Start here: if you have symptoms of a UTI now, see your midwife or doctor today. A UTI in pregnancy needs antibiotics that are safe in pregnancy, and it’s important not to delay. An infection can develop quickly and, if untreated, can spread to your kidneys.
Urinary tract infections are the most common bacterial infection in pregnancy: about 1 in 10 pregnant people will get one. This guide covers the symptoms to watch for, how UTIs are found and treated in pregnancy, and what affects your risk, including what the research does and does not support.
At a glance
- Any UTI symptoms in pregnancy mean seeing your midwife or doctor, the same day if you can.
- Symptoms include stinging when you wee, needing to go more often, cloudy or smelly urine, and lower tummy pain.
- Fever or back pain can mean the infection has reached your kidneys and needs urgent care.
- Fluid, bladder habits and blood glucose all affect your risk. What suits you is personal, and a dietitian can help once any infection is treated.
- Cranberry products showed little or no benefit in pregnant women in a 2023 Cochrane review.
Symptoms to watch for
- Pain or burning when you pass urine
- Needing to wee more often than usual, or leaking before you reach the toilet
- Feeling your bladder is still full after you go
- Urine that looks cloudy or bloody, or smells very strong
- Pain in your lower tummy or above your pubic bone, or cramping that can feel like early labour
If the infection has reached your kidneys you may also have a fever (above 38°C) or back pain. You can also have bacteria in your urine without any symptoms, which is why everyone is offered a urine test early in pregnancy.
How UTIs are found and treated
Your doctor diagnoses a UTI from a urine sample, and treats it with antibiotics that are safe in pregnancy, sometimes starting straight away before the result comes back. If you have had several infections, you may be offered further tests or regular antibiotics to prevent them. Food and drink changes are not a substitute for treatment.
Pregnancy itself makes UTIs more likely: hormone changes, pressure from your uterus on your bladder, changes in urine acidity and wider tubes from the kidneys all play a part. Gestational diabetes also raises the risk.
What affects your risk
| What the evidence says | |
|---|---|
| Fluid intake | One of the better-supported everyday factors. The strongest trial, in women with repeat bladder infections who drank little, was not in pregnancy, so how much is right for you is worth working out with your care team. |
| Cranberry products | A 2023 Cochrane review found they probably reduce UTIs in some groups, but showed little or no benefit in pregnant women. Talk to your midwife, GP or pharmacist before relying on them. |
| Emptying your bladder | Problems emptying your bladder completely raise the risk. |
| Blood glucose | Sugar in the urine helps bacteria grow, which is one reason gestational diabetes raises the risk. Your care team will guide how it is managed. |
If you have had a UTI this pregnancy or are prone to them, the consult looks at your fluid, bowel and bathroom habits together and works out which changes are worth making for you, and which are not worth your money. UTI Prevention Consult: 25 minutes, $49, by telehealth →
When to see a doctor
See your midwife or doctor if you have any symptoms of a UTI. Get urgent care if you have a fever, back pain, feel very unwell, or have cramping or tightening that could be labour.
Free one-page guide: UTIs in pregnancy, with the warning signs and questions to bring to your dietitian. Print it or keep it on your phone.
Download the PDFWhere a dietitian helps
After any current infection has been treated, a consult can look at fluid, bowel and bathroom habits, and what the research does and does not support, to help lower your risk of another.
The UTI Prevention Consult is 25 minutes with an Accredited Practising Dietitian, by telehealth from anywhere in Australia, for $49.
About the uti prevention consult →Common questions
What are the symptoms of a UTI in pregnancy?
Burning or pain when you wee, needing to go more often, leaking, cloudy, bloody or smelly urine, and lower tummy pain or cramping. Fever or back pain can mean a kidney infection.
Can a UTI harm my baby?
An untreated UTI can spread to your kidneys and lead to problems for you and your baby, which is why it is important to see your midwife or doctor promptly and not delay antibiotics.
Is cranberry juice good for UTIs in pregnancy?
A 2023 Cochrane review found cranberry products showed little or no benefit in pregnant women. Talk to your midwife, GP or pharmacist before relying on them.
How can I lower my risk of a UTI while pregnant?
Fluid intake, emptying your bladder fully and, if you have gestational diabetes, blood glucose all play a part. A dietitian can help you work out what fits you once any infection is treated. See your doctor promptly for any symptoms.
Why are UTIs more common in pregnancy?
Hormone changes, pressure from your uterus on your bladder, changes in urine acidity and wider tubes from the kidneys all make infections more likely.
Where this comes from
General information only, not personal advice. It does not replace your GP, midwife or obstetrician.
- Pregnancy, Birth and Baby (healthdirect Australia). Urinary tract infections (UTIs) during pregnancy. www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/pregnancy/health-conditions-and-complications/urinary-tract-infections-utis-during-pregnancy
- Hooton TM, Vecchio M, Iroz A, et al. Effect of increased daily water intake in premenopausal women with recurrent urinary tract infections: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2018;178(11):1509-1515. doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4204
- Williams G, Hahn D, Stephens JH, Craig JC, Hodson EM. Cranberries for preventing urinary tract infections. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2023;CD001321. doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001321.pub7