The news of pregnancy is one of the most anticipated events in a couple’s life. With the expansion of the family the load of duties and responsibilities all witness a rise especially for the parents. Pregnancy though is a blessing for all women yet it tends to leave the body vulnerable as the mother struggles to provide all the nutrition’s she can for her baby. The nine months gestation period is the most crucial period of her life and same for the baby. The all-round development of the infant depends on the health of the mother. Thus it becomes essentially important that the mother receives adequate amount of care.

During this period the mother’s body is susceptible to multiple diseases. She has to struggle through morning sickness, mood swings, swollen limbs, back aches and what not. It is therefore advised by all doctors and gynaecologist to maintain a proper lifestyle and take special care of their hygiene. The most painful scenario that a woman suffers through is the experience of painful urination during pregnancy or after it. The irritation and pain in the bladder is medically termed as UTI or Urinary Tract Infection.

Guide for Painful Urination During Pregnancy

What is Urinary Tract Infection and its causes?

UTI or Urinary Tract Infection is a bacterial infection that causes inflammation in the urinary tract. In some cases the cause of UTI is either a fungal or a microbial infection. UTI can happen anywhere in the urinary tract and often remains untraceable since the microbes are too small to be detected. UTI’s can be so severe that they can even infect the kidneys and the ureters. UTI is seen to be more common and repetitive in pregnant women. A recent study confirmed that pregnant women have increased risk of suffering from UTI starting from the 6^Th week of their pregnancy till the 24^th week. It is observed that the body of the mother is bound to undergo different changes from the period of conception till the delivery. The changes in the urinary tract are one of the prime reasons for increased chances of catching this infection. The uterus of the mother after conceiving is located directly above the bladder and expands with the passage of time to accommodate the growing foetus. This makes urination a troublesome act during pregnancy and proper drainage of the urine from the bladder ineffective causing infections and UTI. It is important to take one’s personal hygiene seriously and pay proper attention to it especially after urination. Instead of rubbing the area one should only dab the area clean to avoid reddening and infection. The earlier belief that one must wipe from front to back and not vice versa holds true after several medical researches that prove that changes in the pattern of wiping can also breed UTI.

What are the symptoms of UTI?

There are multiple signs and symptoms that suggest the presence of an infection in the urinary bladder. It is important for women to understand that UTI if left unchecked can lead to fatal consequences since a fungal and bacterial infection spreads with a rapid speed in the body. Therefore recognizing the symptoms of the infection becomes a vital step for treatment. For an expecting mother if the UTI is left uncured it not only adversely affects the health of the mother but also of the baby in the womb who may have to face the brunt of such an infectious disease. Since UTI eventually affects the kidney of the mother it leads to low birth weight in the child and also causes early labour leading to premature delivery. Some of the most common symptoms are:

• Pregnant mothers may suffer from extreme discomfort and a burning sensation in their ureter while urinating.
• The urge to urinate more often than normal
• Presence of blood or mucus in the urine.
• Cramps and pain in the lower abdomen.
• Urine leak every time one sneezes or coughs.
• Pain and tenderness in the area of the bladder
• Foul smelling and cloudy urine
• Recurring fever and tremors in the body
• If the infection spreads to the kidney the patient may experience vomiting, nausea, fever, sweating and chills in the body.

How is UTI treated?

During pregnancy the treatment of UTI becomes more complicated since the medicines and antibiotics prescribed to the mother may negatively affect the unborn child as well. It then becomes the doctor’s responsibility to monitor the medicines he administers to expecting mothers. Generally a 3-7 day course of antibiotics which are mild in nature with no side effects is prescribed to pregnant women.  Uri kind satchels are also a powerful remedy to cure UTI.

Some home remedies may also prove to be fruitful in the treatment of UTI. Cranberry juice or cranberries do not help the patient in any way once the infection has spread but the chemicals present in them prevent the bacteria from attaching to the bladder in the future effectively eradicating any future possibilities of the disease from reoccurring.

What are the ways to prevent UTI from taking root in the body?

• It is important to keep the body hydrated. Consumption of 6-8 glasses of water a day must be taken regularly.
• Food articles such as refined food, canned soft drinks and alcohol must be avoided as they contain artificial preservatives and sweeteners harmful for the body.
• Vitamin C is enables the body to fight infections.
• Do not hold your urine and empty the bladder as soon as you feel the need to. This will prevent the chances of infection in the bladder.
• Avoid wearing too tight pants.
• Wear cotton under wears and change them twice a day.
• Avoid using strong perfumes, hygiene sprays directly on the vagina.

It is important to note that not only women but men also suffer from urinary tract infections as well. For expecting mothers regular doctor visit and proper hygiene is a must to ensure healthy self and child along with timely hydration of the body to assist the kidney function well.