Written by Dr Nihan Khan
Staying hydrated is really essential for the well- being of both the mother and the baby during pregnancy. Many women experience an increase in the frequency of urination during pregnancy. It is due to the increase in blood flow in your body. This increase in frequency is normal and can be really annoying too.
Frequent urination during pregnancy is a normal part of this journey. You might notice it the first few weeks itself or during the later part of your pregnancy journey. There is no need to worry as it won’t harm you or your baby. Read on more about how to manage it well.
In This Article
Frequent urination simply means going to the washroom more frequently than the normal you do in a day. It’s a relative term and the frequency differs from person to person. Frequent urination during pregnancy is a very common finding. On an average, a person needs to urinate about six to seven times a day. So, needing to use the restroom more than seven times means an increase in frequency.
This increase in urinary frequency can start as early as 4 weeks of pregnancy. Hence, it is a very common early sign of pregnancy. Some penne develop this symptom only when the growing uterus starts pushing the urinary bladder. This happens around 10-13 weeks. The frequency eases a bit during the second trimester, when the uterus rises high in the abdomen. Later in the third trimester and around the time of labor and delivery, it will return due to too much pressure on the bladder again.
Yes, this increase in precinct is very normal during pregnancy. Although, this varies from woman to woman. Some women hardly feel any change in their urination pattern while, some feel that they are spending a lot of time in the loo. Some notice no changes in early pregnancy, and have issues later on while the initial days itself can be troublesome in a few women. This difference may be due to different hormonal levels in different women.
The urge to urinate more in pregnancy are broadly related with hormonal changes early in the pregnancy and physical changes in the later part of pregnancy. The causes are:
Although it’s a usual finding in pregnancy, your doctor may order certain tests if it’s getting really troublesome. Certain tests are:
Urinary incontinence is the loss of bladder control leading to abnormal uncontrollable urine leakage. This leak could range from a few drops to a lot of urine. It can be embarrassing for women and can hamper their day-to-day activities. According to some studies, incontinence is quite common in pregnancy [2]. There are three types of urinary incontinence:
It arises due to the pressure of the uterus over the bladder and due to weak pelvic floor muscles. This causes urine to leak during heavy lifting heavy weights, coughing, sneezing, laughing and during heavy exercises. Most likely it happens during the third trimester and during the postpartum period. It is the most common form of urinary incontinence in pregnant women with a prevalence rate of around 41% [3].
Here, there is an intense urge to urinate right away and the leak happens on the way to the washroom itself. It is generally due to an overactive bladder.
This includes symptoms of both stress and urgency urinary incontinence.
The need to urinate more often can be tiring and frustrating during pregnancy. Here are a few important tips to avoid peeing frequently:
Usually there is nothing serious with this problem in pregnancy. In a few situations, it is advised to see a doctor. These are pain or discomfort while urinating, a burning sensation or fever. These all can be signs of a urinary tract infection. Untreated urinary infections can cause complications in pregnancy like pyelonephritis, preterm labor or still birth [4].
Frequent urination can also be due to development of gestational diabetes. If increase in urinary frequency is along with increased thirst, nausea and fatigue then it is best to see your healthcare provider. The test for gestational diabetes is generally recommended during 24-28 weeks of pregnancy.[5]
Frequent urination will last throughout the pregnancy up to the last month and delivery. In some women this symptom eases after the baby is born. In many women, symptoms last after delivery too. This happens because the pelvic floor muscles are still weak [6]. Most of the women recover by 3-6 months while some take still longer to get better.
Frequent urination in pregnancy is a common and unavoidable condition in women. It can cause a lot of discomfort in women and unfortunately there is nothing much that can be done about it. A few simple tips that are mentioned above can actually help a lot of expecting mothers.
Urination during pregnancy generally increases than the average times due to increase in fluid levels in the body. It’s a relative term and differs from woman to woman. Some might experience no change while others need to pee almost every hour.
Some women might need to urinate this many times a day, usually in the third trimester. This is normal as long as there are no accompanying symptoms like pain, discomfort or burning sensation while urinating.
There is no reason to worry about frequent urination. If you develop fever, pain, burning or stinging sensation while urinating, then it is advisable to see a doctor and get tested for urinary tract infections.
References –
Top Modern 500 Baby Girl Names Starting With P
Top 500 Unique Baby Girl Names Starting With Y
Cycling During Pregnancy – Benefits, Risks, and Precautions
Top 300 Popular Baby Names That Mean Noble With Meanings
Hydronephrosis in Pregnancy – Symptoms, Causes and Treatment
Mobile Phones During Pregnancy – Are They Safe?
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