Didn't realise I had a UTI -29 weeks

[cantthinkofaname2021]

Hello,
I don't know why I'm posting really just looking for reassurance! Since the weekend I had been having burning after weeing & very frequently weeing too with a lot of pressure, I thought this was just pregnancy/I also have a ovarian cyst that caused this sometimes before pregnancy & after drinking more it would go away. The last few days my bump felt very tender & sore, I was getting a lot of tightening and some cramps but again just thought it was normal/stretching & I've been bending packing boxes.
Yesterday I called the doctor & was given antibiotics, after 24 hours feel a lot better & symptoms have improved already so I must have UTI and didn't notice. Baby's movements have been normal all week and still are, so would baby have been affected at all by the UTI I didn't notice I had? in terms of the cramping etc which now has stopped

I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about, braxton hicks can happen around 29 weeks so probably just that? I’d have a chat with my midwife to give me reassurance 😊

My understanding is that UTIs are a concern for the mum, not the baby and only in so much that if untreated they can take a firm hold and infect your kidneys. If i read your post correctly then we are only talking undiagnosed for a few days maybe a week and the antibiotics are clearly working so I can't imagine you have anything to worry about for you ot baby.

Well, the cramps etc may or may not be the UTI - could be just normal tightenings and stretchings etc. But could have been the UTI I suppose - not really classic UTI pain but sometimes you feel pain in funny ways and different places to the actual cause, so who knows. But it stopped so don't worry!

UTIs can, in theory, harm your baby. I'm not sure about the mechanisms for this, but they are linked to a greater risk of pre-term birth, for example. BUT they are also very very common, and most women do not have a pre-term birth! You say you didn't realise you had a UTI, but you did realise, in just a few days, and you got it treated. So really try not to worry! Every likelihood everything will be just fine :)

I've had 2 UTI's this pregnancy OP- now 32 weeks and baby measuring on the large size/constantly kicking about in there! Didn't affect it at all. You and baby will be fine- just look out for signs as could come back. I ordered some cheapo tests on eBay so had an instant way of testing at home, 2nd time I rung my GP with my test results from home and he sent antibiotics direct to chemist, so can save time too.

That's a good idea from sundowners, but just be aware that dip tests (I assume that's what they are?) are not as good as getting a sample sent away and cultured in a lab.
My cousin had a UTI in a previous pregnancy and the midwives' dip tests did not show it up at all. It was only when she insisted she had symptoms that they sent it to get cultured, and she did have one.
I think the cheapy tests might be a useful extra tool, but if the tests say you're clear but you still have symptoms you should assume the tests are wrong and get a proper one.

Hopefully the doctor gave you advice on some things you can do to help prevent them coming back? If not... cotton undies, wipe from front to back (obvious one!), wash after a no2, pee after sex, drink loads of water. Nothing is guaranteed to keep them away, but definitely worth doing what you can :)

Thank you all for the advice! Sadly I am well accustomed to UTIs I used to get a lot pre pregnancy but with different symptoms?!
My wee sample was sent to the lab but no results yet, I agree the dipsticks are quite unreliable I used to have some at home but often even when the doctor checks with them they can be negative but positive with a lab result! X

Ahhh sorry for the unsolicited advice in that case And sorry to hear you are only too experienced in the joys of UTIs!
Hope all is good x

Oh no not unsolicited at all, thank you it's useful reminder & others who might read the thread! Yes utis can be horrendous 🥴 x

Well after 4 days on antibiotics I don't feel any better, not sure what to do now

Is the course finished? Took ten days to shift one of mine once! Must've been a nasty one 😔

Not yet it's a 7 day course, I usually feel better by now :( maybe pregnancy is causing it to take longer to go away? Just worried it gets worse :(

My course was 7 days, but by day 6-7 it was starting to improve but not quite gone, so on day 7 I called and asked if the gp wanted to give me another 3 days, and he did. Some just take longer to shift maybe?

I was also really probe to UTIs before pregnancy as well so every appointment now they send a sample off to the lab. I had one at the start and was I'll from it, was running a fever and being sick. It took much longer to clear it than normal.

Just for some reassurance, my baby moved head down early and hasn't changed since. I noticed since then I was weeing a LOT more and sometimes had pressure there as it was where baby was sitting. I've also had Braxton Hicks since 29 weeks as well.

Always worth speaking to your midwife for some reassurance if you're worried ☺️ xx

Baby will be fine don't worry, I've had about 8 UTIs and 3 kidney infections this pregnancy, I'm 37 weeks now and being induced due to the constant infections but her growth has been absolutely fine despite the non stop antibiotics.

Hope you feel better soon

Okay, thank you so much everyone for the reassuring replies! I had a growth scan last week as I have a ovarian cyst aswell & the baby is measuring very big which might be contributing to the constant weeing/pressure feeling
I will keep taking the antibiotics, the gp said to call on Monday if still not feeling well, maybe it will just take abit longer to shift it, I did read you're more immunocompromised during pregnancy
And mostly I was worried about it affecting the baby & getting worse, sorry to hear you had so many utis during pregnancy
Last year I had a miscarriage at 9 weeks but had recurrent utis and didn't know I was pregnant, I had so many antibiotics and it's making me panic as I was sure at the time the antibiotics caused it but I know the ones I'm on now are safe
Thank you again for all the reassurance xx

Just came back to post that it literally took until the second to last dose on the 7th day of the course (last day) to feel better & for symptoms to stop! In the past I've only had 3 day courses of antibiotics and after the first or second dose o felt better!