Pregnancy increases the risk of kidney infection due to a spike in progesterone levels, which weakens the ureters and allows bacteria to grow. Symptoms include fever, vomiting, and pain in the lower back. Pregnant women with kidney infections are hospitalized and given antibiotics and fluids. All pregnant women are monitored for bacteria in their urine.
There is a strong link between pregnancy and kidney infection: it is the most common serious complication experienced by pregnant women. Although a small percentage of women will experience pregnancy and a kidney infection, all women are monitored for the bacterium causing the infection until the baby is born. If bacteria are found in a urine test, most doctors seek immediate medical attention to protect the safety of the baby and the mother.
Kidney infections are caused by bacteria that move from the bladder to the kidneys through the ureters, the tubes that connect the bladder to the kidneys. They increase the risk of preterm birth; a baby who has a low birth weight; and the death of the fetus, newborn, or even the mother. The link between pregnancy and kidney infection is significant because women are more susceptible to kidney infections during pregnancy because there is a spike in progesterone levels which reduces the muscle strength of the ureters. This causes urine to pass through the ureteral tubes more slowly, giving harmful bacteria more time to grow and increasing the chance of them traveling to the kidneys.
A kidney infection comes from bacteria in the urinary tract. These bacteria, called asymptomatic bacteriuria, aren’t usually a problem, but they can cause serious problems for pregnant women. About 2-7% of women will have the bacteria in their urine. There is a 40% chance of getting kidney disease among pregnant women who are found to have the bacteria. If the bacteria is found in a urine test during pregnancy, doctors often recommend immediate treatment to increase your chances of avoiding kidney infection.
Symptoms of a kidney infection include vomiting, nausea, high fever, and pain felt primarily under the ribs in the lower back and sides. A woman may also experience pain in her abdomen and notice pus or blood in her urine. Pregnant women experiencing these symptoms should seek medical help right away.
Pregnant women with kidney infections are usually hospitalized as soon as possible so they and the baby can be closely monitored. Antibiotics and intravenous fluids are given, and steps are taken to reduce the fever that typically accompanies an infection. Depending on the response to treatment, a woman may be discharged within a day or several days after admission to complete the rest of her antibiotic treatment with pills. Women experiencing pregnancy and kidney infection are usually required to remain under constant regular observation and on antibiotic treatment until the baby is born.
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