How to deal with postpartum urinary tract infection?

Women are prone to urinary tract infections after childbirth. This is usually a disease caused by bacteria or inflammation in the urethra. The mother's body functions have not fully recovered after childbirth, and the body will easily secrete some secretions to block the urethra, which can easily lead to urinary tract infections. In case of postpartum urinary tract infection, you should pay attention to cleanliness and hygiene, and drink plenty of water to promote urination.

What to do if you have a urinary tract infection after childbirth

1. Pay attention to cleaning lochia

Wash the vulva with warm water every day to keep the vagina clean. When there is a lot of lochia, pay attention to vaginal hygiene. Wash the vulva with warm water or 1:5000 potassium permanganate solution every day.

2. Choose soft sanitary pads

Choose disinfected sanitary pads, which should be soft and replaced frequently to reduce the chance of virus invasion.

3. Drink plenty of water

Make sure to urinate 4-6 times during the day. For occasional urinary tract infections, drinking more water (2000 ml-3000 ml per day) can basically heal them on their own. For mothers who are prone to urinary tract infections, it is recommended to urinate every 2-3 hours a day.

4. Don’t hold your urine

You should urinate as soon as you feel the urge to urinate. Don't wait until you can no longer hold it in before urinating. When you urinate, the urine will flush away the bacteria in the urethra and vaginal opening, which has a natural cleansing effect and prevents the growth and reproduction of bacteria.

5. Wear loose underwear

Do not wear underwear too tight, loose is better, and it is best to choose pure cotton fabrics. In addition, you should change your underwear frequently and dry it in the sun to sterilize it, so that the vulva has a clean environment, which is not conducive to the growth and reproduction of bacteria.

Symptoms of postpartum urinary tract infection

1. Abnormal urine: Urinary tract infection can cause abnormal changes in urine, the most common of which are bacteriuria, pyuria, hematuria and pneumaturia.

2. Abnormal urination: Abnormal urination is one of them. Common urinary abnormalities caused by urinary tract infection are frequent urination, urgency, and pain when urinating. Urinary incontinence and urinary retention may also occur.

3. Low back pain: When the renal capsule, renal pelvis, and ureter are irritated or the tension increases, it can cause pain in the lower back. Lower urinary tract infection usually does not cause low back pain.

4. Redness, swelling or eversion of the urethral opening: When a woman has acute urethral infection, the external urethral opening may become red, swollen or everted. This is because the mucosal surface is often adhered to by serous or purulent secretions.