UTI During Pregnancy

Hi everyone, just wanted to share a bit of helpful info with everyone regarding UTI cure during pregnancy!

I was 21 weeks preg and had a Severe UTI.  I went to the doctor (walk in clinic) and obviously told doctor i was pregnant.  I was in so much pain i was crying.  of course he did the pee test and it showed infection etc etc.  so he gave me a prescription etc.  anyhow i go home and read the leaflet that came with the meds and it said in block letters, DO NOT TAKE DURING PREGNANCY.   wow ok so i went on the net and did more research and on every site it said the same, dangerous during pregnancy.  so i basically was stuck with no drugs and desperate for the pain to go away.  anyhow i remembered the whole thing about cranberry juice and UTIs.  so i went to the corner store and found some.  only this stuff was PURE Cranberry, not cocktail.  and it was really pricey, it was $11.00 for one liter...yikes, anyhow out of desperation i bought it and drank about a cup that night.  it was the most sour disguisting juice ever.....however unbelievably the pain got better the next morning, so i drank another cup  etc etc. i finished the bottle in less than two days and all of my symptoms and pain were gone!!!

anyone else used cranberry to cure UTI or was i just lucky this time???
any other helpful cures for this, other than cranberry, coz i seem to be pretty prone to these infections during pregnancy

[tina1111]

Unfortunately, they are all too common for me. And, yes cranberry is one of nature's best remedies. You can even take the cranberry capsules for the same effect. I drink it pretty regular as a precautionary measure and drink TONS of water to keep everything flushed out. Good for you!!! I would be worried about the meds too!

[girlybuff]

I think those meds are safe during the last trimester.  I was hospitalized for a serious UTI that had spread to my liver when I was about 7 months along and I was prescribed some meds that were supposedly unsafe but my peri-natal specialist said it was ok.
I think most medications aren't to be used unless the gains for themother outweigh the risks for the baby.
By the way, I had a healthy girl.

[Hulahut]

Wow - UTI that spread to the liver?  I never knew UTIs could be so bad, and that scares me!  I am 16 wks and haven't had any yet (that I know of), but last week, my urine frequency has gone up, and sometimes it feels like I have the urge and it's not too much coming out.  It worries me, because this book I'm reading said that in the 2nd trimester, the frequency of urination goes back down.  Mine did for a while, but it's back up - though mainly at night when I'm trying to sleep.  Maybe I'm stressed.  I don't know, but it's not bad that I would even think I'd need to see a dr.  But maybe I do?

Cranberry is awesome!

[girlybuff]

I experienced no other symptoms except mild cramping and since I was so far along I thought it might be labor and they told me it was a serious UTI.  I never had the urge to urniate more than I normally did and I never had any other symotoms like painful urniation either.
I was lucky.  They just hydrated me on an IV and sent me home with meds.
It can be dangerous but UTI's in and of themselves are common in pregnancy.

[tina1111]

If you take the capsules, make sure is only cranberry. Other herbs can be dangerous. Also, you still need to drinks lots o water to flush them through. Even if no uti, still need lots o water, you are getting rid of the baby's waste, too. At least that is what my dr told me. I don't know how far along you are, my sister and also a friend both told me that when they were 30+ weeks every time they sneezed or coughed they pee'd a little. Tee Hee! But other post is correct, not always show signs of infection. My dr checks pee every visit(once mo) for that and several other things.

[tiredbuthappy]

glad to see this comment... i was going to post about UTI's today... i'll just use this thread instead of wasting another. the past 2 days, i have had discomfort urinating, although primarily during midday. if i drink a lot, it goes away. also, last night as i was sitting on the bathroom floor, violently vomitting from morning sickness, i actually wet myself a little (sorry if tmi). i normally have excellent control and have never expereinced anything like this. is this a symptom of pregnancy? could it be a uti? i was thinking of getting some cranberry pills, since the thought of drinking juice makes my stomach turn.

[mgi]

there are safe UTI meds for pregnancy - my doc has prescribed four so far

I had UTI with last preg


and this one it is so bad it is deep in my kidneys - BUt I have been on antibiotics since i was 8 weeks

the cranberry juice is VILE I agree

best of luck

[Crritter]

I have chronic UTI's too and drink the juice when I need to, but also take the capsules.  Sometimes if you are in the early stages of an infection it can be flushed out, but if it's bad, it can spread up into your organs, like an above poster.  UTI's can be serious in pregnancy and can cause preterm labor.  I would call your OB/GYN and ask about the medication and see what they say, tell them that you are feeling better and see if they want you to come in.  Good luck.  Mine sneak up on me and one day I'm fine, the nexy, I go to the bathroom and am peeing bright red with a lot of pain.  I also get chilled and a fever at that point, not something to mess with.

[abeavers2003]

I have had a UTI for a month now and been on three rounds of antibiotics. I also have drank the "no-sugar added" cranberry and I don't mind that cause I love cranberry. I have drank a ton of water but the symptoms never seemed to totally go away. I bought this stuff I found on-line called D-Mannose. It is the substance found in Cranberry called Mannose, except it is 10 to 50 times stronger and not diluted thru digestion. It goes directly to the bladder within 30 minutes to an hour and clings to the bad bacteria and therefor expels the bacteria out alot easier apon urination. This stuff is amazing and is safe for pregnant women and children. It was my saving grace. The symptoms are not 100% gone as I have a very long infection but I will be taking D-Mannose as a preventative messure.

[annemom]

Hi I am so confused. please help me. I told the doctor all the symptoms and he said i should go for the test, but in the mean time, i should start taking Keflex. I took 3 doses, and the medical assistant at his office told me that she has the verbal result that i do not have the infection. I didn't take it for 4 days,and today she called me and said that it is positive and  i should take the medicine. Now i am scared that the infection may have harmed the baby. I have started the medicine again. Please advise. Thanks

[peekawho]

Just start what the doctor prescribed, and be watchful to be sure the symptoms don't get worse.

Specifically, be watchful for flank pain, fever, chills, nausea/vomiting...things like that.

[Joeypoos]

I have had a bad time with UTIs also. They started at about 16 weeks (am now 25) and initially I was prescribed a course of antibiotics which worked but within a couple days of completeing the course the UTI would return (along with thrush...lovely!). After repeating this cycle 3 times my body seemed to be immune to the antibiotic. The doctor then put me on a new antibiotic and again...after the treatment was finished the UTI returned. I have been drinking only water and cranberry juice and following all the other advice re perfumed soaps, showers instead of baths and avoiding sex, tight clothing etc...but the bloody bacteria just won't leave me be! I recently found out about the D-mannose, which can be bought online (apparently the powder form is best) and the pain seems to be leaving a little and my pee is certainly clearer (with no cloudyness/blood) so fingers crossed. It is a simple sugar which is adored by the e-coli bacteria (which accounts for 90% UTI) so when it reaches the bladder the e-coli let go of bladder wall and cling to D-mannose instead...then it is pee'd out! I also read that cranberry can be harsh on sore bladder - which may explain why my bladder feels everso tender! I see the midwife in a week and have another pee check so will be interested to see if this time it has gone for good?! My sympathies with all you sufferers out there...I thought pregnant women were supposed to glow?! xx

[vb71]

How did you go with the test after taking mannitose? I am in same boat with antibiotics and becomng immune to them. I want to try d-mannitose but am not sure how safe it is?  Which brand do you use?