Many pregnant women believe the burning when they pass urine is “only from not drinking enough water”. Sometimes it is; often it is a urine infection. If the burning lasts after you drink more water, get a urine test in the next few days. With fever or back pain, come the same day.
Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Chetna Hospital, Chinchwad, PCMC
Perhaps passing urine has been stinging for three or four days. In the cooler November weather you have not felt thirsty, so you have been drinking less. Someone at home has said it is just a lack of water.
It is easy to see why. Drinking too little does change urine. But in pregnancy, a two-minute urine test is better than a guess.
Too little water or infection: how to tell them apart
Both can sting, so the other symptoms matter more than the burning itself.
| More likely too little water | Could be a urine infection |
|---|---|
| Dark yellow urine, less of it | Burning that stays even after you drink more |
| Mild sting that settles within a day of drinking more water | Needing to go again and again, passing only drops |
| Thirst, tiredness, headache | Cloudy urine, lower tummy ache, blood in the urine |
Pregnancy already makes you pass urine more often, so the signs blur. If you can’t tell which column you are in, get tested. The NHS lists pain or burning when peeing, needing to pee more often or suddenly, and cloudy urine as common signs of a urinary tract infection.
Why a urine infection matters more in pregnancy
Pregnancy hormones relax the tubes that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder, and the growing womb presses on the bladder. Urine moves more slowly, so germs have more time to multiply and climb.
An infection that stays in the bladder is usually simple to treat. One that reaches the kidneys is a different matter: high fever, shivering, pain in the back or side, vomiting. The NHS advises getting a kidney infection seen quickly, and doctors take it seriously in pregnancy because it is linked with early labour. MedlinePlus explains how urine infections are diagnosed and treated.
Some infections cause no symptoms at all. That is why a urine test is part of routine antenatal check-ups, even when you feel fine.
What happens at your visit
- A short talk. How long the burning has lasted, how often you go, whether there is fever, back pain, bleeding or tightening of the tummy.
- An examination. Temperature, tummy, and the area over the kidneys at the back.
- Urine tests. A routine urine test and a urine culture from a clean midstream sample.
- Treatment if needed. If there is an infection, the doctor chooses a medicine that is safe for the stage of pregnancy, and the test may be repeated after the course if required.
Please don’t start leftover antibiotics from an old prescription, and don’t take one suggested by a chemist without a test. Some antibiotics are not suitable in pregnancy, and an incomplete course can leave germs that are harder to treat later.
Small habits that help, in winter too
- Keep a bottle with you and sip through the day, even when the weather is cool and you don’t feel thirsty.
- Pass urine when you feel the need. Holding it for hours on a long commute does not help.
- Wipe from front to back, and wear cotton underwear.
- Warm water, soups, buttermilk and lemon water all count towards your fluids.
If you have diabetes in pregnancy, high blood pressure or swelling, ask before you change how much you drink.
Come in the same day if
- You have fever, chills or shivering
- There is pain in your back or side, below the ribs
- You are vomiting and can’t keep fluids down
- You see blood in the urine
- Your tummy is tightening or hurting, or there is any bleeding or leaking
- The baby is moving less than usual
Many pregnant women also ask about other things that can wait for a visit, such as whether period-delay tablets were safe before they knew they were pregnant. Read more in our guide to period-delay tablets.
Where to get a urine check in pregnancy in Chinchwad
The gynaecology team consults at Room 8, First Floor, Plot No. GP 116, Sambhaji Nagar Road, near Rotary Club, G Block, MIDC, Chinchwad, Pune 411019 (Chetna Hospital). OPD hours are Monday to Saturday, 10 am to 1 pm and 4 pm to 8:30 pm. Women come from Chinchwad, Pimpri, Akurdi, Nigdi, Ravet, Wakad, Hinjewadi, Pimple Saudagar, Thergaon, Tathawade, Punawale, Moshi and Bhosari.
Read more about our gynaecology and maternity services, and why many women look for a lady gynaecologist in Pimpri Chinchwad.
Questions women ask about burning urine in pregnancy
Is burning urine normal in pregnancy?
No. A little stinging can happen when you have not had enough water, but burning that lasts, going to the toilet again and again, or passing only a few drops can be a urine infection. In pregnancy it should be checked with a urine test.
Can dehydration cause burning urine in pregnancy?
Yes, very concentrated urine can sting. If the burning does not settle within a day after you drink more water, or you also need to go often, see your gynaecologist for a urine test.
Is a urine infection in pregnancy dangerous for the baby?
Treated early, most urine infections settle without problems. Left alone, an infection can travel to the kidneys. A kidney infection can cause high fever and is linked with early labour, which is why doctors test and treat it promptly.
Which test is done for a urine infection in pregnancy?
A urine routine test and a urine culture from a clean midstream sample. The culture shows which germ is present and which medicine will work.
Where can you see a gynaecologist for a urine infection in pregnancy in Chinchwad?
The obstetrics and gynaecology team at Chetna Hospital sees pregnant women at Room 8, First Floor, GP 116, Sambhaji Nagar Road, near Rotary Club, MIDC G Block, Chinchwad, Pune 411019. Call or WhatsApp 91686 90447.
Have a question about your health? Talk to a gynaecologist.
Sources
- NHS. Urinary tract infections (UTIs).
- NHS. Kidney infection.
- MedlinePlus (US National Library of Medicine). Urinary tract infections.
This article is general health information and does not replace a consultation. Which tests or medicines you need is decided after an examination.
