Test For Urinary Tract Infection Early In Pregnancy
UTI Could Cause Kidney Infections Dangerous During Pregnancy
BALTIMORE -- One of the first tests women have early during pregnancy is a test for a urinary tract infection. The test is often administered even if the expectant mother doesn't have any symptoms. And it's often that pregnant women do not have symptoms, but it's important to detect and treat.
"In the beginning of the pregnancy, I had a urinary tract infection. The problem was the pregnancy masked symptoms, you can't really tell," Calloway said.
According to urologist Dr. Marcella Roenneburg, who practices at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, part of the problem is anatomy.
"There's the bladder, the vagina and the uterus. As the uterus enlarges, it is sitting right on top of the bladder," Roenneburg explained.
Calloway was treated for her UTI, but she got a second infection. Dr. Terry Hoffman said that was not good.
"Once you get that second infection, we put you on what's called suppression, a pill a day. It suppresses the bacteria so it doesn't get to infection," Hoffman said.
Treatment is crucial for pregnant women.
"People are at much more risk for infection moving up the uterus into the kidneys. It's those kidney infections that are dangerous in pregnancy," Hoffman said.
The problems can be serious, including premature labor, which is why pregnant women are always checked for UTI.
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