Urinary tract infection in pregnancy: symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and risks

It is normal to have at least one episode of urinary tract infection during pregnancy, as the changes that occur in the woman's body during this period favor the development of bacteria in the urinary tract.

Although it may seem daunting, the urinary tract infection does not harm the baby and can be easily treated with antibiotics, such as Cephalexin. However, if the woman does not start treatment, the infection may continue to worsen and cause some risks for the baby, such as premature birth or abortion, for example.

Thus, whenever signs of urinary discomfort appear, it is very important that the pregnant woman consult the obstetrician or gynecologist to do a urine test and start treatment if necessary.

Possible symptoms of urinary tract infection

During pregnancy, urinary tract infection can be a little more difficult to identify, so select what you are feeling to assess the risk of having a urinary tract infection:

1. Pain or burning sensation when urinating Yes No
2. Frequent and sudden urge to urinate in small quantities Yes No
3. Feeling of not being able to empty your bladder Yes No
4. Feeling of heaviness or discomfort in the bladder area Yes No
5. Cloudy or bloody urine Yes No
6. Persistent low fever (between 37.5º and 38º) Yes No

Some of these symptoms, such as the frequent urge to urinate or a feeling of heaviness in the bladder, are very common during pregnancy and, therefore, can be disguised. Thus, whenever the woman identifies any changes or discomfort, she should consult the obstetrician or gynecologist to do a urine test and assess whether an infection may be occurring.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of urinary tract infection during pregnancy is made through the examination of normal urine, whenever there are warning symptoms. However, the doctor must also order 1 urine test per quarter in order to identify and treat a possible urinary infection early, even if there are no symptoms.

In addition, the woman can also buy the home test for urinary tract infection at the pharmacy. See more at: How to do a home test to detect urinary tract infection.

How the treatment is done

The treatment of urinary tract infection in pregnancy is usually done with the use of antibiotics, such as cephalexin, for a period of 7 to 14 days. It is also important to drink plenty of water, not to hold the pee and to empty the bladder completely each time you urinate..

In cases where the infection has worsened and has reached the kidneys, the pregnant woman may need to be admitted to the hospital to take antibiotics directly into the vein. Find out more details about treatment for urinary tract infection in pregnancy.

See also how the food should be during treatment:

Infection risks for the baby

If the urinary tract infection is not treated correctly during pregnancy, there can be complications for the mother and baby, such as:

Premature delivery; Decreased intrauterine growth; Low birth weight; Pneumonia; Childhood asthma; Spontaneous abortion.

In addition, urinary tract infection during pregnancy also increases the baby's risk of death after delivery. Thus, the best way to avoid all these risks is to be aware of the symptoms of urinary tract infection and make the treatment indicated by the doctor as soon as the disease is diagnosed.