Pregnancy comes with a lot of good vibes and cheer! It is a wonderful time when there is a lot of anticipation for the new baby, a lot of wishes and a lot of love too – but the number of problems that a gravida (a name for a pregnant female) has to face. In this post, we will talk about home remedies for uti treatment during pregnancy.
Some of these problems are easy to handle and cure using home remedies but some need medical attention immediately. Some common problems which can be handled without professional help should be understood so that one can help themselves when the need arises.
Urinary Tract Infection is a common irritation that happens during pregnancy simply because a pregnant woman needs to use the restroom more frequently than any average person and many a time, the toilet may not be as clean and hygienic as one would like.
Also check: Pregnancy tips and nutrition dos and don’ts
This spreads the infection rapidly. If left untreated or if one delays the urinary tract infection treatment the infection can travel to the kidneys. This is a dire situation especially during pregnancy when the bodily defenses are already on the lower side.
Apart from the physical changes in your body, several factors can cause a UTI during pregnancy. Such factors are bacteria from the bowel, intercourse, a history of recurring UTIs, maternal diabetes, sickle cell disease, kidney disease, and previous urinary tract surgery.
The main symptoms of UTI include burning sensation while urination, fever, vomiting, pain in lower back along with frequent urination. The home remedies for uti available are all prohibition based, i.e. use these remedies so that the infection may never occur, or even if it does, it subsides quickly.
Here are some uti home treatments to utilize at the slightest hint of any of these symptoms so that the problem can be managed before it gets troublesome for the unborn baby.
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Home remedies for uti (urinary tract infection) during pregnancy
1. Drink plenty of water to cure uti in pregnancy
Statistics show that 25% of all infections that happen to women are UTI alone! Drinking water every hour and taking a glass of water for every meal is crucial to flush out infections from the body.
Make a habit of drinking water at regular intervals and if it is not possible to remember, set alarms or use apps which remind you to get up and drink water.
Increasing water intake will cause more visits to the restroom but more and frequent urination washes out the bacteria in the system and the intensity of the infection reduces owing to the expulsion of the disease causing microbes. Water is very important for better toxin control in the body too. One must drink around 8 liters of water each day.
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2. Cranberry Juice for uti while pregnant
Studies find that Cranberry juice has enzymes which control and hamper the UTI causing bacteria and keep the urinary tract healthy. This is a good remedy to follow during pregnancy too, though it is advised that you take your doctor’s consent before you can consume cranberry juice.
The volume or dosage is yet unclear, but another word of caution is, avoid taking this juice if you are on blood thinning medication else it will cause bloody urine. This is one of the best home remedies for uti.
Also Read: Home remedies to treat constipation in pregnancy
3. Wipe from front to back rather than back to front
This practice of wiping from back to front bring many unwanted infections from the anus toward vagina and causes diseases. Since the vagina and urethra are in adjacent proximity in females, the risk of urinary tract infection is also quite high in this case.
If this habit can be changed, the disease causing microbes can be avoided completely. One can rather use faucet water to clean up than toilet paper too.
Studies show that paper has low efficiency in cleaning the area, and if used roughly can cause painful fissures and wound the skin. If faucet use is not possible, use wet wipes with antibacterial coating to discourage microbe growth.
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4. Indian Gooseberry or Amla fruit
The Indian gooseberry (Amla) is deciduous and native to India and Nepal. The Indian Gooseberry is rich in vitamins and minerals. This fruit has the richest source of Vitamin C. It helps to treat constipation, supports liver function and removes all body toxins, relieve gastric disorders, normalize your blood pressure, reduce morning sickness, and purify your blood, to name a few.
- Consume Amla juice twice a day with empty stomach. Add 2 spoonful of Indian gooseberry in half cup of water and drink.
- You can also consume 2 tablespoonful of amla powder with normal water 2 times a day.
5. Avoid tight and synthetic underwear
The quality and size of underwear matters a lot when it comes to keeping the urethra and surrounding area clean and hygienic. Synthetic or polyester undergarments cause the sweat to accumulate and provide for perfect conditions for bacterial-spores to settle in.
Cotton underwear must be used and changed every day. It should not be too tight else it can irritate and cause discomfort and ultimately, infection. Also, never hold the urine in. One must empty the bladder whenever the body gives the first signal.
Also Check: Natural remedies for morning sickness in pregnancy
6. Prevent kidney stones and diabetes to treat urinary tract infection
You might be contracting uti symptoms because of these two disorders. Even gestational diabetes can be the reason behind urinary tract infection.
It helps to check and counter these troubles which show uti symptoms in women. To control diabetes and remove kidney stones, one must take a low sugar diet and follow-upon kidney health regularly.
Also Read: Remedies to lower high blood pressure in pregnancy
7. Use an intimate hygiene cleanser rather than soap
To clean the intimate parts, use a special soap or liquid rather than regular soap. These special cleansers are pH balanced and do not alter the levels of the area.
Soap can change the pH and attract infection causing microbes. This gives rise to many problems and UTI can be one of them. One must use this cleanser twice every day to maintain health and cleanliness of intimate parts. This is one of the best urinary tract infection home remedies.
Also Read: Benefits of drinking coconut water during pregnancy
8. Keep food less sugary is best home remedy for uti
Too much sugar consumption is very dangerous for health – one of the lesser known dangers of eating too much sugar is urine infection too. Sugar brings down the natural immunity and this lowered immunity makes the body prone to infections.
Also, it can alter the nutrient absorption and deplete the inner strength and defense of the body. To keep healthy, avoid consuming sugar.
9. Keep up your Vitamin C up
Vitamin C is vital nutrient that builds defense mechanism of the body. Pregnant or not, this is an important nutrient and must be consumed in food in appropriate amounts to maintain healthy immunity which can help counter the infections before they can even arise. Consume lemon and other citrus fruits, natural rose hip tea or even camu powder.
Also Read: Side effects of eating papaya during pregnancy
10. Clove oil and garlic for uti home treatment
These two natural foods have components that fight infection and hamper microbial growth and can be safely consumed during pregnancy.
Conclusion
Better safe than sorry! Understand and identify UTI symptoms and remedies early on so that the infection does not become intense and uncontrollable without antibiotics.
During pregnancy, it is advisable to stay clear of heavy drugs which can cause side effects not just to you but also to the foetus. Use home remedies for uti treatment during pregnancy and stay away from any infections during this special time of your life! Have a safe and happy pregnancy!
Reference links:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4379362/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4170332/
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