UTI when pregnant

[Ramyxx]

Hi, just after a-bit of advice really. I had my midwife appointment on the 23rd March, where I had bloods taken and a urine sample done. I had experienced some belly pain on my right side a little bit before that and still to date. It’s on and off. I did have an early scan at like 7/8 weeks and all was ok. I’m now 11 weeks and had a midwife ring me this afternoon to tell me my urine sample showed I had a water infection. I’m just a-bit worried now as that urine sample was given 17 days ago. Well over 2 weeks. I have had headaches for the past 4/5 days and I have heard that UTI being left untreated is a really bad thing! Has anyone experienced this before? Or am I just worrying for nothing. TIA xx

Ive suffered horrenously from UTI's this pregnancy. I went from having like 2 ever in my life to having 3 stubborn ones this pregnancy. Ive been on 3 long courses of anti-biotics feel like ive been taking them constantly. The length of time it takes for results to come back has worried me too. The first time round it was my 20 week scan and they picked up nitrates in my urine and said they would send away for more tests. The following day i woke up and knew I had a UTI so contacted my GP and started a course of antibiotics. By the time the letter came from the hospital saying I had a UTI i had finished the course already, so was so glad I went ahead and didnt wait for hospital to contact me. 17 days is crazy tho! I was never told to get urine tested again and at 30 weeks had another one and i wouldnt be surprised if I had some sort of infection the whole time which terrified me as i never felt quite right alot of the time. Anyway baby however fine. Now 35 weeks I am on another course of antibiotics but had a scan and bloods etc last week and baby perfect.

Hi OP. It takes a few days (not weeks!) to grow cultures in the lab from a urine sample so your MW has really let you down here with this delay in prescribing treatment. UTIs are much harder to shift in pregnancy and may need multiple courses of antibiotics unfortunately. I don't know if you have anything to worry about, as it is true they can lead to complications but not in every woman every pregnancy. I wouldn't want to give reassurance because no-one can say, but hopefully on treatment and with self care advice it'll clear up asap.

Thank you for replying. That's the thing I don't have any symptoms of a UTI other than the right hand side pain, which they sent me for a early scan and said baby was fine and it was "growing pains" and that it's much more noticeable on the 2nd pregnancy etc etc..

But when I went 18 days ago now to the Midwife they told me I would hear back within 5 days if any of my bloods / urine sample came back with anything worrying. My right side pain is still there and they rang me LAST NIGHT to tell me that my urine sample has shown I have a UTI and that not all pregnant woman show symptoms. I told them I still have the right hand side pain and she didn't like the sound of that and my GP rang me straight after to tell me to go and get my course of antibiotics and I am to start taking them immediately. Now I am worried that it has turned into something more worse as i have had the right hand side pain for about 4 weeks now. But the past 4/5 days I have been having strong headaches and feeling sick and weak- which of course I have put down to 'being pregnant' I don't want to worry myself over nothing. But I know a UTI is meant to be treated IMMEDIATELY, even more so if your pregnant. But for them to ring me back after 17 days I'm just worried now.

Kind regards

Amy

Yes OP i know where your coming from those weeks in between 20 week scan i didnt feel like a had a UTI but then needs check up with urine and bloods it showed up and im pretty sure i had it the whole time. Just be aware from now on a persistant with your own care and your own GP. If you have any suspician of an infection slight pain anything leave samples with your GP. They send samples off daily and seem to be generally quicker than the maternity i have found!

I had symptoms of a UTI early March, I was in so much pain when peeing and mentioned it to a midwife at my consultant appointment that the symptoms had started 2 days earlier. She sent my urine off for testing but didn't mention my previous urine sample from 3 weeks before had shown I had a UTI - I only found this out when I chased up the results of the latest sample. The latest sample showed the UTI had cleared up, but as I was so uncomfortable my GP prescribed me with antibiotics anyway, which sorted me out painwise. Baby is fine, I've had 2 scans since and everything is OK and progressing as it should be. Just try not to worry, no it's not ideal that you haven't been told sooner but you know now and can treat it. I found my GP were so quick to treat me, so maybe if the pain does persist liaise direct with GP rather than midwife.

Hi, yes thank you for commenting! You have both put my mind at ease a little bit. The pain I have is very much still there (on and off) but still there. When I wee in the morning/ cough / sneeze the pain is on my right side which is why they sent me for a scan and put that down to 'growing pains'. I have my 12 week scan on Monday so really hoping all is well! I will keep you all updated :)

@Ramyxx hey..was everything okay for you in the end? I'm 13 weeks and for a few days had pain in my right side where my kidney is and yellow discharge but only once, back pain too. See midwife today and she said infection cells were present in my urine and she's sent the sample to the lab for further testing. They will not prescribe antibiotics as I don't have pain when going to the toilet so I have to wait for the lab results first to see if I can get some. She didn't mention how long the results will take but I'm worried this will affect the baby if left any longer!

Hi, everything turned out to be fine. I was given antibiotics and now she is nearly 3 now lol. Had I known it was a uti I would have pushed for antibiotics but I had no "main" symptoms so didn't suspect UTI. Burning sensation whilst weeing is usually the main symptom of UTI.. it's not uncommon for things to show in your wee sample as discharge is very common in pregnancy and can show up in urine that's why they send it off to see if an infection grows or if it is just discharge. Keep an eye out for any changes and if your in discomfort go to your Gp / midwife and explain your worries 😃

P.S , I was told yellow discharge could be infection or it could just be urine mixed with discharge hence the yellow colour. usually takes around 3 days for results mine just went missed I believe 😃 x

@Ramyxx my sample was only sent of this morning so guessing it'll be a few days yet but I'm quite worried the longer I wait it might cause a miscarriage or something I don't know my minds just spiralling!! I think I may call tomorrow and just explain my kidney pain returned tonight and I'm worried..I'm sure they'll say just wait for the results but I need some reassurance..