UTI in pregnancy: Symptoms, complications and treatment

When a strong, frequent urge to ‘go’ is accompanied by burning and painful urination, you’re probably suffering from UTI.

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection in the urinary tract.

Pregnant women have an increased risk

Urinary tract infections are most common in women, especially if they are pregnant.

Physical and hormonal changes in the urinary tract during pregnancy often create the ideal environment for bacteria to flourish, which make pregnant women more susceptible to infection.

As the uterus grows, its increased weight can block the drainage of urine from the bladder. This stagnant urine is likely to cause urinary tract infection.

The increase of progesterone also causes the muscles that line the urine-making urethras to relax, which can allow bacteria to rise up into the bladder more easily than when you’re not pregnant.

Complications of a UTI in pregnancy

If the UTI goes untreated, it may lead to a kidney infection, which can be potentially life-threatening for mother and baby. Kidney infections may cause premature labour and low birth weight.

UTI symptoms

• Feeling an urgent need to urinate
• Frequent urination
• Finding it difficult to urinate
• Experiencing a burning sensation whilst urinating
• Cramps in your lower back or lower abdomen
• Urine that looks cloudy or has an odour

An asymptomatic infection

Pregnant women might not experience any symptoms, and it is therefore recommended that all pregnant women get checked for this ‘asymptomatic’ infection.

Treating a UTI

Conventional antibiotic treatments may clear up the infection, but they also kill the good bacteria in your body, which can be detrimental to your health over the long term.

About the Author: UTI’s during pregnancy can be safely treated with DMannose. DMannose is a pleasant tasting soluble powder that works quickly to stop UTI in its tracks by flushing the E.coli bacteria from your system, thus ensuring that the infection won’t recur. For a comprehensive stockist list, see the DMannose website under the “pharmacies” tab.

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