, the larger urinary tract coupled with an increased bladder volume and decreased bladder muscle tone causes the urine to stay in the urethra, allowing for a perfect environment for bacteria to grow. A terrible situation for your urologic health.

Finally, women who are pregnant often have more concentrated urine with hormones and sugars that can encourage bacterial growth and lower the body’s ability to combat bacteria. Pregnant women often have recurring UTIs and women who have had UTIs prior to pregnancy or have had children previously are more prone to experience UTIs during pregnancy.

– Burning or painful urination (dysuria)
– Cloudy urine
– Urinary urgency
– Urinary frequency
– Urinary incontinence
– Frequent urination with little urinary output
– Malodorous urine
– Bladder pressure or pain
– Pelvic or lower back pain
– Blood-tinged urine (hematuria)
– Nausea or vomiting
– Fever over 102 degrees F

UTIs and kidney infections are diagnosed by an exam, a urinalysis and definitively by a urine culture, where the urine is sent to a lab and an attempt to grow bacteria out of the urine over a period of time is performed. If bacteria is found to be present in the urine, it is then tested for sensitivity to antibiotics – so the most sensitive antibiotic to “kill” the bacteria can be used if compatible with pregnancy.

– Drink at least eight glasses of water a day to flush the urinary tract.
– Insure you are wiping correctly after urinating: wipe yourself from front to back when you go to the bathroom.
– Do not hold your urine. Go to the bathroom frequently (every 3-4 hours) and when the initial urge develops.
– Take high-grade cranberry tablets daily or drink 8 ounces of unsweetened cranberry juice a day. Studies have shown some success in the prevention of UTIs with the consumption of cranberry juice or cranberry tablets. If taking cranberry tablets, it is important to pick a cranberry tablet that is reputable, as some have more of the active “ingredient” needed to be preventative than others. This also applies to D-Mannose supplements.
– Allow the vaginal area to “breathe” as much as possible. This can be done by wearing cotton underwear and loose clothing.
– Avoid applying soap directly to the vaginal/urethra area. Allowing soap to run over the area from body wash is not a problem, as long as it is washed thoroughly with clean water.
– Wash daily. Overall good hygiene will help prevent bacterial growth and promote urologic health.
– Urinate after intercourse in order to flush the urinary tract.
– Treat constipation by eating more fiber.
– Avoid baths/hot tubs. Showers are ideal when pregnant so that exposure to bacteria is limited. Avoid soaking in any water that is not treated.
– Do not use any creams, lotions or douching products in the vaginal area while pregnant.
– Change out of wet clothing and underwear as quickly as possible to avoid bacterial growth. This includes swimsuits and work out clothing.
– Rinse the vaginal area with clean water using a spray bottle after urination.
– Rinse with clean water and dry the vaginal area completely after intercourse.
– If lubricants are needed during intercourse, only use water-based lubricants. Rinse and dry the area immediately after use. Avoiding lubricants entirely is ideal.

UTIs are common and easy to prevent and treat in all women, even in pregnancy. If your urologic health is being pestered by recurring UTIs, oftentimes more aggressive, preventative treatment options are available and additional labs/tests may be ordered to rule out other causes that are contributory.

Interested in learning more about what you can do to encourage urologic health and prevent UTI’s? Drop us a note or give us a call at (512) 694-8888.

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Asymptomatic bacteriuria - articles from the specialists of the clinic "Mother and Child"

Agranovskaya Anna Valerievna

Obstetrician-gynecologist

Lapino-1 Clinical Hospital "Mother and Child"

During pregnancy, this problem requires special attention!

It should be noted that the kidneys of a pregnant woman experience increased stress. The smooth muscle of the urinary system is affected by the hormone progesterone, which has a relaxing effect on it.

From the second trimester the gradually enlarging uterus begins to compress the abdominal organs, including the ureters, kidneys, and bladder. As a result, the pyelocaliceal system of the kidneys expands, which contributes to some stagnation of urine. Such urine is a favorable environment for the reproduction of bacteria.

During pregnancy, the presence of bacteria is found in urine tests, but the woman does not present any complaints, nothing bothers her. This is regarded as asymptomatic bacteriuria. A similar phenomenon occurs on average in 6% of cases.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women significantly increases the risk of urinary tract infections - inflammation of the bladder / cystitis / and inflammation of the kidneys / pyelonephritis /. And urinary tract infections can cause a number of serious complications of pregnancy and childbirth - a decrease in hemoglobin, an increase in blood pressure, premature birth, the birth of children with a low body weight of less than 2500 g.

When bacteria are isolated in a general urinalysis, an additional examination is recommended - seeding for flora and sensitivity to antibiotics to identify bacteria and determine their sensitivity to antibacterial drugs.

Based on the results of sowing, the doctor prescribes an effective and safe treatment for a pregnant woman. The duration of the course of treatment depends on the severity of changes in the culture. After treatment, urine culture control is prescribed, not earlier than 5 days after the end of treatment.

Prevention! In order to prevent exacerbations, it is necessary to follow the recommendations to ensure an improvement in the outflow of urine and to prevent stagnation and reproduction of bacteria in the organs of the urinary system:

• diet with restriction of spicy, salty, smoked
• sweets should be limited - glucose is a favorable environment for the development of microorganisms
• drinking regime not less than 1. 5–2.0 liters per day. A sufficient volume of liquid contributes to the free removal of waste substances and toxins from the body. Among drinks, preference should be given to mineral non-carbonated water, compotes, cranberry and lingonberry fruit drinks
• knee-elbow position for 5-10 minutes 3-5 times a day. In the knee-elbow position, the load is redistributed. The uterus, under the force of gravity, shifts forward and down, freeing the ureters, kidneys, and bladder from compression. In this case, the normal functional state of the organs of the urinary system is restored

It should be noted that at the stage of preparation for pregnancy, it is also necessary to identify and treat asymptomatic bacteriuria in order to reduce risk factors for urinary tract infections and complications during pregnancy.