I want us to discuss something I do not wish on my worst enemy. Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a bacterial inflammation in the urinary tract. Well, I had a very smooth pregnancy. In fact I didn’t have any symptoms of pregnancy. NO nausea. NO food dislike. NO too much saliva. NO mood swings and I didn’t show until I was 4 months. Well, I suspected that I was pregnant because my periods had delayed but coz of no symptoms, I still remained hopeful that they would show up. One day, I went to pee and I had this very bad burning sensation. You know that weird moment that you just want to check if the urine looks normal…OPPS…It Looked weird! Sort of cloudy with plenty of bubbles. That was red flag. I wiped myself and left the toilet went to lie in the sofa contemplating the worst. Not long after I felt another urge to pee. This time accompanied by some cramps in my lower abdomen. I was excited coz I thought….MY PERIODS ARE BACK! LOL! It was just another episode of painful urination. Then the amount was absurd. Like who pees just a few Mls like a baby?
I walked back to my sofa thinking about this terrible peeing moments. Maybe I have not had enough water in the last two day…I hope he didn’t enjoy another cookie and brought me STIs, I hope it just my kidney having a lazy day. Then my discharge started being funny. Well, this was not ending. The following I decided to go see a gynecologist. He recommended that I do a pregnancy test and Urinalysis. So I tested positive for pregnancy and UTI!
What causes UTI during pregnancy?
At least 5% of women experience UTI during pregnancy. The chances are higher during pregnancy due to increased hormones and sugar in the urine which can trigere bacteria. Also, the growing foetus puts pressure on the bladder and urinary tract making it hard to let out all the urine Left over urine can be the cause of infection.
What are the symptom of UTI?
- Pain or burning sensation when urinating
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Blood or mucus in the urine making it appear cloudy
- Urine smells foul or unusually strong
- Cramps on the lower abdomen
- Pain during sexual intercourse.( your partner may feel burning sensation too)
- Change in the quantity of urine. Either too much or too little than normal
- Back pain, fever and Nausea when the infections spread to the kidney
UTI Diagnosis and treatment
When you experience any of the above symptoms, you need to see a doctor. The doctor will request to undertake Urinalysis and a urine culture to detect UTI. If the results are positive, UTI can be treated safely using antibiotics. It should clear in 3-7 days after medication.
Will UTI affect your baby?
If the UTI goes untreated, it may lead to a kidney infection. Kidney infections may cause early labor and low birth weight. If your doctor treats a urinary tract infection early and properly, the UTI will not cause harm to your baby.
How can you Prevent UTI
The good thing is that UTI can be prevented. Here are some of the ways to prevent UTI:
- Drink 6-8 glasses of water daily.
- Eliminate refined foods, caffeine, and sugar during pregnancy
- Take plenty of fresh fruits and juices
- Take Natural yoghurt. It helps in introducing good bacteria that will help fight infection
- Urinate immediately you feel the urge to. Holding the urine for long trigger bacteria development
- Avoid sex when on UTI treatment
- Urinate before and after sex
- Wear clean cotton panties.
- Use plain water to wash your vagina. Avoid douching, perfumes and soap while washing your vagina.
- Wipe your vagina from front to back to avoid infection.
There you have it. I hope this helps you avoid UTI and in case it happens, then you know what to do. You like? Share it with another mom. Do you want to receive newly published poste and updtaes in your email? Please subscribe! Don’t forget to like my Facebook page and following me on twitter by just clicking on the icons below. See you soon! Love
See alsohttps://wowmom.co.ke/how-to-deal-with-postpartum-constipation/