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Best Antibiotic For Uti While Pregnant

Can You Safely Take Antibiotics While Breastfeeding

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In most cases, antibiotics are safe for breastfeeding parents and their babies.

Antibiotics are one of the most common medications mothers are prescribed, and all pass in some degree into milk, explains the Academy of American Pediatrics . At the same time, the AAP adds: In general, if the antibiotic would be administered directly to a premature infant or a neonate, then it is safe for the mother to take during breastfeeding.

So what does this mean for you and your breastfeeding baby?

First, its important to keep in mind how medications generally work when youre breastfeeding.

As the Mayo Clinic explains, the majority of drugs that become present in your bloodstream will also be present in your breast milk. However, the amount in your milk is usually lower than the amount in your blood, and most medications pose no real risk to most infants.

However, the Mayo Clinic also notes that there are exceptions, and as such, every medication you take including antibiotics should be cleared with your babys pediatrician.

In addition to the medication itself, there are other factors to keep in mind, including how old your baby is. Exposure to antibiotics will pose a greater risk to premature babies and newborns, as opposed to older babies and toddlers, explains the Mayo Clinic.

And again, if your baby could safely take the antibiotic, its likely safe to take it while breastfeeding.

How Common Are Utis During Pregnancy

Between 2 and 13 percent of women can expect to develop at least one UTI during pregnancy.Trusted SourceNational Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of MedicineUrinary tract infections in pregnancy: old and new unresolved diagnostic and therapeutic problemsSee All Sources Because some women have no symptoms of a UTI during pregnancy, your practitioner will have a clean void urine culture done at your first prenatal visit.

Kidney infections are about twice as common in expecting women as non-pregnant women. That said, they’re still quite rare, occurring in only about 2 percent of pregnancies. Symptoms include fever, chills, nausea/vomiting and pains in the lumber and mid-back regions.

How To Prevent A Uti

One way to avoid the use of antibiotics is by preventing the development of an infection in the first place. There are a number a key steps you can take to prevent a urinary tract infection while you are pregnant 4:

  • Try as best you can to fully empty your bladder when you pee, to ensure that bacteria doesnt hang around in the urinary tract
  • Keep hydrated so that any harmful bacteria are flushed out of your system
  • Dont wear clothing that is too tight wear looser, more breathable clothing including cotton underwear
  • Keep the area clean and dry, and avoid the use of soaps, vaginal lotions or bubble bath products. These can affect the functioning of good bacteria which is needed to counteract the bad
  • Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Ingesting plenty of vitamins and minerals will help to balance your microbiome, and also prevent constipation, another risk factor for UTI.

For more information on general prevention strategies visit our UTI prevention blog, and for more tips on preventing cystitis with dietary changes, check out our Nutrition and Hydration blog.

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Are Utis Common While Breastfeeding

A postpartum UTI is definitely not uncommon. There are several reasons you might be more likely to have a UTI after having a baby or while breastfeeding. Firstly, being pregnant and giving birth may have affected your bladder or urethra. Pressure or damage from a vaginal birth or anesthesia during the birth could both be issues. You might have swelling or perineal pain, and you could feel discomfort if you had to have a catheter fitted too, which many who have a C-section do. Pain or fear of pain after birth can also make it difficult to use the toilet.

UTIs are common for women anyway, and around half will experience one at some point in their life. Therefore, breastfeeding women could find that they experience urinary tract infections at some point, especially if they breastfeed for longer. They happen in around 2-4% of all births too, so you could develop a UTI after having your baby.

Symptoms Of A Uti In Pregnancy

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A UTI is an infection that occurs within the structures that pass urine as it is being eliminated from your body. These structures include the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys.

During pregnancy, changes in the mothers body and urinary tract increase their risk of infection. Dilation of the ureters and other structures occur as the baby grows within the uterus. Hormonal changes can during this time can also make women more prone to UTIs.

Typical UTI symptoms include:

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Medicines That May Not Be Safe When Breastfeeding

The following drugs should be used with caution â because they may affect your milk supply or your baby. Before taking these medications, be sure to tell your healthcare provider or a pharmacist that youâre breastfeeding. If youâre nursing a newborn or premature infant, you may want to ask your provider if there are alternatives.

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Symptoms Of Uti During Pregnancy

Having a UTI during pregnancy can be a very stressful experience. It can also be difficult to know when you have a UTI, and what is considered normal.

New symptoms and feelings naturally accompany changes experienced during pregnancy. And these changes can occur on a daily basis.

Symptoms such as urgency, increased frequency and incontinence may be normal in pregnancy, but they may also be a sign of infection. Its hard to know when to call your doctor or midwife.

There are many blogs and websites with information about pregnancy, but how do you know which information is credible?

Symptoms of increased urination and urgency tend to be worse during the first trimester and the later part of the third trimester. There are no guidelines on what is normal as far as frequency.

If you have a UTI, you may experience:

  • Painful or burning sensation while urinating
  • Pelvic or lower abdominal pain or cramps
  • Urgency when urinating
  • Waking at night to urinate
  • Change in the amount of urine, more or less

In addition to the above, a UTI may cause a strong urge to pee but then only a little comes out, pain during intercourse, tenderness in the bladder area or lower abdominal cramping.

You may notice your urine looks cloudy or mucousy or that there is blood in the urine or on the toilet paper when you wipe. There may be a strong or foul smell to your urine.

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Uti During Pregnancy With No Symptoms

Asymptomatic bacteriuria is associated with preterm birth and low birth weight. And if the bacteriuria isn’t treated, your chance of developing a kidney infection may be as high as 35 percent. However, with adequate treatment your risk goes down dramatically.

To find out whether there’s bacteria in your urinary tract, your practitioner will collect urine at your first prenatal visit and send it to a lab for testing, whether you have symptoms or not. If this initial urine culture is negative, your chances of developing a UTI later in pregnancy are small.

If the culture is positive, you’ll be treated with oral antibiotics that are safe to take during pregnancy. Taking the full course of antibiotics, usually for a week, should clear the infection.

After treatment, you’ll be tested again to make sure the infection is gone. Repeat urine cultures should be done regularly throughout your pregnancy to make sure you don’t have another infection. If the bacteriuria recurs, you’ll be treated again and likely be put on a continuous low dose of antibiotics for the remainder of your pregnancy to prevent another recurrence.

What Causes A Urine Infection

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Most urine infections are caused by bacteria which come from your own bowel. They cause no harm in your bowel but can cause infection if they get into other parts of your body. Some bacteria lie around your back passage after you pass a stool . These bacteria can sometimes travel to your urethra and into your bladder. Some bacteria thrive in urine and multiply quickly to cause infection.

Less commonly there may be other causes of a urine infection. If you have to have a tube passed into your bladder, it is easier for germs to directly reach your bladder, and this may make urine infection more likely. Occasionally for people whose immune systems are not working well, the infection may spread through the bloodstream rather than up the urinary tubes.

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Is A Uti Dangerous During Pregnancy

Any infection during pregnancy can be extremely dangerous for you and your baby. Thats because infections increase the risk of premature labor.

I found out the hard way that an untreated UTI during pregnancy can also wreak havoc after you deliver. After I had my first daughter, I woke up a mere 24 hours after coming home with a fever approaching 105F .

I landed back in the hospital with a raging infection from an undiagnosed UTI, a condition called pyelonephritis. Pyelonephritis can be a life-threatening illness for both mother and baby. It had spread to my kidneys, and they suffered permanent damage as a result.

Moral of the story? Let your doctor know if you have any symptoms of a UTI during pregnancy. If youre prescribed antibiotics, be sure to take every last pill to knock out that infection.

You can help prevent UTIs during your pregnancy by:

  • emptying your bladder frequently, especially before and after sex
  • wearing only cotton underwear
  • avoiding douches, perfumes, or sprays
  • drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated
  • avoiding any harsh soaps or body wash in the genital area

Most UTIs during pregnancy are treated with a course of antibiotics. Your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic that is pregnancy-safe but still effective in killing off bacteria in your body.

If your UTI has progressed to a kidney infection, you may need to take a stronger antibiotic or have an intravenous version administered.

How Can I Prevent A Bladder Infection

You may do everything right and still experience a urinary tract infection during pregnancy, but you can reduce the likelihood by doing the following:

  • Drink 6-8 glasses of water each day and unsweetened cranberry juice regularly.
  • Eliminate refined foods, fruit juices, caffeine, alcohol, and sugar.
  • Take Vitamin C , Beta-carotene and Zinc to help fight infection.
  • Develop a habit of urinating as soon as the need is felt and empty your bladder completely when you urinate.
  • Urinate before and after intercourse.
  • Avoid intercourse while you are being treated for a UTI.
  • After urinating, blot dry , and keep your genital area clean. Make sure you wipe from the front toward the back.
  • Avoid using strong soaps, douches, antiseptic creams, feminine hygiene sprays, and powders.
  • Change underwear and pantyhose every day.
  • Avoid wearing tight-fitting pants.
  • Wear all-cotton or cotton-crotch underwear and pantyhose.
  • Dont soak in the bathtub longer than 30 minutes or more than twice a day.

Want to Know More?

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Can Utis Cause Infertility

There are common bacterial strains that have been found in both the vaginal and bladder microbiomes. Sexual partners can also transfer bacteria back and forth during sexual contact.

Some of the bacteria already present, or transferred, can lead to infection while others will not.

In pregnancy, the microbiome changes, and this can heighten the susceptibility to a UTI.

Some bacterial strains can remain dormant for periods of time until the conditions are right to multiply. When this happens, infection can occur.

In addition to an increased risk of UTI, certain . For instance, if a male has an overgrowth of certain bacteria, this can decrease sperm quality and motility.

These variables dont just impact natural conception they can also decrease the chances of success with IVF.

Common Side Effects With Antibiotic Use

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Each antibiotic is responsible for its own unique list of side effects, and the list is usually extensive. Be sure to discuss your individual antibiotic side effects with your healthcare provider. However, there are side effects that are common to most antibiotics, regardless of class or drug:

Related: Common Side Effects from Antibiotics, Allergies and Reactions

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What Are Antibiotics

Antibiotics are medicines that fight infections caused by bacteria, which are germs that live in the environment as well as inside and outside our bodies. Most bacteria are harmless , but in some cases, they can cause infections. Darren Salinger, MD, OBGYN from KIDZ Medical Services in Florida, explains that the most common reasons antibiotics may be needed during pregnancy include:

  • Gallbladder disease
  • Sexually transmitted diseases

Antibiotics are not used to treat viral infections, such as the flu or the common cold. The most common side effects of antibiotics include rash, nausea, diarrhea, and yeast infections.

Can I Prevent Utis

You can lower your risk of developing a UTI during pregnancy by:

Some women have also found the following tips helpful:

  • urinate immediately after sex
  • dont delay going to the toilet go as soon as you feel the need
  • wipe from the front to the back after going to the toilet
  • wear cotton underwear

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Why Is Cipro Not Recommended For Uti

Most UTI infections are caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli. According to a 2015 systematic review, ciprofloxacin resistance in E. coli is rising, and the medical community should think about limiting the use of this antibiotic. In other words, medical professionals may need to start considering other UTI treatment options.

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Top 10 Antibiotics For Uti

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Antibiotics for UTI alleviate the pain and discomfort of urinary tract infections quickly and reliably.

Every year more than six million Americans visit their doctors seeking treatment of UTIs. The overwhelming majority are women, who are 30 times more likely to suffer UTIs than men.

In nearly all confirmed UTI cases, antibiotics are prescribed and start providing relief within 24 hours. Typically, within a few days, most or all symptoms have been eliminated.

There are more than 100 different antibiotics, but not all are useful in treating a UTI. The following are the best antibiotics for UTI of 2023. Speak to your doctor to determine which one is right for you.

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Will I Need An Intravenous Antibiotic For A Uti

If you are pregnant, have a high fever, or cannot keep food and fluids down, your doctor may admit you to the hospital so you can have treatment with intravenous antibiotics for a complicated UTI. You may return home and continue with oral antibiotics when your infection starts to improve.

In areas with fluoroquinolone resistance exceeding 10%, in patients with more severe pyelonephritis, those with a complicated UTI who have allergies to fluoroquinolones, or are unable to tolerate the drug class, intravenous therapy with an agent such as ceftriaxone, or an aminoglycoside, such as gentamicin or tobramycin, may be appropriate. Your ongoing treatment should be based on susceptibility data received from the laboratory.

How Are Utis Diagnosed

UTIs are diagnosed by taking a urine sample which is checked in a laboratory for bacteria. Your doctor may also perform a physical examination if they think you have an infection.

All pregnant women are offered a urine test, usually at their first antenatal visit or soon after. You may need to repeat the urine test if you have a history of UTIs have symptoms of a UTI have a contaminated sample or if your doctor thinks you are at high risk of developing a UTI. If you have frequent UTIs, you may also need additional tests such as an ultrasound of your kidneys.

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Risks And Outlook For A Uti In Pregnancy

Because of growing concern for antibiotic resistance, researchers are looking for alternative treatments for UTIs.

While several methods show promise as effective treatments for UTIs in pregnant women, more research is needed, and antibiotics remain the most common and understood form of treatment.

It is important to seek medical attention if you are pregnant and think you may have a UTI. When not treated properly, UTIs can be harmful to you and your baby. Always consult with your doctor before trying a new home remedy.

Why Are Utis Common In Pregnant Women

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When youre pregnant, the anatomy of your urinary tract actually changes. For instance, your kidneys become larger and your growing uterus can compress your ureters and bladder. Because of this compression, fully emptying your bladder during pregnancy becomes more difficult. In addition, your progesterone and estrogen levels increase during pregnancy, which can weaken your bladder and ureters. Pregnancy also alters the makeup of your urine, reducing the acidity and increasing the amount of protein, hormones, and sugar in your urine. That excess sugar, for one, can encourage bacterial growth. All of the above contribute to a heightened chance of developing a UTI in pregnancy. And that is why its recommended that all pregnant women receive a urinalysis and urine culture at 12 to 16 weeks or during the first prenatal visit.

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