Cystitis and UTIs in pregnancy 

Urinary tract infections (UTIs, also called water infections) can affect any area of your urinary tract, including your bladder, urethra and kidneys¹. Cystitis is a type of UTI where the infection affects your bladder^2.

Women are more likely to get cystitis than men already because their urethras are shorter, so it’s easier for bacteria to make its way up to the bladder². Being pregnant can make it harder to empty your bladder completely when you have a wee to flush any bacteria out, making UTIs and cystitis even more common³.

Luckily, there are things you can do to help prevent water infections during pregnancy, and they’re usually easy to treat if you do get one (2). Let’s take a closer look at cystitis and pregnancy, including symptoms to watch out for and possible treatments.

Signs that you might have cystitis or another UTI include²:

• A pain or burning sensation when you have a wee.
• Feeling like you need a wee more often and more urgently than normal.
• Wee that looks dark or cloudy, and has a strong smell.
• A pain in your lower stomach (read more about stomach pain in pregnancy here).

Cystitis can get better by itself, but you should see a GP if you have symptoms of cystitis during pregnancy so they can make sure you and your little one stay healthy².

Call 111 straight away if you think you have cystitis with additional symptoms like²:

• A very high or very low temperature.
• Feeling confused or drowsy.
• A severe pain in your lower stomach or lower back.
• Feeling or being sick.
• Blood in your pee.

These can be signs of a kidney infection, which will need to be treated straight away².

Even if you’ve had UTIs or cystitis before and they usually go away on their own, you should always let your GP or midwife know as soon as you notice the symptoms while you’re pregnant⁴. It may be that they'll send a sample of your urine for culture testing⁵.

If you leave cystitis untreated, there’s a chance it could lead to complications in your pregnancy⁴. But speaking to your GP or midwife will mean that you get the right treatment to protect yourself and your baby.

Often, that will mean having a short course of pregnancy-safe antibiotics to help fight the infection4. Your GP or midwife might take a sample of your wee before they prescribe anything to make sure you get the right medication⁴.

It’s always best to seek medical advice if you suspect you have cystitis in pregnancy, as this is the best way to ensure you’re getting the treatment you need.

Cystitis can clear up on its own, so if your symptoms are mild, your GP might give you some tips to help it along. These might include²:

• Taking paracetamol according to the instructions on the pack.
• Drinking lots of water.
• Holding a hot water bottle on your lower tummy.
• Avoiding sex.

You might have heard that drinking cranberry juice can help prevent UTIs and ease some of the symptoms. There’s not much evidence that this works, particularly once the symptoms have set in². But if you don’t mind the taste, then there’s no harm in giving it a go².

Try following these steps to help prevent cystitis and other water infections during pregnancy²:

• Go for a wee as soon as possible after having sex.
• Wipe from front to back when you go to the toilet.
• Drink plenty of water.
• Wash yourself (and your bits!) regularly but avoid scented products where you can.
• Go for a wee as soon as you can when you get the urge, and take your time when you do go to try to empty your bladder completely.