Hi moms, So, I had a doctors appointment on Wednesday and had some protein in my urine so my OB said she was going to have it tested for a urinary tract infection (I haven't had any of the other symptoms except for wanting to go pee all the time). Anyway, I called the office twice today and the results hadn't come back yet so they said I'd have to wait until Monday for the results. So my question is if anyone knows of anything natural I can do until then to maybe help with the infection (if I have one). I think I heard that cranberry juice helps so I was going to try that. I'm a little worried because I read that if untreated I could go into early labor.
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Hello there!
If in-fact you have a uti (urinary tract infection) you will absolutely need to take an antibiotic. UTIs are caused by bacteria that can only be combated with antibiotics. It is true that cranberry juice is good for the urinary tract system but this is for prevention of UTIs. If you already have an infection brewing (which are common in pregnancy) you will have to take antibiotics being sure you complete the full course prescibed. Once cured it would be wise to drink lots of water as well as cranberry juice with the lowest amount of sugar and additive to prevent a recurrence.
Hope this is helpful!
Angelica
I had UTI's during pregnancy without any real symptoms. They were found in my urine tests. While waiting for one result, I started feeling achy in my kidney area (but pretty much my whole back). Take note of how you feel cuz that was the UTI & it gets painful fast. So, if you start feeling achy at all, call the DR. ASAP & tell them you're waiting for results for a UTI. And yes - they just give you antibiotics & it's very important to finish the whole thing - especially since you don't really have symptoms other than your urine test. Good Luck!
What you've heard about cranberry juice is half right. UNSWEETENED cranberry juice is helpful; Ocean Spray is not because you're pumping yourself full of extra sugar, which feeds the bacteria. If you can't stand unsweetened cranberry juice, you can get cranberry capsules.
However, it sounds like you'll be getting the results of the test today. I'm glad your doctor didn't just stick you on antibiotics without test results.
Until then, drink lots of water!
You need to get the plain cranberry juice from your local healthfood store. Don't get anything with sugar or the cranberry juice cocktail. There are also cranberry supplements to take that work well too. I've seen herb capsules that are targeted for UTI's but you need to crosscheck to make sure that none of them are abortifacients like blue kohosh. Good luck.
I had so many of those in college! They can be so miserable.
Cutting out caffeine and always peeing after sex are the two best ways for me to control not getting one. I haven't had one in 10 years, but for a while I was getting them all the time.
Peeing often is the best way to get healed up. Peeing takes 98% of the bacteria out of your bladder and urinary tract, so pee every time you think of it. Drink gallons of water and high-acid juice like cranberry (Ocean-Spray has lots of sugar! Avoid that!) and grapefruit. You can get rid of it yourself that way.
I'm not too impressed with your Doctor's office! Making a woman wait for results on something with the potential to be dangerous, and at least very uncomfortable is not great service. I would be pretty ticked if I were you! I've had Docs that could test it themselves in their office.
Hope you feel better soon!
I've heard that corn silk tea is great for bladder or UTIs. You can buy it at any health food store and it's natural.
You have to drink a lot of cranberry juice to help with the infection but there are cranberry captules at the health food store that are concentrated cranberries and would be much more effective. You have to drink lots and lots of water, at least 80 oz to flush the bacteria out. Hope this helps.
I had a urinary tract infection while I was pregnant. I use to take AZO pills. They are a cranberry extract. I don't like cranberry juice so I used those instead. They make you pee a ton but they work well.
Yes, straight cranberry juice is a great natural remedy. But depending on the type of bacteria causing the infection you may need to take goldenseal, a natural antibiotic of sorts, along with it. It is an herb that won't harm you or the baby. There is one brand of cranberry supplement that already has it in it otherwise you can buy it a a store like Sprouts or Whole Foods. Also, drink lots of water and cut sugar out of your diet. It will feed the UTI.
Boy I really feel for you. I'm 52 yrs old and thru both of my pregnancies I had many urinary tract infections and even more kidney stones. So I kinda feel like a pro here. Not that I wanted to be. Thru all of that none of it put me into labor. Cranberry juice is the best thing to drink but I suggest lots of soaking in hot tub water to relieve some of the pain. I think these thing come with the territory and I hope you feel better soon. Melody H
Definately drink as much cranberry juice as you can get down. It will help. Drinking a lot of water, too will be a good thing. Hopefully you will here something soon. Good Luck!
Hi Marina,
I had a urinary tract infection at 34 wks with my son. It did send me into labor early but they were able to stop the contractions and I was put on an antibiotic. Cranberry juice can help to prevent URIs as well as drinking it when you have one can give some relief but it will not cure the infection. I know of no other choice but to take an antibiotic. Good luck.
Hi Marina
I had the beginnings of a UTI and drank a lot of water like almost a gallon. It is supposed to flush out your system. It worked. I never got it fully.
specifically, use cranberry juice concentrate, not the sugary kinds. Go to the health food store and look for herbal products too. There is one by soloray that i can't remember the name of now. But the people who work at these places should have a recommendation.
I had so many UTI's when I was preggo and when I was 32 weeks I did go into early labor but we were able to keep him in...lol Cranberry juice is great for UTI's but I was told that most of the juice has lots of sugar so I was told to drink water with lemon juice in it. I would just buy the little green bottles of lemon juice and stir it into my water and I was told to drink at least one 8oz glass for every hour that you are awake during the day. Hope thats helps...
Hi Marina
Yes cranberry juice helps (make sure it is sugar free.) LOTS of purified water, at least a cup an hour. Also Shaklee has all natural whole food supplements and here are the ones that help urinary tract infections. At www.shaklee.net/greenplanet there is a little search window you can put the names of any of these in and read about them. If you put stuff in your cart at check out you can be a member for $19.95 (that is a lifetime membership) and get 15% off, like a cosco card or you can just buy retail. Here are some of the natural things I have found great for urinary tract infections. Optiflora, especially the little capsules, alfalfa, B-Complex, Protein, Garlic, DTX, Herblax.
All of these things are good for you whether or not you have this infection. In fact the Vitalizer you can read about there is doctor approved for pregnancy supplements.
Good Luck and all the best with your pregnancy, CONGRATS!
jody
Cranberry concentrate. You can buy it at any health food store or pharmacy. Also make sure that you drink plenty of fluids and urinate frequenly (as if you aren't already), don't hold your urine any longer than you have to. You can also drink cranberry juice to help.
Kristin
I had urinary tract infections with all of my pregnancies, and understand they are common late in pregnancy. Since I was high risk for premature labor, I was always on watch. I did cranberry juice (watch for HFCS) and PLENTY of good water.