UTI & Pregnancys???

[Mariahh0215]

Hey Ladies :)
So today I went to my Doctors Appointment & everything came out Good with me &  My Baby Boy , He Told Me & My Boyfriend that so Far the Pregnancy is Going Great <3

But just to be curious , I also asked him how was all my blood work going & he said that also everything seems normal ... So me & my boyfriend were about to head out when the nurse asked me to give a Urine Sample .. I Did with no problem but also asked her , why is it that they need a Urine sample every appointment she countinued & explained to me that Alot of Pregnant women Will offten get A UTI ??????

I was just wondering Does a UTI Hurt? Does it Effect the Baby at all? .. What are the side effects? & can it been cured? If so how? I thought you cant be on any meds besides your Prenatal pills?

LOL , I know this is a weird question but im just vary curious cause ive never had one & since this is my first pregnancy & Its common for pregnent women to get them .. I just want to know everything lol ..

Thanks Ladies <3 :)

[aubree92]

I had it twice with my second pregnancy they are very easy to get while pregnant cuz the baby sits on ur bladder and it opens wat ever that thing is called i think its the urithra or wat ever and makes it easy to get but it can be dangerous to baby if not taken care of they will give u antibiotics and yes it can hurt it may burn wen u pee and makes u feel like u gotta go even wen u don't have to and wen u do go it feels as if more needs to. come out even tho no more comes out..... because of my uti it was giving me contractions at 34 weeks.....

[mommytoobe1]

http://www.babycenter.com/0_urinary-tract-infections-during-pregnancy_9403.bc?showAll=true

this is where i got the above info

[mommytoobe1]

Does pregnancy make me more likely to get a UTI?

It's not clear that pregnancy increases your risk of cystitis, and there's a fair amount of research showing that pregnancy does not make you more likely to have asymptomatic bacteriuria. However, pregnancy greatly increases the risk of getting a kidney infection.

Here's why: Higher levels of the hormone progesterone decrease the muscle tone of the ureters (the tubes between the kidneys and the bladder), causing them to dilate and slowing the flow of urine. Plus, as your uterus enlarges it may compress the ureters, making it that much more difficult for urine to flow through them as quickly and as freely as usual.

Your bladder also loses tone during pregnancy. It becomes more difficult to completely empty your bladder, and your bladder becomes more prone to reflux, a condition where some urine flows back up the ureters toward the kidneys.

The upshot of these changes is that it takes longer for urine to pass through your urinary tract, giving bacteria more time to multiply and take hold before being flushed out, and it also becomes easier for the bacteria to travel up to your kidneys. What's more, during pregnancy your urine becomes less acidic and more likely to contain glucose, both of which boost the potential for bacterial growth.


What is a urinary tract infection?

When you hear the phrase "urinary tract infection" or its acronym, UTI, you're likely to think of a bladder infection and its accompanying symptoms ­– such as a frequent urge to urinate and a burning sensation when you do. This condition, also called cystitis, is fairly common among sexually active women between 20 and 50. But it's not the whole UTI story.




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In fact, you can have a UTI in any part of your urinary tract, which starts at the kidneys, where urine is made; continues through tubes called ureters down to the bladder, where urine accumulates until you pee; and ends with the urethra, a short tube that carries the urine outside your body.

UTIs are generally caused by bacteria from your skin, vagina, or rectum that enter your urethra and travel upstream. Often, the bacteria stop in your bladder and multiply there, causing inflammation and triggering those familiar symptoms.

But bacteria may also travel from your bladder, up through the ureters, to infect one or both kidneys. A kidney infection (also called pyelonephritis) is the most common serious medical complication of pregnancy. The infection can spread to your bloodstream and become life-threatening for you.

A kidney infection may also have serious consequences for your baby. It increases your risk of preterm labor and having a low-birth-weight baby, and it has been linked to an increased risk of fetal or newborn mortality.

It's also possible to have bacteria in your urinary tract and have no symptoms. This is known as "asymptomatic bacteriuria." When you're not pregnant, this condition generally doesn't cause problems and often clears on its own.

During pregnancy, however, asymptomatic bacteriuria that's left untreated significantly increases your risk of getting a kidney infection and is associated with preterm labor and low birth weight. This is one reason your urine is routinely tested during pregnancy.

[mommytoobe1]

it wont cause harm to the baby unless it goes untreated and you don't do anything about it bc it could cause a kidney infection, so if you have any or all of these symptoms see your dr right away goodluck:) hope this helped i had many b4 pregnancy and one with my pregnancy now but i am 30w4d and took the meds and me and baby are perfectly fine:)

[mommytoobe1]

What are the symptoms of a bladder infection?

Symptoms of a bladder infection (cystitis) vary from woman to woman. Common symptoms include:
•Pain, discomfort, or burning when urinating and possibly during sexual intercourse
•Pelvic discomfort or lower abdominal pain (often just above the pubic bone)
•A frequent or uncontrollable urge to pee, even when there's very little urine in the bladder

You may also find that your urine is foul smelling or looks cloudy. You may see blood in it as well. You might run a low-grade fever, but more often than not, your temperature will remain normal.

Since the frequent urge to pee is common during pregnancy, it may be hard to know for sure whether you have cystitis, especially if your symptoms are mild. If you think you might have an infection, be sure to call your healthcare provider so your urine can be tested.

What happens if I get a bladder infection?

If you develop a bladder infection (cystitis) during your pregnancy, the drill is similar, though you might be given a slightly shorter course of oral antibiotics. The antibiotics will probably relieve your symptoms within a few days, but it's important to complete the entire course that your caregiver prescribed in order to get rid of all of the bacteria in your urinary tract.

You'll be tested after treatment and periodically thereafter (as well as any time symptoms recur) and retreated if necessary. If you keep getting bladder infections, you'll need to take a low dose of antibiotics daily for prevention.


What can I do to avoid getting a UTI?

Take these steps to minimize your chances of getting a urinary tract infection:
•Drink plenty of water, at least eight 8-ounce glasses a day.
•Don't ignore the urge to pee. And try to empty your bladder completely when you urinate.
•After a bowel movement, wipe yourself from front to back to prevent bacteria in the stool from getting near the urethra.
•Keep your genital area clean with mild soap and water.
•Clean your genital area and pee before and after sexual intercourse.
•Drink cranberry juice. Studies show that cranberry juice – and its relative, lingonberry juice – can reduce bacteria levels and discourage new bacteria from taking hold in the urinary tract. (Drinking cranberry juice won't cure an existing infection, though, so if you're having symptoms, you still need to see your practitioner right away to get a prescription for antibiotics.)
•Avoid feminine hygiene products (sprays or powders) and strong soaps that can irritate your urethra and genitals, making them a better breeding ground for bacteria. And don't use douches during pregnancy.

[Beckyboo6023]

Yes their very common. I didn't get any with my first pregnancy but got 2 with this one. It can cause the infection to go into ur kidneys and cause things like preterm labor. So very important to get treated