Painful Urination in Pregnancy: What You Need to Know About UTIs

If you have a painful or burning sensation when you wee (urinate), you may have a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Pregnancy is already hard enough without adding burning, urgency, and constant bathroom trips to the mix.

But here's what you need to know: If it hurts when you pee during pregnancy, you need to take it seriously.

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the most common infection during pregnancy, affecting up to 1 in 10 pregnant women. And unlike when you're not pregnant, UTIs during pregnancy can cause serious complications for both you and your baby if left untreated.

At Good Kitty, we believe in empowering women with information so you can advocate for yourself and your baby's health.

Let's talk about what UTIs during pregnancy look like, why they're more dangerous when you're expecting, and what you can do about them.

What Is a Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)?

A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection of the urinary system.

It can occur in different parts of your urinary tract:

🔸 Bladder (cystitis) – The most common type
🔸 Urethra (urethritis) – Infection of the tube that carries urine out
🔸 Kidneys (pyelonephritis) – The most serious type

The bacteria usually come from your gut (digestive system) where they don't cause problems, and move to the urinary tract.

🚨 Asymptomatic Bacteriuria (Silent Infection)

Sometimes bacteria is found in your urinary tract, but you don't have any symptoms.

This is known as asymptomatic bacteriuria, and it's why your doctor or midwife will test your urine at your first antenatal visit.

Even if you don't have symptoms, your doctor will prescribe treatment to prevent problems for you or your baby.

This is extremely important: Untreated bacteria in your urine during pregnancy—even without symptoms—can lead to kidney infections, preterm birth, and low birth weight.

Why Are UTIs More Common During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy increases your risk of UTIs for several reasons:

🤰 Hormonal Changes

Progesterone (the hormone that maintains pregnancy) relaxes smooth muscle tissue throughout your body—including your urinary tract.

This causes your ureters (the tubes that carry urine from kidneys to bladder) to:

Widen and become less efficient
Allow urine to move more slowly
Make it easier for bacteria to travel up to your kidneys

🤰 Physical Pressure

As your baby grows, your expanding uterus puts increasing pressure on your bladder, which can:

Prevent complete bladder emptying
Create stagnant urine where bacteria multiply
Block normal urine flow

🤰 Changes to Your Urine

During pregnancy, your urine contains:

More glucose (sugar)—which feeds bacteria
More proteins
Different pH levels

All of these changes create a more hospitable environment for bacterial growth.

🤰 Immune System Changes

Your immune system is naturally suppressed during pregnancy so your body doesn't reject the baby (who is technically foreign tissue).

This makes you more vulnerable to all infections, including UTIs.

🤰 Other Risk Factors

Being sexually active more than 3 times a week
Having problems emptying your bladder completely
Having diabetes (sugar in your urine encourages bacteria to multiply)
History of previous UTIs

Symptoms of UTIs During Pregnancy

Common symptoms include:

🚨 Pain or burning sensation when you pass urine (dysuria)
🚨 Feeling the urge to urinate more often than usual (frequency)
🚨 Needing to pee suddenly or more urgently than usual
🚨 Needing to pee more often at night (nocturia)
🚨 Urinating before you reach the toilet ('leaking' or incontinence)
🚨 Feeling like your bladder is full, even after you've urinated
🚨 Urine that looks cloudy, bloody, or is very smelly
🚨 Pain in the lower abdomen or above the pubic bone
🚨 Low-grade fever

Speak to your GP or midwife if you have some or any of these symptoms.

Warning Signs: When the Infection Has Spread to Your Kidneys

If you think you have a UTI AND you also have:

⚠️ High temperature (above 37.5°C), or feeling hot and shivery
⚠️ Very low temperature (below 36°C)
⚠️ Blood in your urine
⚠️ Lower tummy pain or pain in your back, just under the ribs
⚠️ Nausea and vomiting

These symptoms could mean the infection has spread to your kidneys, which can be serious.

Contact your GP urgently or get help from NHS 111.

DO NOT wait. Kidney infections during pregnancy can lead to:

Severe infection (sepsis)
Blood pressure problems
Kidney damage
Preterm labor
Low birth weight baby

Complications of UTIs During Pregnancy

UTIs are more dangerous during pregnancy than at other times.

💔 For You:

Bladder infections are more likely to become kidney infections when you're pregnant than when you're not.

Having bacteria in your urine (even without symptoms) is associated with:

Pre-eclampsia – A serious condition causing high blood pressure that can affect your liver, kidneys, and brain. If left untreated, it can lead to serious problems for you or your baby.

Kidney infections can cause:

Severe infection (sepsis)
Blood pressure problems
Kidney damage
Hospitalization

💔 For Your Baby:

If you have bacteria in your urine or a kidney infection while pregnant, your baby is at higher risk of:

Preterm birth (early delivery)
Low birth weight
Other complications from premature delivery

Important note: This risk doesn't occur with a simple bladder infection, as long as it's treated promptly.

The best way to avoid risk to your baby is to:

Keep all your antenatal appointments
Get your urine tested as recommended
Report symptoms immediately
Complete all prescribed antibiotics

How Are UTIs Diagnosed During Pregnancy?

UTIs are diagnosed by taking a urine sample, which is checked in a laboratory under a microscope for bacteria.

Your doctor will also:

Ask about your symptoms
May do a physical examination
Check your temperature and blood pressure

🧪 Routine Urine Testing During Pregnancy:

Everyone who is pregnant will be offered a urine test at:

Your first antenatal visit
Every subsequent antenatal appointment

You may need to repeat the urine test if you:

Have had UTIs in the past
Have symptoms of a UTI
Have a sample with an unclear result
Your doctor thinks you're at high risk of developing a UTI

If you have many UTIs, you may need more tests such as an ultrasound of your kidneys.

Treatment for UTIs During Pregnancy

UTIs are treated with antibiotics that are safe in pregnancy.

Your doctor will prescribe the right antibiotic based on:

Your infection type
The bacteria found in your urine sample
Your pregnancy stage

💊 How Treatment Works:

Immediate treatment: Your doctor may start you on one antibiotic straight away, then change it if the bacteria is best treated with a different one.

Prophylactic antibiotics: If you've had many infections or many samples showing bacteria, your doctor may prescribe regular antibiotics throughout your pregnancy to prevent more infections (prophylaxis).

Follow-up testing: It's recommended to have a repeat urine test a few weeks after you finish treatment to ensure the infection has cleared.

⚠️ Why You MUST Complete Treatment:

Even common UTIs, such as cystitis, should be treated immediately during pregnancy.

Treatment prevents:

The infection from spreading to your kidneys
Preterm labor
Low birth weight
Other complications

Never skip doses or stop antibiotics early, even if you feel better.

How to Prevent UTIs During Pregnancy

You can lower your risk of developing a UTI by:

🐱 Hydration:

✔️ Drink plenty of fluids, especially water

Aim for 8-12 glasses daily
So that you regularly pee during the day and don't feel thirsty
Dilute urine makes it harder for bacteria to multiply

🐱 Bathroom Habits:

✔️ Go when you get the urge—don't delay
✔️ Urinate immediately after sex (within 30 minutes)
✔️ Wipe from front to back when you go to the toilet
✔️ Take your time peeing—make sure you fully empty your bladder

🐱 Hygiene:

✔️ Keep the genital area clean and dry
✔️ Wash the skin around the vagina with plain water before and after sex
✔️ Shower instead of taking a bath
✔️ Avoid douching (never necessary and disrupts healthy bacteria)
✔️ Avoid scented soap, bubble bath, sprays, or powders in the genital area

🐱 Diet:

✔️ Avoid lots of sugary food or drinks—they may encourage bacteria to grow
✔️ Maintain stable blood sugar if you have gestational diabetes

🐱 Prevention Support:

✔️ Consider Good Kitty's UTI Biome Shield

Safe during pregnancy (always check with your doctor before starting any supplement)
100% bioavailable cranberry PACs prevent bacterial adhesion
D-mannose traps bacteria for elimination
Vitamin D3 and zinc support immune function and tissue health

How to use during pregnancy:

1 capsule daily for prevention
2 capsules before sex if that's a trigger for you

Other Causes of Painful Urination During Pregnancy

Painful urination isn't always a UTI. It can also be due to:

🔸 Thrush (Yeast Infection)

Symptoms:

Burning or itching
Thick, white, cottage cheese-like discharge
Soreness and redness

More common during pregnancy due to hormonal changes.

🔸 Dehydration

Symptoms:

Concentrated, dark urine
Pain when urinating (because urine is more acidic)
Infrequent urination

Solution: Drink more water.

🔸 Vaginal Infections

Other types of vaginal infections can cause discomfort during urination.

Speak to your GP or midwife if:

You have vaginal discharge
It hurts when you wee
You have itching or irritation

When Should You See Your Doctor?

See your midwife or GP if:

🚨 You have ANY symptoms of a UTI
🚨 It hurts when you wee
🚨 You have unusual vaginal discharge
🚨 You notice blood in your urine
🚨 You have lower abdominal or back pain
🚨 You have a fever

It's important not to delay getting antibiotics, as infections develop quickly and can lead to problems for you and your baby.

Contact your GP urgently or get help from NHS 111 if you have:

High fever (above 37.5°C) or chills
Severe back pain (especially under your ribs)
Nausea and vomiting
Blood in your urine

These are signs of a kidney infection, which requires immediate treatment.

The Bottom Line

UTIs during pregnancy are: ✔️ Common (affecting up to 1 in 10 pregnant women)
✔️ Serious (can cause complications for you and baby if untreated)
✔️ Treatable (with pregnancy-safe antibiotics)
✔️ Preventable (with proper hydration, hygiene, and habits)

What you need to do: ✔️ Attend all your antenatal appointments (routine urine testing catches infections early)
✔️ Report symptoms immediately—don't wait
✔️ Complete all prescribed antibiotics, even if you feel better
✔️ Follow prevention strategies to reduce your risk
✔️ Stay hydrated and pee when you need to

You deserve a healthy, complication-free pregnancy.

Don't hesitate to advocate for yourself if something doesn't feel right. Your instincts matter.

— The Good Kitty Team

Ready to protect yourself during pregnancy? Good Kitty's UTI Biome Shield offers safe, effective prevention—always check with your healthcare provider before starting any supplement during pregnancy.

Need more information?

Resources:

Queensland Government's guide to UTIs for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
Service Finder: Find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services

Note: This article is for educational purposes. Always consult your healthcare provider, GP, or midwife about personal health concerns during pregnancy.

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