Urinary tract infection or UTI as it is commonly termed is essentially urine that has bacteria in it. It causes a burning sensation when you pee. UTI is quite a common occurrence in pregnancy; as high as 1 in 10 pregnant women suffer from this condition. Some women are more prone than others; sometimes you can't even tell that you have it.

What causes UTI..

• Hormone level, in this case progesterone, shoots up which relaxes the urinary tract and bladder

• This causes urine to remain longer in your system

• This becomes a perfect breeding ground where the bacteria has the chance to accumulate and grow in number

• In the later part of pregnancy UTI increases when the growing uterus presses on your bladder and tract, thereby impeding the urine flow

How to tell you have UTI..

• Basically, the bacterium from the rectum travels up the urethra into your bladder where it stays and multiplies.

• Sometimes, cystitis, a type of bladder infection sets in

• Cystitis is a lower urinary tract infection; it is painful, uncomfortable and when you pee it causes a burning sensation which is sometimes accompanied by some form of pelvic discomfort or abdominal pain

• The urine will appear cloudy with a foul smell and the urge to pee is uncontrollable even if the quantity is little

• There are times when you can't even tell if you have an infection; it is only traceable when you go for routine urine tests.

At the start of your pregnancy, during your first prenatal test your urine culture will be taken and analyzed. If you test positive during any of your tests, you will be treated with antibiotics. If UTI is left untreated for any reason, things can get really worse. The chance of developing kidney infection becomes very probable and the likelihood for preterm labor or a low birthweight baby increases when you are down with this infection. The symptoms include chills, fever, nausea, abdominal or back pain and cloudy or bloody urine. FYI, UTI can also develop after the baby is born; it happens because of the bruising during an assisted delivery or if you had a catheter inserted.

You can avoid UTI..

• Drink plenty of water, at least 8 oz glasses every day, to keep the bladder functioning well

• Drink cranberry juice as it contains preventive properties which disables bacterial growth and prevents the possibility of UTI

• Empty your bladder regularly and avoid holding on until the last moment

• Don't douche

• Empty your bladder totally and don't ignore the urge to pee, even if the quantity is scant. Lean forward to ensure your bladder is as empty as possible

• Wipe yourself from front to back to prevent bacteria from the rectum to the urethra

• Keep your genital areas clean by cleansing with a mild soap or cleanser and water; avoid using anything harsh and scented, scented powders and sprays as these backfire and cause irritation to the urethra instead.

• Beverages and fizzy drinks contain caffeine which induces cystitis like symptoms during pregnancy. It will be worth the while to avoid them for a while especially if your prone to this problem

Treatment

In suspected cases, mid-stream urine will be taken and sent for culture. In positive situations, a one week course of antibiotics will be prescribed. Meanwhile avoid over the counter medications. UTI can reoccur despite antibiotic treatment. Seek treatment once again