Bladder infection during pregnancy: A serious infection
The most common cause of acute bladder infection (acute cystitis) is intestinal bacteria, particularly Escherichia coli (E. coli), a facultative pathogenic germ. If intestinal bacteria enter the urethra and travel to the bladder, they can cause inflammation of the bladder lining. This results in an acute urethral and bladder infection, both of which require immediate medical attention during pregnancy.
The main reason for this urgency is the risk that the bacterial infection could travel to the kidneys, leading to pyelonephritis—an inflammation of the renal pelvis. This is a medical emergency for anyone (requiring emergency medical care), but for a pregnant woman and her unborn baby, it can be particularly dangerous, even life-threatening. Additionally, bladder infections and their complications increase the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.
Doctors usually prescribe a short course of antibiotics to pregnant women with a bladder infection. They select a medication that is safe for use during pregnancy. Antibiotics may also be necessary even if no symptoms of a bladder infection are present but bacteria levels in the urine are too high.
Symptoms of urethral, bladder, and kidney infections
Typical symptoms of urethral inflammation include pain and burning in the urethra, especially during (often involuntary and frequent) urination. When a bladder infection develops, cramping pain above the pubic bone is common, sometimes accompanied by blood in the urine. A weakened immune system (such as during pregnancy) and/or exposure to cold (e.g., swimming in cold water) increases the risk of a urinary tract infection.
Symptoms of kidney infection (pyelonephritis) include:
- Fever and chills
- Flank pain, which worsens with movement
- Pain and burning during urination, sometimes with blood in the urine
- Nausea
- General malaise
- Headache and abdominal pain
Bladder infection during pregnancy: The maternal immune system
Pregnancy presents a unique challenge for the immune system. It must protect both the mother and the unborn baby from infections while simultaneously lowering its activity enough to prevent rejecting the baby as a foreign body (similar to a transplanted organ). This is because the baby’s genetic material is half-inherited from the father, making it partially “foreign” to the mother’s immune system.
The immune system adjusts to this special task during pregnancy, but this adaptation increases the risk of bladder infections and other infections (e.g., vaginal yeast infections). It also raises the risk of complications for both the mother and baby.
Vaginal yeast infections: Also common in pregnancy
Symptoms of a vaginal yeast infection (vaginal mycosis) include itching, burning, white curd-like discharge, and pain during intercourse. The most common cause is the yeast Candida albicans, which thrives due to the altered immune response in pregnancy.
While a vaginal yeast infection is not dangerous for the mother or baby, Candida albicans can be transmitted to the newborn during birth, potentially causing diaper rash (diaper thrush) or oral thrush. Both conditions are easily treatable, but prevention is preferable. Therefore, pregnant women should consult their gynecologist and, if necessary, treat the infection with antifungal medication. Proper intimate and anal hygiene (caution with vaginal douching) is also essential.
Bladder infection during pregnancy: The maternal body
Women generally have a higher risk of bladder infections than men. This is primarily because intestinal bacteria have a short path to the vulva and thus to the urethra. Additionally, the female urethra is very short, making it easy for pathogens to travel upwards into the bladder.
Pregnancy further increases the likelihood of bladder infections. Hormonal changes relax the muscles of the ureters (the tubes connecting the kidneys to the bladder). Additionally, the growing uterus increasingly presses on the ureters and bladder. These and other physiological changes create an environment where intestinal bacteria can multiply more easily, increasing the risk of bladder and kidney infections.
Preventing bladder infections during pregnancy: Intimate hygiene
Intestinal bacteria tend to colonize the vulva and the area around the anus. Therefore, proper intimate and anal hygiene is especially important during pregnancy. The cleaner and healthier the delicate intimate skin in the anogenital region, the fewer bacteria and other pathogens can settle there—thus reducing the risk of bladder infections.
For gentle cleansing of the sensitive anogenital area, Deumavan Washing Lotion is recommended. To protect and care for the soft intimate skin, Deumavan Protective Ointment is suitable.
This protective ointment also shields the anogenital area from aggressive urine and/or stool. This is particularly beneficial as incontinence is common during pregnancy and for some time afterward. Additionally, the healthier the skin barrier in the anogenital region, the less strain it endures during childbirth.
