Cystitis Pregnant
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Cystitis is one of the most common symptoms during pregnancy and occurs as a result of the uterus pressing on the bladder and ureters, and as a pregnant woman you empty the bladder worse.
Symptoms of Cystitis
During pregnancy, it is common for the urethra to yawn a little more than it would otherwise. It can make it harder for some pregnant women to notice the common symptoms, which can usually be quite painful.
The symptoms are normally:
Frequent urination (it feels like you have to pee all the time)
Very strong urge to urinate
Burning when urinating (feels like peeing in glass shards)
Bacteria in the urine (nitrite or leukocytes)
As the urethra yawns a little, it is not uncommon, that you do not feel burning and pain when you urinate, but just have a strong and sudden urge to urinate. Cystitis occurs because the lack of emptying of the bladder gives bacteria good conditions.
During the midwife and doctor check-ups, you will automatically have your urine plugged to test if you have cystitis. All pregnant women are regularly examined for bacteria in the urine, which is why it is not uncommon for it to be here that you first discover that you have cystitis.
Treatment of cystitis
The most effective treatment for cystitis is with antibiotics. This is how it is usually treated and it is also the method of treatment during pregnancy. It is important that you get treatment for it, as cystitis can trigger an early birth. However, it can also allow bacteria to crawl further up into the kidney, where it causes pelvic inflammatory disease.
Once the treatment with antibiotics is completed, the urine is checked again to make sure that the bacteria are gone.
Prevention of cystitis
Cystitis is difficult to prevent as a pregnant woman, as the uterus makes it difficult to feel if you get the bladder emptied completely. However, if you would like to try taking it in the bud, you can drink plenty of fluids to flush the bladder through.
You do this by drinking 2-3 liters of fluid over the course of a day. Some of the liquid can advantageously be cranberry juice, as it has a reputation for being able to relieve a cystitis that is on the way. However, it is not a method you have to repeat too often as you flush important minerals out of the body
If you have the slightest doubt, you should go to the doctor to have a urine sample taken.
