By Ethan Covey
Pregnant women with a diagnosis of a urinary tract infection (UTI) are commonly prescribed antibiotics that are teratogenic, according to the CDC.
About 8% of pregnant women experience a UTI, which if left untreated can cause serious problems, such as pyelonephritis, preterm labor, low birth weight and sepsis, so it is important to diagnose and manage the infection. In the first trimester, pregnant women are frequently screened for UTIs, and they receive antibiotics if they have