 | ||
|
| |    Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) and Pregnancy by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. reviewed and revised by Marjorie Greenfield, M.D. Urinary tract infections, often called UTI, is one of the most common medical problems that expectant mothers face. Between 2 and 7 percent of women will have a urine culture that tests positive for bacteria during gestation and will subsequently need to take a course of antibiotics to treat it. The bacteria that cause urinary tract infections usually come from your own body--the intestinal tract or the skin near the opening of the bladder. There are three levels of infection: bacteria in the urine without symptoms; the classic bladder infection, which typically is accompanied by burning with urination and the urge to go frequently; and the most severe type, the kidney infection, where the bacteria not only infect the urine in the bladder but have made their way up to the kidneys as well. When symptoms are absent At the first prenatal visit, you probably will be asked to collect a so-called clean voided urine specimen. This is usually done by first gently washing the vulva, urinating a small amount into the toilet, and then catching the rest in a sterile container. This "clean catch" method is used to prevent vaginal secretions from going into the specimen, so the culture is a more accurate reflection of what was in the bladder. Some of this sample is used for a urine culture to see if bacteria are present in the urine. If the results of that culture show significant numbers of bacteria (a situation called asymptomatic bacteriuria, or ASB), taking antibiotics can guard against a serious kidney infection later in the pregnancy. If your doctor doesn't find bacteria in your urine at the first visit, it's unlikely that you'll develop an infection later in your pregnancy unless you have other risk factors--for example, you have a history of frequent urinary tract infections or you carry the sickle cell trait, which is known to increase the odds of developing a kidney infection. Mothers-to-be who are at increased risk are usually tested for ASB during each trimester. When symptoms are present The classic bladder infection or cystitis is familiar to many women. Common symptoms include the frequent voiding of small amounts of urine, a sense of urgency, discomfort at the end of the stream, and sometimes blood in the urine. While it's not unusual for pregnant women to experience the need to urinate frequently, it's not normal to feel a burning sensation with urination or to see blood in your urine. Any time you have these symptoms, be sure to report them to your practitioner, since early treatment can prevent the infection from spreading to your kidneys. It's also important to know that untreated bladder infections can cause uterine contractions, which might in turn lead to preterm birth. The good news when it comes to treating urinary tract infections is that a medication called phenazopyridine (known to many by the brand name Pyridium) is available to numb the bladder quickly, significantly relieving your discomfort while you wait for the antibiotics to kick in. This medication is FDA category B and generally is safe to use in pregnancy, if both you and your practitioner think it is necessary. If a kidney infection develops Kidney infections (called pyelonephritis) often are accompanied by fever, chills, and back or side pain; however, they usually don't cause the common bladder symptoms that are familiar to so many women. In addition, some people experience nausea and vomiting, so that it can be hard to differentiate a kidney infection from food poisoning or appendicitis. This type of infection can lead to premature labor, bacteria in the bloodstream (known as blood poisoning or bacteremia), and difficulty breathing. If you think you might have a kidney infection, you need to see a doctor right away--even if it is after hours. The treatment of kidney infections in pregnancy usually involves intravenous antibiotics in the hospital until the fever comes down and the possibility of serious complications is past.
| |  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About Us |
Contact Us |
Our Partners Privacy Policy | Ethics | Advertising Policy | Terms of Service © Copyright 2004 The Dr. Spock Company. All Rights Reserved. THIS SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. The information drSpock.com
provides is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for
professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your health care
professional if you have a specific health concern. Mention or advertisement
of any product, service, or brand does not constitute endorsement, guarantee,
or recommendation by The Dr. Spock Company. Please read our full
Terms of Service. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
