Urinary Tract Infection During Pregnancy

Reference Urinary tract infection (UTI) Opens New Window is the most common type of bacterial infection during pregnancy. A UTI, with or without symptoms, can lead to dangerous kidney infection. Kidney infection during pregnancy can endanger both mother and fetus.

Many women with a UTI have no symptoms but have high levels of bacteria in their urinary tract. During your first prenatal exam, your doctor will test your urine sample for bacteria. If your results show that you have a UTI, you will be treated with antibiotics.

Pregnancy increases your risk of having a urinary tract infection (UTI). UTIs are more common in multiple pregnancies than in pregnancies with one fetus.

A UTI during pregnancy can be difficult to distinguish from the usual symptoms of pregnancy (such as bladder pressure, frequent urination, or back pain). Some pregnant women who have UTIs have no symptoms at all.

Symptoms of a urinary tract infection are:

• Frequent urination.
• A feeling of burning during urination.
• Pain or itching during urination.

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