Have a sudden urge to pee? Don’t just chalk it up to being pregnant. You could have a urinary tract infection – a condition often develops among pregnant women.

In fact, 10% of moms-to-be have at least one UTI while expecting, according to a Wiser Pregnancy survey.  Around 8% of female doctors got at least one UTI when they were pregnant.  

But “gotta go” urgency isn’t the only symptom of UTIs. You may experience itching and burning when you pee, or feel like you have to go again after you’ve just went. 

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Those final months of pregnancy may be full of anticipation… but they’re also painful. And as every pregnant woman could tell you, back pain is what really gets you.

That’s because weight gain, an altered center of gravity and stretched ab muscles put extra strain on your back. Plus it’s tougher to maintain good posture. All that can cause lower back pain that ranges from “Eh, that’s a little uncomfortable” to “Someone remove the dagger from my spine!”

But back pain during pregnancy is extremely common. About 70% of women experience back pain during pregnancy, according to a Wiser Pregnancy survey.

Fortunately, most relief is effective – and cheap. More than 80% of pregnant women spend less than $50 on back pain treatments throughout pregnancy. 

But what works best? Among doctor-moms (doctors who are or have been pregnant), heating pads are most effective. Close behind are better pillow support, spending less time on your feet, non-prescription pain relievers, hot towels and exercise/stretching.

Here are the most common treatment options and how well they work:
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They’ve delivered babies and they’ve cared for hundreds of pregnant patients. Yet when women doctors become pregnant themselves, many turn to birthing classes for help.   

According to a WiserPregnancy survey, 27% of doctor-moms attend a birth preparation course.  Most (82%) doctor-moms attend a general class offered by a hospital. Their next favorite options are Lamaze (28%) and BirthWorks (20%).

By comparison, just under half of women overall attend classes prior to labor and delivery. 

So why do these physicians who’ve seen it all also attend birthing classes? Turns out it’s for the same reason as other women.

Most classes cover labor, delivery, recovery and new baby care.  They also focus on different methods to help you relax, stay calm and manage pain during delivery.  Classes also help many women establish a support network of other pregnant women and their partners – something all the medical knowledge in the world can’t give you.

In addition, if you take an on-site hospital course, you can check out the facility where you’ll be giving birth and become more familiar with the surroundings and staff. 

Of course, that still means that half of all pregnant women don’t take a birthing class. Common reasons for opting out include: not seeing a point to the classes, not having time, having attended a class during a previous pregnancy, class costs being too high or lack of class availability.   

If you attended a birthing class, what part of the course was most helpful?  If you didn’t attend a class, was there a particular reason why not?

A lucky minority – 42% of women – don’t have to deal with morning sickness.  The rest of us search – often fruitlessly – for ways to control our nausea and limit trips to the bathroom or nearest trash can. 

According to a Wiser Pregnancy survey, 40% of women seek a doctor’s advice for morning sickness remedies, yet the advice isn’t always helpful. 

Which begs the question: What do pregnant doctors do for their own morning sickness?

About 35% of doctor-moms (pregnant OB/GYNs, internists and general practitioners) report having “significant nausea” during pregnancy.  Interestingly, these women’s approach to treating morning sickness differs quite a bit from their patients’.

One of the most noteworthy differences is that pregnant doctors are more likely to take prescription medication to alleviate nausea – 49% use it, compared to 20% of other women.

Also, a higher percentage of doctor-moms try common morning sickness remedies than other moms-to-be. 

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