UTIs During Pregnancy: What Expecting Moms Need to Know

Asian Institute of Nephrology and Urology | March 03, 2025

Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) is a bacterial infection of the urinary tract, including the urethra, bladder, and ureters. It can sometimes spread to the kidney, causing a kidney infection. Although anyone can get a UTI, women are at an increased risk, particularly pregnant women.

The pressure of the expanding uterus on the bladder, combined with hormonal change, makes pregnant women more vulnerable to this bacterial infection. Let’s explore why UTIs in pregnancy are more common than you think. Later in this article, we’ll discuss the treatment options and how to prevent UTIs during pregnancy. Read on.

Causes of Urinary Tract Infection During Pregnancy

Hormonal changes during pregnancy are significant. Increased progesterone relaxes the urinary tract muscles, slowing down urine flow. Pregnancy also causes vesicoureteral reflux, a condition in which urine flows back up from the bladder to the kidneys, increasing the risk of UTI. Besides that, a pregnant woman's urine consists of elevated levels of protein, sugar, and hormones. This, with the changes in your urination pattern, creates an ideal environment for the bacteria to travel up the urethra into your bladder and reach the kidneys.

The risk of UTI during pregnancy’s first trimester, up to 24 weeks, is the highest, as that’s when the uterus starts growing. The fetus puts pressure on the bladder, making it difficult for the pregnant woman to empty it completely. Bacteria thrive well in the bladder when there’s residual urine. Another cause of UTI during pregnancy is the suppressed immune system. Pregnancy suppresses your immune system to protect your baby. This reduces your body’s ability to fight infection.

Symptoms of UTI During Pregnancy

It’s not uncommon for women to mistake UTI symptoms for pregnancy. To help you understand the difference between UTI and pregnancy symptoms, we’ve listed the common things you might experience if you have caught a bacterial infection in your urinary tract.

• Pain and burning sensation while peeing
• Foul-smelling and cloudy urine
• Pain in the lower abdomen
• An urge to urinate more often yet an inability to empty your bladder
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Incontinence
• Hematuria (blood in the urine)

Although less common, some pregnant women experience additional symptoms that occur when the infection has traveled up to the kidneys. See a urologist immediately if you experience:

• Fever
• Chills
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pain in the upper side of the abdomen (often confined to one side)

Most gynecologists order urine tests in the first few weeks of pregnancy to rule out silent UTIs. If the infection is suspected, the doctor might order a urine culture to identify the type of bacteria that caused the UTI. The infection is caused mainly by the bacteria E. coli, which is found in your poop.

Around 80-90 percent of the urinary tract infections are caused by this bacteria. It’s advisable to avoid wiping from the back to the front, as it increases the odds of the E. coli reaching the bladder through your urethra and traveling up through the ureters.

The bacteria can also reach your urethra through fingering, during sexual intercourse, or using sexual devices. UTIs are also linked to Group B streptococcus, bacteria found in the genital tract and colon. If it travels up the urethra, there’s a risk the bacteria might pass on to the newborn. Antibiotics are necessary during labor to prevent the transmission.

How UTIs Affect Your Pregnancy

UTIs are treatable. If diagnosed early and treated on time, urinary tract infections won’t cause any complications. However, if left untreated, the infection can increase the risk of premature birth, low birth weight, and other complications during pregnancy. The risk increases drastically if the infection reaches the kidneys, causing back pain, fever, and sepsis in some cases. The condition can be life-threatening for the expecting mother and the fetus. UTI is also associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia.

Treatment for UTI in Pregnancy

Urinary tract infection during pregnancy is common and can be treated. It’s important to watch out for the warning signs and report them to a urologist immediately. The treatment focuses on a course of antibiotics, which may be prescribed for 7-10 days, depending on the severity of the infection and how far it’s spread. You must consult your doctor if you suspect a UTI instead of self-medicating.

Some antibiotics are unsafe for the expecting mother and the fetus. Your doctor will examine your health and recommend safe antibiotics like erythromycin and penicillin. You must continue the antibiotics even if you get relief from the UTI symptoms. Warm compresses can help with UTI-induced pain and discomfort. Ask your doctor about pregnancy-safe pain-relief medication.

Preventing UTI During Pregnancy

Given the increased risk of UTI during pregnancy, expecting mothers should take extra precautions to stay safe. Bacterial infection is not entirely preventable, but a few preventive measures can significantly reduce your risk of contracting UTIs. Here’s what may help:

• Drink plenty of fluids, around ten glasses of water daily, to flush out bacteria.
• Never wipe back to front after passing bowel. The bacteria E. coli in your stools can enter your urethra and travel up to the bladder, causing a UTI.
• Pee immediately after sexual intercourse. This will flush out the bacteria that might have entered your urethra.
• Pass urine when you feel the urge to. Holding it for long periods can result in bacterial infection.
• Do not use scented products, and avoid douching.
• Keep your genital tract clean and dry. Comfortable, loose clothing is advisable to prevent vaginal itching and irritation.

Identifying the symptoms of UTI and reporting it immediately to a urologist is the most important step in treating urinary tract infections during pregnancy. Whether it’s your first or last trimester, urologists at AINU can treat the bacterial infection, ensuring that it doesn’t harm you or the baby. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, like a robot-assisted surgical facility, we aim to provide the best treatment to our patients.

UTIs can cause discomfort, especially during pregnancy. The symptoms can be intimidating for expecting mothers. But with the timely treatment and proper care, the infection can be treated.