'Wag I-Take For Granted Ang UTI During Pregnancy,' Says One Mom Who Had Complications

Editor’s Note: This article is intended for information purposes only. It does not substitute a doctor. It is vital to always consult a medically trained professional for advice that suits your needs best.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is quite common among women, with about 50 to 60 percent of the female population projected to get it at least once in their lifetime. The risk increases when they get pregnant and may even develop UTI in pregnancy complications.

"I'm 8 months pregnant pero di pa rin nawawala ang UTI ko," wrote one member of the Parent Chat online community of Smart Parenting. She went on sharing the medicine her obstetrician-gynecologist (ob-gyn) has prescribed to her, and then asked for other members' experiences with UTI.

A fellow preggo replied with her story: "I'm on my 34th week now... Sakit lage balakang ko, una I thought it was just because I'm pregnant nga and baka bumibigat lang si baby... Then on my last checkup, kinonsult ko 'yun sa OB ko...Then nag-request s'ya na magpa-urinalysis ako and was diagnosed nga to have UTI."

UTI and pregnancy

Starting in week 6 through week 24, pregnant women become more susceptible to UTI, also called bladder infection. It happens when the urinary tract, or the drainage system in the body that removes urine, becomes inflamed due to bacterial attack. The urinary tract is primarily made up of the two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder, and a urethra.

The risk of UTI increases, the American Pregnancy Association (APA) explains, as the uterus grows, which sits directly on top of the bladder. The uterus's weight can block the drainage of urine from the bladder, thus causing a urinary tract infection during pregnancy.

When that happens, you may experience these symptoms, according to APA:

• Pain or burning, also discomfort, when urinating
• Frequent and urgent urination, even waking up from sleep to go to the bathroom
• Presence of blood or mucus in urine
• Too little or too much urine
• Urine that appears cloudy, smells foul, or unusually strong
• Pain in the lower abdomen, or abdominal cramps
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain, pressure, or tenderness in the area of the bladder
• Back pain, chills, fever, nausea, and vomiting, if the bacteria have spread to the kidneys

Diagnosis and treatment

UTI can be detected through a urine test called urinalysis. For instance, the presence of white blood cells, also called pus cells, in the urine is a sign of infection. The normal range is from 0 to 5.

Immediate treatment is recommended. There are antibiotics that are safe for pregnant women. Just make sure to follow the instructions of your doctor, from dosage to timings and duration.

Here are some Parent Chat members sharing their experiences with the medicines prescribed to them:

1. "I'm taking Augmentin 1 g.  Took it for a week, pero bumaba lang siya 'ta's continue pa din sa Augmentin daw sabi ni Doc until mawala...

"Finally, after 2 weeks ako nagte-take ng Augmentin nag-normal na 'yung  pus cells ko. Umabot sa point na nasa 50-55 siya pero wala naman ako nararamdaman na sakit kaya sabi ng OB ko na baka dahil 'un sa discharge ko."

2. "Ang nireseta [ng doktor] sa akin ay Zoltax 500 mg, 'yun taken 2x a day for 7 days...Next week 'yung sunod kong checkup, magpapa-urinalysis daw ulet ako para matingnan kung okay na or what..."

3. "Nagte-take nrin ako now ng antibiotic...CEFUROXIME AXETIL 500 mg."

One mom, on the other hand, opted for another way to treat her UTI:

"What I did was drink a lot of water and buko juice...Then iwas lang ako sa maalat at everytime na ng wiwi ako, maghugas ako (make sure na tuyo ang undies ko).. ganun lang, nakasurvive naman kami ni baby."

She added, "Ito namang 2nd ko (currently 34 weeks), I also was diagnosed na may UTI, pero never na ako uminom ng gamot (alam ko, bad 'yun kasi I may be risking myself 9esp baby) pero 'yun nga, todo inom lang ako ng buko juice (puro), kalamansi juice at water."

But she pointed out: "Kung anuman ang reseta sa 'yo, it's up to you. Pero sundin mo din kasi mahirap naman mag-self medicate...Sa 'kin kasi choice ko lang 'yun."

Read also: Home Remedy Sa UTI

UTI in pregnancy complications

If UTI is left untreated, according to experts, it could turn into a more serious condition, like kidney infection. It may then lead to:

• Early labor
• Low birth weight
• Maternal chorioamnionitis
• Intrauterine growth retardation

But if UTI during pregnancy is immediately resolved, it will not harm your baby until she or he is born.

One mom, also in Parent Chat, reminded her fellow members in the online community: "Hindi dapat natin tine-take for granted ang UTI. Hindi talaga natin alam kung san nanggagaling ang bacteria ng UTI."

She recalled having UTI a few years ago on the day she learned she was pregnant with her first child up until she gave birth. Her ob-gyn put her on antibiotics, on top of the medicine she was already taking as "pampakapit" for her baby.

"Ang mga ob naman hindi ka nila bibigyan ng gamot kung hindi makakabuti sa 'yo," she pointed out. "Hindi ako nagmi-miss ng pag-inom ng gamot kasi super taas talaga ng pus cells ko.

"Pag may UTI ka, prone ka sa pre term labor. At 5 months of my pregnancy, na-confine ako sa hospital because of dehydration, and it was because of UTI. Lagi kasi ako nagsusuka nun and hindi makakain.

"At 6 months, nag-open ng 1 cm ang cervix ko. Again, because of UTI. As in every week or every other week nasa clinic kami ng ob. Hindi namin tine-take for granted talaga ang UTI.

"Between 34-35 weeks, kahit na I'm taking Duvadilan, nag-2 cm ako ulit. So, what my ob did is she recommended me to stop taking Duvadilan kasi talagang kahit umiinom ako no'n hindi na s'ya nagte-take effect sa 'kin."

At exactly 35 weeks and 7 days of her pregnancy, this mom went into labor. "Pinag-labor ako for 24 hours para lang isakto si baby na mag-36 weeks," she explained.

She went on sharing that the bacteria, which caused her UTI, had also infected her baby. That's why she was advised by her ob-gyn to opt for Cesarean section (CS), instead of her planned normal spontaneous delivery (NSD). After the delivery, her baby was left in the hospital for week to be treated for UTI.

She said in reflection, "When my baby's pedia talked to us, sabi niya blessing in disguise daw ang pagkaka-CS sa 'kin kasi mataas na rin 'yung infection na nakuha niya, and kung nag-NSD ako mas matagal pa daw sa 1 week ang ititigil ni baby sa hospital. Baka nga daw mga 1 month pa."

She then made this appeal after experiencing some complications: "'Wag natin i-take for granted ang UTI during pregnancy. Hindi ko kayo tinatakot mga mommies, I'm just sharing our personal experience about it. Aside from regular check ups and taking your meds and vits. Pray harder and have faith. Nothing is impossible with God. He is our Jehovah Rapha (God is our Healer)."

Read also: Home Remedies for UTI in Children