Bladder infection or baby's head engaged?

[evergrounded]

Hello, would be grateful if anyone could help...am 34 weeks preg today, and for the last 4-5 days have been suffering with what I can only describe as an incredibly strong feeling of pressure on my bladder- it is constant, and if I'm not weeing I feel like I need to go and wee- but sometimes nothing much comes out! Walking is actually v. uncomfortable as bladder is almost painful...anyway, I assumed it was a bladder infection or other UTI- rang GP, and he prescribed Amoxycillin antibiotic- which I duly started taking on MOnday afternoon. However, i just rang the GP surgery back to get the result of my urine sample, and the secretary told me it was all clear! So I dont have a UTI after all! I am now confused and worried- firstly, because i am halfway through the course of antibiotics, which I have been taking unnecessarily, and secondly because the pain/pressure in my bladder/groin continues, and I am not sure what it could be! Any ideas ladies? I am now wondering whether it could be that the baby's head has engaged already- but is it too early? And also, should I stop taking the antibiotics right away, or should I finish the course and just write it off?

any advice welcome...

Hiya hun had the exact same problem around the same time.. I had been feeling really heavy underneath and was finding it hard to wee. When i woke up in the morning my abdomen would be rock hard and painful and i thought i had better get it checked beacause i have a long history of UTI and kidney problems. My water was checked and although nothing was found i was prescribed a corse of antibiotics just to rule it out and i was advised to finish the course as normal.

The babys head wasnt engaged at this stage but from around 34 weeks i started feeling lightening which is the babys head trying to engage and pushing down and babys head didnt actually engage until just under 39 weeks.

Im 40+4 now so i wouldnt worry too much if your concerned call you GP or MW and ask to be checked but ti will most probably just be pressure on your body..

If your having trouble going for a wee try going in the shower ....Some advice i was given and it really did help x

Hiya - I've had exactly the same problem this week strangely (although am only 30 weeks). Figured that as weeing (when I did finally manage it - and giving samples to the midwife on demand is now completely impossible!) wasn't painful, it must be the baby's position - the 'lightening' or whatever. I've also noticed that I don't feel quite so like exploding (maybe I should namechange) and can breathe a lot easier now. Don't remember noticing this in my first pregnancy, but I guess everything is a bit saggier this time around and I don't think DD1 ever engaged anyway. From what I can google though, engagement/lightening or whatever doesn't bear any relation to when you might go into labour (and the baby can still change position again as well), so I guess just drink lots of water so you can relieve the urge when you need to.

PS re the antibiotics, I would check with your doc, but usual advice is to finish the course so you don't develop an immunity to them. No idea if that applies if you never needed them in the first place though!

Thank you very much ladies, that has been most useful and helpful! I have made a doc's appointment for tomorrow morning anyway, and until then i will continue taking the antibiotics, and then see what the doc says regarding whether I should finish the course or not. Guess I will just have to put up with the uncomfortable bladder for now!

Hi

I wouldn't worry too much about the amoxycillin; its not a particularly strong antibiotic (thats why the courses are usually 7 days or so), and its a general antibiotic so isnt prescribed for UTIs specifically... you are best just to finish the course, it wont do you any harm!

Thanks worriedamy - so there's no risk to the baby then? I didnt think there was, as otherwise the doc would not have prescribed it, but I think I was a bit unhappy with the idea of taking them unnecessarily- but if there's no danger to me or the baby, then I guess you are right that I should just finish the course...

No, as far as I am aware there is no risk, but my knowledge only comes from my mum being a nurse and being quite prone to UTIs, so knowing what I can and can't take! I am sure there are lots of people more qualified that me to advise you!

Might cause you a bit of thrush tho...