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hello my name is samantha montelegre
and welcome to the maternity mentor
today we're going to be talking about
urinary tract
infections
thanks for joining us today's topic is
urinary tract
infections for anyone who doesn't know
me i have been a registered nurse since
2009
i have spent my entire career working in
the maternal
newborn nursing area including mother
baby postpartum
nicu antepartum and labor and delivery
i have practiced as an ibclc since 2012
and have been maternal newborn nursing
certified since 2013.
i have also received specialized
training in perinatal mood and anxiety
disorders
as well as perinatal bereavement
urinary tract infections are extremely
common during pregnancy
and up to five percent of women can
experience at least one during their
pregnancy
once you have one you are very likely to
get another one
you may be wondering why this is even
important
urinary tract infections can lead to a
variety of complications for pregnant
women
including pre-term labor and birth
preeclampsia
an increased risk of fetal growth
restriction which can cause the baby to
have a low birth weight
preventing a urinary tract infection is
key so we're going to discuss
what a urinary tract infection is what
to do if you get one
and how to prevent them in the first
place
a urinary tract infection is an
infection in the urinary system of the
body
it's sometimes called a uti the urinary
system
includes the urethra bladder ureters
and kidneys ureters are tubes connecting
the kidneys to the bladder
and the urethra is the tube connecting
the bladder to the outside
the purpose of this system is to remove
extra water and waste from the body
bacteria can travel up the urethra from
the vagina or rectum
and into the bladder these infections
occur more often in women than men
because women
have a shorter urethra and the urethra
is closer to the vagina and anus
making it much easier for the bacteria
to travel to their destination
once inside the bladder the bacteria
multiply and create the infection
if the infection is contained within the
urethra it is referred to as urethritis
when the infection is inside the bladder
it can be referred to as a bladder
infection or acute cystitis
if the infection progresses and becomes
more serious
it can enter the kidneys where it is
referred to
as a kidney infection or acute
pylonephritis
every woman may experience a different
sensation when they develop a urinary
tract infection
however there are many signs and
symptoms
that women should be aware of for a
urinary tract infection
these include burning or painful
urination
frequent urination or feeling like you
have to pee often
trouble peeing cloudy dark or
blood tinged urine urine with a
different
or bad odor pelvic or lower back pain
including a cramping feeling and a low
grade fever
signs of a more serious or kidney
infection can include
nausea or vomiting high fever chills
and pain in one or both sides of the
upper abdomen or back
some women have no symptoms at all but
this is not common
if you have any of these symptoms or you
are concerned you may have a urinary
tract infection
it is very important that you contact
your health care provider
immediately there are many contributing
factors of urinary tract infections
first some of the hormonal changes that
pregnant women experience
make it easier for the bacteria to
travel
into the urethra and enter the bladder
also the growing uterus applies pressure
to the bladder
making it more difficult to empty the
bladder completely
residue urine increases the risk of
allowing bacteria to grow
and cause a urinary tract infection
additionally a woman's urine gets more
concentrated
with hormones and sugar this may explain
why utis are more common during
pregnancy
the most common bacteria to cause utis
is
e coli e coli comes from the bowels and
is located in the rectum
women who wipe from back to front will
inadvertently bring these bacteria to
the entrance of the urethra
intercourse can also contribute because
it can push the bacteria
up into the urethra and finally there is
a bacterium
from the intestine called group beta
streptococcus
it can also cause urinary tract
infections
if it is colonized in the rectum or
vagina and at delivery it can cause an
infection for your baby
so your doctor will test you for it at
the end of your pregnancy and treat you
with antibiotics during your delivery
if your test is positive
some risk factors for increasing your
risk of urinary tract infections
include maternal diabetes
obesity sickle cell disease having
several children
a history of recurring utis previous
urinary tract surgery being sexually
active
and damage to the nerves that control
the bladder
conditions that cause that include
parkinson's disease
paralysis brain or physical injury and
multiple sclerosis
diagnosis of urinary tract infections is
very easy
your provider will ask you to give them
a urine sample
often they will give you a kit that
includes two wipes to clean your vagina
first
then they will ask you to pee a couple
drops into the toilet
to ensure that they get a clean sample
and finally you pee into the urine cup
and give that specimen to your provider
this is called a clean catch urine
sample
your provider will look for several
things in your urine
including bacteria red blood cells
and white blood cells they will also run
a urine culture which
takes a couple days they are doing this
to determine what kind of bacteria
caused your infection
as long as you haven't developed a
kidney infection
treatment can be very easy
it is likely you will be put on an
antibiotic
pill for three to seven days your
provider will usually start the
treatment before your urine culture
comes back
symptoms can go away very quickly in as
little as one to three days
however you need to finish all of your
antibiotics as prescribed
or the infection could come back
your provider will prescribe an
antibiotic that is
safe for your pregnancy and there are
several options to choose from so don't
worry about taking the medications
in addition your provider will probably
recommend
that you drink plenty of fluids and this
should continue
as a practice after the urinary tract
infection has resolved
if you have developed a kidney infection
you may need
treatment in hospital this treatment may
include a stronger
iv antibiotic as well as iv fluids
it is extremely important to treat utis
and kidney infections because they can
lead to long-term damage to your kidneys
there are many things you can do to
prevent a urinary tract infection
first stay hydrated by drinking plenty
of water
with a minimum intake of eight glasses
of water per day
next go to the bathroom often holding
your urine can increase your risk of
building
bacterial growth however drinking plenty
of fluids
should help with this make sure you wipe
yourself
from front to back when using the
restroom
do not douche and avoid products with
strong odors or chemicals
including feminine deodorants and soaps
as these can lead to irritation
wear cotton underwear and avoid wearing
underwear at night
don't wear pants that are too tight
make sure to eat a well-balanced diet
many providers will recommend
yogurt or active cultures or probiotics
but do not take anything without
consulting your provider first
it should be noted that cranberry juice
used to be thought to help prevent and
treat utis
this has been disproven and it is not
recommended
to drink lots of sugary drinks during
pregnancy
finally take showers instead of baths
and practice good hygiene
now regarding your sex life there are
several things you can do to reduce your
risk of utis
these include washing your genitals
prior to sex
if you're using a lubricant choose a
water-based lubricant rather than an
oil-based one
urinate before and after sex and rinse
your genitals or take a shower
when you are finished urinary tract
infections can have serious consequences
to your pregnancy so it is essential
that you know how to recognize them
so you can receive early treatment we
hope this video has taught you what to
look for
and when to call your provider if you
suspect
you are experiencing a urinary tract
infection
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