Experts say that about 10% of pregnant women will contract a UTI sometime during pregnancy and if left untreated for long, can cause pyelonephritis and harm the baby too; making it all the more important for obstetricians to educate patients on the subject.

According to experts, about 10 percent of expectant moms will get a urinary tract infection (UTI) at some point during their pregnancies. However, if a UTI is caught early it should be easy to treat with antibiotics. If left untreated, about 25 percent of asymptomatic UTIs develop into kidney infections, which can be potentially life-threatening for mother and baby.

The urinary tract system encompasses the urethra, bladder, ureters (the tubes between the kidneys and the bladder), and kidneys. An infection occurs when bacteria gets into this system and multiplies. Most UTIs are bladder infections and aren't serious if they're treated right away.

Pregnancy doesn't cause UTIs - after all, 1 woman in 5 will develop a UTI in her lifetime - but the physical changes that take place during pregnancy can make one more susceptible to an infection. Higher levels of the hormone progesterone decrease the muscle tone of the ureters, causing them to dilate, slowing the flow of urine. The enlarged uterus can also prevent emptying of bladder completely when one urinates, and this leaves a pool of urine in which bacteria can multiply.

Some pregnant women do not experience any symptoms at all; they have what's called asymptomatic UTIs. An obstetrician should screen for asymptomatic UTIs at the first prenatal appointment and perhaps subsequent visits, too. If a woman has a symptomatic UTI, she may experience any one or a combination of these symptoms:

• Urinary urgency, meaning a quick and sudden urge to urinate
• Pain or a burning sensation with urination
• Foul-smelling or cloudy urine
• Bloody urine
• Pain in the pubic bone area

If left untreated, UTIs may develop into a kidney infection (pyelonephritis) and sepsis. Kidney infections can indeed harm the unborn child and lead to effects such as low birth weight and early labour. However, if diagnosed and treated early, it should not harm the  unborn child. The good news is that most UTIs are easy to treat, even during pregnancy, according to Dr. Anil Kumar, Senior Consultant Nephrologist. Although there are some medications that pregnant women must avoid, most antibiotics are safe.

Any obstetrician will know which antibiotics to avoid, and the choice of antibiotic depends on a woman's allergies and what trimester of pregnancy she is in. There is no foolproof way to prevent urinary tract infections, but there are several preventive measures that can be taken to help minimize the chances of getting one. Obstetricians should discuss the following tips with their patients:

• Practice good hygiene. Wipe from front to back after you urinate to prevent the spreading of bacteria.
• Stay hydrated. Urinating is an effective way of clearing germs from the bladder and urethra. Try to drink about eight 8-ounce servings of liquids a day.
• Urinate frequently. Go when you feel the urge to go, and spend the extra few minutes to be sure you have emptied your bladder completely.
• Eating a healthy diet