Urinary Tract Infections

A urinary-tract infection (UTI) refers to an infection anywhere in the urinary tract, which includes the bladder, urethra, ureters and kidneys. Your doctor may do a urinalysis and a urine culture for UTIs at your first visit. He may also check your urine for infections on subsequent visits.
UTIs are common during pregnancy because of increased pressure on the area. The uterus sits directly on top of the bladder and on the tubes, called ureters, that lead from the kidneys to the bladder. An enlarging uterus puts increasing pressure on the bladder and ureters.
Symptoms of a bladder infection include frequent or burning urination, the urge to urinate, though nothing comes out, and blood in the urine (if the infection is severe).

Pyelonephritis is an infection of the urinary tract that also involves the kidneys; it occurs in 1 to 2% of all pregnant women. Symptoms of pyelonephritis include many of those associated with a bladder infection. The infection may require hospitalization and treatment with intravenous antibiotics.

Kidney stones occur about once in every 1,500 pregnancies.
Symptoms usually include severe back pain and blood in the urine. In pregnancy, ultrasound is usually used to diagnose a kidney stone. A kidney stone in pregnancy is usually treated with pain medication and by drinking lots of fluid or receiving I.v.s to hydrate you so you can pass the stone.