Blood in urine during pregnancy: what it means
When you’re pregnant, the slightest tinge of blood on the toilet paper can be a huge worry. Luckily, it’s usually nothing too severe and can often be treated easily. However you’re feeling, it’s always best to visit your doctor to get to the bottom of the issue.
The most common cause for peeing blood is a UTI (Urinary Tract Infection), which is more common during pregnancy as the foetus adds growing pressure on your bladder and urinary tract. This makes it easy for bacteria to become trapped and cause an infection.
Below, we take a closer look at UTIs and other factors that might cause blood in urine during pregnancy.
Symptoms of a UTI
Look out for the following factors to decipher whether you might be suffering from a UTI:
– Frequent trips to the bathroom
– Passing small amounts of urine often
– Burning during urinating
– Fever
– Discomfort in the pelvic region
– Back pain
– Bad smelling urine
– Blood in urine
– Cloudy urine
Causes of a UTI
Three different types of UTI can occur during pregnancy, each caused by something distinct.
Asymptomatic bacteriuria: This UTI tends to come about due to bacteria present in a woman’s body before she gets pregnant. There aren’t many symptoms with this one, but it could lead to kidney infection or an acute bladder infection if left untreated.
Acute urethritis or cystitis: Acute urethritis means inflammation of the urethra, and cystitis refers to inflammation of the bladder. A bacterial infection causes both.
Pyelonephritis: This is the most severe form of UTI and is a kidney infection, which can cause awful side effects.
Treatment for a UTI
Fortunately, antibiotics to treat UTIs are safe during pregnancy, and they effectively kill any bacteria in your body.
Other causes of blood in urine during pregnancy
Some other cause of peeing blood can be:
– Bladder or kidney stones
– Glomerulonephritis
– Bladder or kidney cancer
– A kidney injury from a fall or accident
– Inherited disorders, like sickle cell anaemia
– An ectopic pregnancy
As you can see, some causes of blood in your urine are much more severe than others. However you’re feeling, you should always seek advice from a medical professional to ensure a safe and full-term pregnancy for you and your baby.
