It is normal to have at least one episode of urinary tract infection during pregnancy because changes that occur in the woman's body during this period favor the development of bacteria in the urinary tract.
Although it may seem scary, the urinary tract infection does not harm the baby and can be easily treated with antibiotics such as cephalexin. However, if the woman does not start treatment, the infection may continue to worsen and cause some risks for the baby, such as premature delivery or abortion, for example.
Thus, whenever signs of urinary discomfort arise, it is very important that the pregnant woman consult the obstetrician or gynecologist to do a urinalysis and initiate treatment if necessary.
Possible Symptoms of Urinary Tract Infection
During pregnancy, the urinary tract infection may be a little more difficult to identify, so select what you are feeling to evaluate the risk of being with a urinary tract infection:
- 1. Pain or burning sensation when urinating Yes No
- 2. Frequent and sudden urge to urinate in small amounts Yes No
- 3. Feeling of not being able to empty the bladder Yes No
- 4. Feeling of weight or discomfort in the bladder area Yes No
- 5. Dark or bloody urine Yes No
- 6. Persistent low fever (between 37.5º and 38º) Yes No
Some of these symptoms, such as a frequent urge to urinate or a feeling of heaviness in the bladder, are very common during gestation and therefore can be disguised. That way, whenever the woman identifies any changes or discomfort, she should consult the obstetrician or gynecologist for a urine test and evaluate if an infection may be occurring.
How to confirm the diagnosis
The diagnosis of urinary tract infection during pregnancy is done by examining normal urine whenever there are warning symptoms. However, the doctor should also request 1 urinalysis per trimester to identify and treat a possible urinary tract infection early, even if there are no symptoms.
In addition, the woman can also buy the home urine test at the pharmacy. See more in: How to do a home examination to detect urinary tract infection.
How is the treatment done?
Treatment of urinary tract infection in pregnancy is usually done with the use of antibiotics such as cephalexin for a period of 7 to 14 days. It is also important to drink plenty of water, not to hold the urine, and to empty the bladder completely each time you urinate .
In cases where the infection has worsened is reached in the kidneys, the pregnant woman may need to be admitted to the hospital to take antibiotics directly into the vein. Learn more about treatment for urinary tract infection in pregnancy.
Also see how the feeding should be during the treatment:
Infection Risks for Baby
If the urinary tract infection is not treated correctly during pregnancy, there may be complications for the mother and baby, such as:
- Premature birth;
- Decreased intrauterine growth;
- Low weight at birth;
- Pneumonia;
- Asthma in infancy;
- Spontaneous abortion.
In addition, urinary tract infection during pregnancy also increases the risk of the baby's death after childbirth. Thus, the best way to avoid all these risks is to be alert to the symptoms of urinary tract infection and to do the treatment indicated by the doctor as soon as the disease is diagnosed.
