I didn’t have any prenatal UTIs but a few of my momma friends did. And it was from holding in their pee to long while pregnant. I did however get my first UTI ever shortly after giving birth to my first baby. It also occurred after having held in my pee, trying to prioritize caring for the newborn. After that I kept getting UTIs after each subsequent delivery. It’s such a painful and uncomfortable experience that I don’t wish on anyone. Hopefully some of the tips below can help prevent UTIs for you.

  • Go Pee! Don’t hold it in! I’m sure you hear it all the time but you have to take care of yourself to care for baby.
  • Wipe front to back. You probably already know this. Even better if you have a bidet. If not, get the Frida Mom Upside Down Peri Bottle for Postpartum Care. You’ll need it after birth anyway.
  • Stay hydrated. There were days I didn’t drink much water, again trying to prioritize the newborn. But if you’re breastfeeding or pumping, you’ll especially need to be hydrated. If water alone isn’t enough to hydrate you, or you get sick of the taste, try some hydration packets. These are our favorites: Ultima Replenisher Mocktini Electrolyte Drink Mix
  • Get rest when you can. Sometimes it means a 30 min nap. Or fragmented sleep every few hours. A comfortable eye mask really helped me fall asleep during the day time.
  • Drink cranberry juice (There are mixed reviews about this but doesn’t hurt to try)
  • Take probiotics. Below are few recommended by my lactation consultant
  • If you suspect you have a UTI, go see your healthcare provider ASAP. I delayed getting seen the first time and it got so much worse, where I was having stomach issues and fevers. They will most likely put you on a round of antibiotics. If you’re nursing, make sure you let them know to prescribe something safe for breastfeeding. I usually still breastfeed/pump while treating my UTIs. However, I’ve known of mommas who pump and dump while on antibiotics just to be on the safe side. I know with my first baby, he had bad diarrhea while I was on antibiotics. The other two were unaffected. So you never know how your baby will react. Also the more often you go on antibiotics, or the more often you get UTIs, the harder it will be to get rid of. I have often had to go on several rounds of antibiotics before feeling better.
  • If you do get on antibiotics while breastfeeding, you might also want to get your baby on some probiotics. Below are a couple recommended by my lactation consultant