Lower body pain in late pregnancy

Pregnant women are always more concerned about some physical changes in the late stages of pregnancy. For example, many pregnant women suffer from urinary tract infections in the late stages of pregnancy. In fact, this is usually due to the special nature of pregnant women and an inflammatory disease caused by their physical constitution. In addition, the uterus becomes larger during pregnancy, compressing the bladder, which causes urine retention and urination problems. This can lead to a tingling sensation in the lower body. It is necessary to understand and analyze what disease it is.

Introduction to urinary tract infection in pregnant women

Pregnant women are more susceptible to urinary tract infections

Because the female urethra is wide and straight, only 4 cm long, and its opening is close to the vaginal opening and anus, these places often have secretions and excretions, which can easily contaminate the urethra, and bacteria can easily ascend along the urethra and cause infection.

Pregnant women are more susceptible to urinary tract infection due to their special physiology

After pregnancy, the ureter will grow longer and thicker. Due to the influence of progesterone, the smooth muscle of the tube wall relaxes and the peristalsis decreases and weakens. In late pregnancy, the enlarged uterus puts pressure on the bladder and ureters, which can cause poor urine flow and urinary retention. Retained urine not only irritates the mucous membrane of the urinary tract, but also makes it easy for bacteria to grow. After pregnancy, the amount of glucose, amino acids and other nutrients in urine increases, which is a favorable condition for bacterial reproduction.

Pregnant women are more likely to suffer from urinary tract infection if they are careless

According to investigations, 5 to 10 percent of pregnant women have bacteria in their urine, but the symptoms of infection may not be obvious and are easily overlooked. If not treated promptly, bacterial urine will not only persist during pregnancy, but will also most likely not disappear after delivery. Some of these pregnant women may develop symptomatic urinary tract infections in late pregnancy and postpartum period, mostly acute pyelonephritis.

When pregnant women suffer from urinary tract infection, especially pyelonephritis, most patients will experience urinary tract irritation symptoms such as chills, high fever, low back pain, frequent urination, urgency, and pain when urinating. What is more noteworthy is that some patients only show low back discomfort without other symptoms, which is often ignored. Suffering from urinary tract infection will not only harm the health of pregnant women, but may even cause shock and endanger the patient's life; and due to high fever and inappropriate use of certain drugs, it is easy to damage the fetus, causing miscarriage and premature birth. High fever can also cause obstacles to the development of the fetal neural tube, resulting in anencephaly, congenital deafness, etc.

Therefore, pregnant women should pay special attention to preventing urinary tract infections.

Due to physiological reasons, women, especially pregnant women, are prone to diseases such as urethritis, cystitis, pyelonephritis, etc., collectively known as urinary tract infections. Surveys show that the incidence rate among pregnant women is as high as 11 percent.

Pregnant women with urinary tract infection, especially pyelonephritis, most patients will experience chills, high fever, back pain, and urinary tract irritation symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, and pain when urinating. What is more noteworthy is that some patients only show back pain and discomfort without other symptoms, which are often easily ignored. Urinary tract infection will not only harm the health of pregnant women, but may even cause shock and endanger the patient's life; and due to high fever and inappropriate use of certain drugs, it is easy to damage the fetus and cause miscarriage or premature birth. High fever can also cause obstacles to the development of the fetal neural tube, resulting in anencephaly, congenital deafness, etc.

Therefore, pregnant women should pay special attention to preventing urinary tract infections. The main method is to increase nutrition appropriately and enhance physical fitness; control sexual intercourse, especially in the first 3 months after pregnancy and 3 months before delivery. Sexual intercourse should be avoided as much as possible. Even if sexual intercourse occurs occasionally, both men and women should wash their sexual organs and vulva. Women should also urinate once after intercourse to flush the urethra with urine to reduce the chance of urinary tract infection. They should insist on washing the vulva every day and changing underwear frequently. Go to the hospital regularly for routine urine tests. Even if there are no symptoms of urinary tract infection, urine should be checked once every half month or at most once a month to detect changes in urine in time and get treatment. Once the disease occurs, appropriate medications should be selected under the guidance of a doctor for active treatment.

Urinary tract infection in pregnant women is a common disease. We currently have a relatively deep understanding of it, but more relevant research in clinical medicine is still needed to help patients better understand and prevent urinary tract infection in pregnant women.