Is UTI common in pregnancy?
Are you Pregnant? Check out the Neodocs Card - Pregnancy Care test kit to track your wellness through the 9 months of pregnancy(3 trimesters). Have you experienced an episode of UTI recently? Can UTI harm your baby’s growth and development in the womb? These can be common concerns to a carrying woman. Let's bust some myths and clear some facts about it.
When you urinate, you may notice a burning sensation, an intense urge to pee, frequent urination, blood in your urine, and smelly or colored urine. For a little more understanding of the how and why of UTIs, check out our previous blog
When you urinate, you may notice a burning sensation, an intense urge to pee, frequent urination, blood in your urine, and smelly or colored urine. For a little more understanding of the how and why of UTIs, check out our previous blog
During pregnancy, you may be asked to provide a urine sample even if you don't have any signs of infection. Likely, you do not have a UTI if you are feeling fine. However, you may still have bacteria in your urine. This is called bacteriuria. What's the Difference you ask? Actually, having a UTI causes bacteriuria, but it’s also possible to have bacteriuria without any of the other symptoms of a UTI. When this happens, the bacteriuria is called Asymptomatic Bacteriuria(ASB). Although during pregnancy, ASB is taken seriously. There is an increased incidence of ASB progressing to UTI — and then on to Kidney Infection during pregnancy. Thus, early ruling out any doubtful symptoms is essential.
UTIs, or urinary tract infections, are more likely to occur around the sixth week of gestation due to several factors. Hormonal changes are the first. Later in pregnancy, the bladder can become fuller and muscle tone can decrease. When this happens, urine can stand still and can even become backed up in the urinary tract, increasing the risk of infection. Changes in the urinary tract and immunologic changes during pregnancy indeed increase the likelihood of women to urinary tract infection. Timely diagnosis and intervention is the key. Testing for UTIs is part of regular prenatal care. If you think you may have a UTI, call your doctor and take a diagnostic test. Neodocs Cards - UTI kit helps you diagnose UTIs with a smart-phone based home test that yields accurate results in 60 seconds.
Will a UTI affect the baby?
If untreated, the UTI may lead to kidney infection. Kidney infections may cause low birth weight or early labor. Your baby will not be harmed if diagnosed early and your doctor treats a urinary tract infection early and as per necessary guidelines for antibiotic use during pregnancy. The antibiotic that is best for you is determined by the type of infection and the stage of pregnancy. For example, some antibiotics can be effective against some types of UTI-causing bacteria and do not usually pose a risk to an unborn baby.
Bottom Line
"In conclusion, though UTI can result in other complications during pregnancy across all age groups, do not stress, you would be able to overcome this phase with care and support. All that is needed for your fetus and you are timely diagnoses, proper treatment, and a diligent follow-up care routine with your doctor. For such guidance and recommendations concerning health issues and health reports, it’s time to upgrade to Neodocs Smart Reports. Get a better understanding of any blood reports along with dietary and other lifestyle recommendations to aid you to monitor your health from just a Whatsapp number on your smartphone. Simply Whatsapp any blood report to +917400281971 and do away with googling your health concerns!"