Often, the greatest concern with infections of the genital tract and urinary tract during pregnancy is the risk for preterm labor. Medical studies that have researched urinary tract infections (UTIs) and preterm labor are inconsistent and controversial because they have failed to show a direct link between the two. However, the risk of a UTI progressing toward a kidney infection is quite significant, and preterm labor has been shown to be highly correlated with kidney infection in the pregnant woman.

So, beyond the risks to the pregnancy itself, there is a risk for kidney infection and subsequent chronic (long-term) kidney disease and kidney failure. Additionally, a kidney infection can put you at risk for developing septic shock (a result of an overwhelming infection which is difficult to reverse) and respiratory failure (or difficulty with breathing). The risk for the pregnancy is that you can begin having contractions as the kidney infection worsens, which can result in early cervical dilation, the defining characteristic of labor.

Your baby, then, is at risk for all the problems associated with a preterm birth. While still in your uterus, however, your baby can show signs that the kidney infection and fever is affecting them, too. One of these signs is an increased heart rate in response to your fever. The baby can also have a concerning or nonreassuring heart rate pattern which appears on a fetal monitor.

A key point to remember is that stabilizing your condition is always the primary goal. This doesn't mean that the baby is being ignored, just the opposite. If you can be stabilized, the baby's condition will also stabilize. The baby's body is simply responding to its environment, and the goal is to fix the environment.

If antibiotics are prescribed, be sure to take all of your medication to avoid the growth of resistant strains of bacteria. Sometimes, if you have a strong history for recurrent bladder infections or a history for kidney infection, you may be put on prophylactic antibiotic therapy. This is often a one-pill-a-day regimen to prevent bladder infections. Also, your urine may be cultured every trimester of your pregnancy, depending on your history and your care provider's philosophy of care.