Preventing a Urine Infection in Pregnancy
A urine infection is caused by bacteria in your urinary system (your bladder, kidneys or connecting tubes). If you get a urine infection these bacteria can increase your chance of complications such as kidney infections or preterm birth.
Can reduce my chance of getting a urine infection?
There are things you can do to reduce the chance of getting a urine infection and needing antibiotics:
- Try to wash your hands before going to the toilet as well as afterwards because as you touch people, surfaces and objects throughout the day, you accumulate germs on your hands.
- Always wipe from front to back whenever you go to the toilet. This prevents unwanted bacteria transferring from the anus to the vagina. There is a common bacterium (E-Coli) that can cause urine infections if it is moved from your anus to your vagina when wiping.
- Try to go to the toilet as soon as your feel the urge and try to make sure your bladder is fully empty when you go to the toilet.
- Drink plenty of fluids especially water
- Empty your bladder as soon as possible after intercourse.
- Fresh underwear daily, loose cotton underwear preferably.
- Shower/bathe daily but avoid soaps and feminine hygiene products or baby wipes on the inner labia (inner lips of vagina) and inside as these may strip away the natural protective barrier, leaving you more vulnerable to infection
Would I always know if I have a urine infection?
There are common symptoms women can experience in pregnancy. These include:
- Burning sensation as you pass urine.
- Needing to pass urine more frequently (although as a single symptom this is a natural effect of pregnancy).
- The feeling that you need to pass a lot of urine but then only being able to pass a small amount.
- Pain in your lower stomach or back.
- Your urine looking cloudy, dark or having blood in it.
- An unpleasant offensive smell to your urine.
However, harmful bacteria may be present in your urinary system without you having any symptoms
When will my urine be tested in my pregnancy?
At your first appointment your midwife will dip test your urine to check if a mid-stream sample (to check for bacteria in your urinary system) needs to be sent. We will continue to request, and dip test your urine samples in your pregnancy, but it will not always be sent off for further testing.
Do not wait for your planned appointments for your urine to be tested, if you think you have symptoms of a urine infection.
What is a midstream urine sample?
A midstream urine sample means you don't collect the first or last part of urine that comes out. Collecting the urine, you pass partway through emptying your bladder reduces the risk of the sample being contaminated with bacteria from your skin.
This sample is sent to the laboratory for further testing. If you do have a urine infection this testing also tells us what antibiotics will be best to treat you.
How to collect a midstream urine sample (MSU)
- Wash your hands with soap and water before you start.
- Hold open the entrance to your vagina (your labia)
- If possible, wash the outside part of your vagina (wiping front to back).
- Remove the screw cap of the bottle and do not allow the top of the bottle to touch your skin or clothing.
- Start to pass urine into the toilet and then without stopping the flow of your urine catch some of it in the bottle provided.
- Once you have enough urine in the bottle (about ¾ full), pass the last part of your urine into the toilet.
- Replace the cap of the bottle tightly.
- Follow the Monovette user guide below to collect the sample in the tube if it needs to be sent away for testing.
- Discard the remaining urine.
- Wash your hands again.
Please follow this advice for any urine samples you provide in your pregnancy journey.
If you are doing your urine sample before your planned appointment, please try to do it a maximum of 2 hours before your appointment time.
How long will it take to get a result from my MSU?
It takes up to 7 days for a result to be available. If your urine sample is clear, we will not contact you. If you require any treatment for a urine infection a member of the Antenatal Clinic team will call you. Please make sure we always have your most up to date contact number.
How is a urine infection treated?
A urine infection is treated with antibiotics. It is important the full course of antibiotics prescribed is taken. If you have any problems with taking the antibiotics prescribed, please contact the Antenatal Clinic or your GP. If you still have symptoms or remain unwell, please contact whoever provided the antibiotics for you. Once the treatment course is completed a further urine sample should be tested (test of cure) to ensure the infection has resolved.
Test of Cure - repeating your urine sample
Why have I been given another sample pot?
As you know the last sample of your urine that was sent off to the laboratory showed that you had a urine infection. You have now picked up your antibiotics to hopefully clear this infection, but we want to be sure that these clear your infection completely.
We request that you provide another urine sample to be sent to the laboratory to make sure your infection is completely cleared.
When should I send my repeat urine sample?
7 days after you have completed your course of antibiotics, please collect a midstream urine sample. This can be taken to either:
- Your GP Surgery Reception
- Antenatal Clinic Reception
Drop off a freshly taken sample Monday- Friday (these services are usually closed Saturday and Sunday).
Please do not wait until your next planned appointment to provide this repeat sample unless it is within 2-3 days of completing your antibiotics.
How do I complete the sample?
Please see ‘How to collect a mid stream urine sample’ information above and ‘Urine Monovette User Guide’. Then place patient sticker (top left of request form) onto the green topped bottle, put the bottle into the bag included and attach the request form to it. If you are struggling to do this don’t worry, the reception staff can help.
Is it important to repeat this test?
Yes. Hopefully your antibiotics have cleared your infection but if harmful bacteria remain in your urinary system (bladder, kidneys, or connecting tubes), it could cause complications to you or your pregnancy.
Will I hear back about this repeat test?
The hospital will not contact you if the results are normal, but you can confirm these results at your next planned appointment. If you need further follow up or treatment after this sample the hospital will contact you.
*Please also remember to bring a fresh mid-stream urine sample to your next planned appointment, ideally no more than 2 hours before your appointment *
