Healthytalk8 UTIs During Pregnancy
Contents
UTIs during pregnancy, which commonly occur in pregnant women, due to hormonal changes, and pressure on the ureters.
Moreover, UTIs are more common in women, than men, due to the short path of ureters.
It’s very common during pregnancy affect about 10% of pregnant women, and its risk increase during 1 trimester.
In pregnancy, every work becomes harder to perform like lifting heavy weights in 1st trimester leads to miscarriage, if you are not a regular lifter.
UTI is a urinary tract infection, which affects body parts like the kidney, ureters, bladder, and urethra.
It mostly occurs due to poor hygiene, which triggers E.coli bacteria (the main reason for UTI) and is also allied with diarrhea.
Poor hygiene is one of the most common reasons for UTI, so make sure to consult your doctor, if you notice any discomfort.
Preventing the disease or illness before it becomes serious is the best way to prevent further complications.
Here are how can pregnant women prevent UTI during pregnancy here are:
Why UTIs During Pregnancy?
As we know UTIs mainly affect women due to the short path of ureters, but in pregnancy it become more dangerous.
E.coli bacteria is a normal bacteria that lives in our intestine, but in some cases, it travels to our UT and causes an infection.
UTIs during pregnancy occur due to several reasons including:
- Physical changes in women’s body
- decrease bladder capacity
- puts pressure on the urinary tract
- hormonal imbalance
- suppress immunity
- Any type of infection in the kidney increases the chance of UTI
- not maintain intimate hygiene
Other causes of UTI are:
- Being women (more prone to UTI due to shorter urethra)
- weak immune system
- Do not take vital precautions before, during, and after intercourse (use protection, wash, and urinate after intercourse)
- not maintain overall hygiene (private or public)
- unhealthy lifestyle (consuming processed food, smoking, alcohol frequently, etc.)
- genetics or family history
- Hold urine for a long time
- any medical conditions (diabetes, etc.)
A study found that E.coli bacteria mostly become the reason for kidney infection, in both pregnant and non-pregnant women.
A study published by “Nature Reviews Microbiology” reveals that the immune system is suppressed in women, which increases the risk of UTI.
Symptoms and Signs
The symptoms as the same as in normal pregnancy, however in UTI case it might be different like:
- Burning sensation during urination
- cloudy urine
- unpleasant odor
- change in urine colour like red, green, etc
- pain on the kidney side, lower back and abdominal
- fever
- urge to urinate
- Other body signs like nausea, vomiting, dizziness, etc
If you frequently face these kinds of signs, then you have to consult your doctor, it may be other health concerns signs.
How to Prevent UTIs During Pregnancy?
Prevent UTIs during pregnancy as simple as UTIs in individuals, but take more precautions on hygiene, food and drink consumption, etc.
Here are how can pregnant women prevent UTIs during pregnancy:
Drink Enough Water
Consume enough water throughout the day is good for overall health, like maintaining body temp, providing nutrition to baby, etc
Moreover, during pregnancy, women drink more water, than regular women.
Try to avoid excessive alcohol, caffeine, and smoking, which contribute to kidney damage, and other serious health concerns.
Maintain Overall Hygiene
There are bulk hygiene tips to prevent UTI in all individuals, conditions, and ages such as:
- Avoid harsh soap on private areas and use clean water, make sure to do gentle cleaning
- follow the wipe-from-to-back method (from your vagina and genitals to back to your anus)
- Wear clean and breathable underwear
- Avoid douching and scent in a private area
- Make sure to dry your private area
- Avoid tight underwear it locks the moisture inside underwear, which creates a bacteria-growing environment
- Don’t share your personal items, it increases the chance of UTI
- After urination clean the back and front parts to prevent urinary tract infection
- wear protection during intercourse
- consult your doctor if you have any concern
Don’t Hold Urine
Hold urinating leads to several issues so don’t hold urination for a long time, otherwise, it increases the risk of:
- UTI (urinary tract infection)
- weaken your bladder holding strength
- infection with pain
- In some cases, holding urine can damage their kidney
If you notice any penis and bladder issues, then you consult your doctor, it may become a serious issue in future (5)
Treatment of UTIs during Pregnancy
If UTI occurs in a normal person, it would be easily treated without any complications, but in pregnancy, a little mistake triggers the baby’s health.
Left treatment leads to serious health concerns in both mother and baby, and leads to low birth weight, and premature birth.
If you face any signs of UTI like burning during peeing, or colour change, then you should consult your doctor.
Important
- lose weight, or if you see that your weight is increasing frequently
- consume Cranberry juice or supplement (help prevent UTI)
- Wear loose and comfortable clothes
- Take pillow support while sleeping
During pregnancy, women should follow more precautions, whether it is food, exercise, or their lifestyle.
Proper diagnosis and recommended medicines (antibiotics), especially during pregnancy easily treat urinary tract infections.
Antibiotics dose depends on how severe the case is, if UTI is in your kidney then, a hard dose of antibiotics may recommended by a doctor.
There is no specific time of healing, it totally depends on how severe the case is, but generally course runs 3 to 7 days.
Healthytalk8 do not recommended any medication, because everyone has different health.Down
Down Line
UTIs during pregnancy have become more concern matter due to the baby’s health.
Seek medical help if you experience pain or any type of discomfort, proper diagnosis and treatment help in it.
Wear comfortable and breathable clothes, stay hydrated, urinate frequently, and maintain overall body hygiene should be followed.
