Mixed Bacterial Growth

[MahamChoudhury]

Hi everyone,

I am a FTM and almost 17 weeks now. I gave my urine sample at my 12 week scan which was more than a month ago. I was scheduled to have my 16 week midwife appointment over the phone last week. The midwife started by saying that they have found ‘mixed bacterial growth’ in my urine and that they need another sample of my midstream urine. I am supposed to give that sample on my 20 week scan to the hospital and then the hospital would send that sample over to the midwife’s health centre and then they would send it over to the lab. She also mentioned that it is quite common in pregnancy and can be treated with antibiotics. I was a little overwhelmed by everything that she was saying so I kept listening. Then she booked me in for the 28 week scan, some regular questions and the call ended.

I collected my thoughts later on and sent her a message again asking firstly, why I was being informed about the growth one month after I gave the sample and secondly why do I have to wait another one month to give another sample when I literally live 2 minutes walk away from the midwife’s health centre. I can literally walk right now and give a sample so that any antibiotics treatment should start sooner than later. She immediately replied and called me for a sample. I gave the sample and received the result yesterday which has puzzled me.

They say the urine shows the exact same result of ‘mixed bacterial growth’ but they cannot give any antibiotics because they cannot determine what type of bacteria is causing it. So I am supposed to continue giving samples of my urine at every scan (which I was doing anyway) and I should ‘wait and see’.

My question is: has anyone ever had a similar condition? Is it harmful for the baby or me if not treated? Should I be worried?

Also, I have not felt the baby move at all yet and I understand that it takes time for FTMs but I don’t have any symptom left at all. I am do paranoid by everything. I am not enjoying this pregnancy because of the worries. I haven’t even started shopping for my maternity clothes (let alone anything for the baby) even though my size has considerably changed. I am just so scared. Am I ruining this time by worrying?

P.S.: I just booked a private scan for tomorrow to see if everything is going well.

Any experiences with mixed bacterial growth??

Hey. I'm also a FTM and 17 weeks. I was told I had mixed growth after my urine test at 12 weeks. The midwife just told me that it's only an issue if you then begin showing signs of a UTI. I wasn't even offered a retest.

Sorry - I sent it before I was finished.

I am trying not to worry about it (though I totally get how you feel). I'd be reluctant to take antibiotics unless it was clear they would help.

I did a private scan at the weekend and it definitely put my mind at ease a bit more.

Thanks a lot for a reply. I have no symptoms of a UTI. They have just told me to keep providing the urine samples. I guess it is not that big a deal but none of my friends or family had ever heard of this before and Google just tells you the worst possible things when you start searching.

Antibiotics in pregnancy can have side effects, even the 'safe' ones. Amoxicillin, for example, can cause defects in the tooth enamel leading to rapid decay of the baby teeth. I'd only take them if it were a medical necessity.

As for, why I was being informed about the growth one month after I gave the sample - I've got that beat. Mine was positive for group B strep (which you are supposed to take antibiotics for on diagnosis as there's an increased risk of miscarriage) and I wasn't informed until over three months after I gave the sample!

It's super common to have mixed bacteria in your urine so don't worry if you are healthy and symptom free. I work in an NHS microbiology lab and part of my job is to read these cultures. Next time you give a same make sure you wee straight into a sterile container and that it's a midstream urine. So pee for bit into the loo, stop the flow and get your sample container and start again and put the container into the flow. You only need a few mls for the microbiology test, but your midwife may need more for other tests too!

Ooh, in your maternity notes booklet there should be a page about how to properly collect a urine sample. There is an art to it to avoid contamination.

Hi OP, it's called asymptomatic bacteriuria and it is common in pregnancy. However, mixed growth can also indicate that your sample was contaminated (look up how to collect a 'clean catch' sample for next time). If you are offered antibiotics, don't worry, they will have been chosen on the basis of their pregnancy safety. Amoxicillin is commonly used in pregnancy and will not damage the baby's teeth (tetracycline antibiotics which are different and generally not given in pregnancy can do this)