Pregnancy issues and do's
Frequent urination during pregnancy
Frequent urination is normal during pregnancy. By following some simple rules, you can keep this problem under control.
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Have you been going to the bathroom more often lately? Frequent urination during the day, even at night?
Although very annoying, frequent urination is a common symptom of pregnancy. As time goes on during pregnancy, the rate of urination also tends to decrease.
When does it start?
why is
home remedies
Doctor's advice
General inquiries
From when does frequent urination start during pregnancy?
You may start having frequent urination problems early in pregnancy. Later on in the middle trimester of pregnancy, the amount of urination may decrease slightly compared to other months. However, in the last trimester of pregnancy, the rate of frequent urination may increase again.[1][2]
Sometimes the amount of urine is very little but due to repeated urges, it is necessary to go to the bathroom. Sometimes sneezing or laughing loudly can cause a small amount of urine to come out of the urinary tract. It can also happen during exercise or lifting something heavy. However, frequent urination usually gets better after childbirth.
Why is frequent urination during pregnancy?
There are several reasons behind frequent urination during pregnancy:
During the first few weeks of pregnancy, the ability of the kidneys to produce urine increases greatly due to changes in the levels of various hormones in the body. As a result, the kidneys work to produce more urine.[3]
Due to the position of the baby in the womb, the urine velocity can also increase from before. Usually, the baby grows much bigger towards the end of the pregnancy. At that time his head started pressing on the bladder. As a result, there may be frequent urination problems even in the last trimester of pregnancy.
In addition, during the first few weeks of pregnancy, the baby lies in the lower abdomen behind the urinary bladder. Therefore, it is believed that the pressure on the urinary bladder can increase the rate of urination. Again, in the middle three months of pregnancy, the baby moves towards the upper part of the abdomen. For this reason, it is believed that the velocity of urine may decrease slightly. However, no evidence has been found for these yet.[4]
Apart from this, water accumulates in the feet and ankles of pregnant women. At night, the body starts to absorb water from it when it sleeps on a side. This can also be a cause of frequent urination at night.[5]
Special note
Don't try to hold back the urge to urinate. This may increase the risk of urinary tract infections.[6]
Home remedies for frequent urination
Frequent urination is normal during pregnancy. It may not be possible to completely eliminate this problem during pregnancy. But after the birth of the child, this problem gradually gets better by itself. So don't worry too much about it.
By following some simple rules, you can keep this problem under control. For example –
1. Posture during urination
Lean forward while urinating with the waist slightly bent back. While leaning like this, try to move back and forth like Duluni. Then urinate. This method helps to empty the bladder better during late pregnancy. In this, the urge to urinate does not come again shortly after urinating once.
2. Drink enough water
Going to the bathroom to urinate repeatedly at night can be annoying. However, the daily water intake cannot be reduced for this reason. As a solution, you can refrain from drinking water a few hours before going to bed at night. [7] Also, ensure that you drink enough water at regular intervals throughout the day. Then maybe there is no need to drink water right before going to bed.
Note that going to the bathroom repeatedly at night to urinate can disrupt sleep. From there it can feel tired, it can also affect the mood. Try to ensure adequate rest for this.
Important information
Make sure that even if you don't drink water before going to bed at night, the daily amount of water should be correct. During pregnancy, more water is needed to meet the needs of the baby. Therefore, try to drink at least 2–3 liters or 8–12 glasses of water during pregnancy.[8]
3. Avoiding caffeinated drinks
Caffeinated drinks can increase the rate of urination. Therefore, avoid caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea and soft drinks (eg: Coke, Fanta, Sevenup and Pepsi).
Good to know
Avoid drinking or eating foods containing more than 200 mg of caffeine per day during pregnancy.[9] Consuming more caffeinated foods than this may increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth.
4. Keep weight under control
It is normal to gain weight up to a certain limit during pregnancy. This extra weight is also important for the good health of the child. However, if the excess weight exceeds the normal limit, it can increase the health risk of the mother and the unborn child as well as increase the urinary velocity.[10]
So make sure that your weight does not increase during pregnancy. Ask at your prenatal checkup how much weight gain is normal for you. Accordingly, eat a balanced and nutritious diet and exercise regularly.
5. Controlling constipation
Constipation can cause various diseases including frequent urination and urinary tract infections11] Therefore, try to keep constipation under control by leading a healthy lifestyle. For example: Constipation can be controlled by drinking enough water, eating fiber-rich foods and exercising.
6. Exercises to control urinary flow
You can do a special exercise to control the flow of urine. This particular type of exercise is known as 'Pelvic Floor Exercise' or 'Kegel Exercise'.
Along with controlling urinary flow, this exercise also gives beneficial results during delivery and post-delivery. This exercise strengthens the muscles of the vagina and urinary tract. This makes it much easier to control the flow of urine later on.
Try to do three sets of exercises like this a day. You can do one set of exercises every day before meals to help you remember.
Follow the procedure below to perform Kegel exercises—
Press down on the toilet passage as if trying to block the toilet. At the same time try to squeeze the vagina and push it in. Also press on the urinary tract as if trying to hold back urine.
Do the exercise quickly the first few times. Apply quick pressure as above and release.
Now try to do the exercise slowly. Hold as long as possible. Hold this pressure and count to 10. Then release the pressure.
Pushing and releasing eight times in this way is considered one set of exercise.
This exercise should not be done while urinating. Consult a doctor if you have any difficulty doing the exercise or if you do not understand the instructions properly.
When to consult a doctor
Sometimes a urinary tract infection or UTI can also cause frequent urination. Women are more likely to develop urinary tract infections during pregnancy. [12] Therefore, if any unusual symptoms occur along with frequent urination, a doctor should be consulted immediately. The symptoms are –
Pain or burning during urination
Urinating more often than usual
Frequent urination at night
Having unusual smelling or cloudy urine
Sudden urge to urinate or difficulty keeping the urge
Abdominal pain
Blood in the urine
Pain behind the waist just below the ribs
Fever or body heat and chills
A drop in body temperature below 36°C or 96.8°F
Fatigue and nausea
These symptoms can be due to various serious health complications starting from urinary tract infections to kidney infections. If these occur, drink plenty of water and seek medical advice without delay. If an infection is confirmed, the doctor may prescribe the necessary antibiotics.
Taking antibiotics or any other type of medicine during pregnancy without doctor's advice can be dangerous. Therefore, before taking any medicine in this condition, you must consult a doctor.
Kidney infection can increase complications related to delivery. [13] Therefore, it is important to take medicine as per doctor's advice.
Important information
Sometimes the problem of frequent urination can become severe during pregnancy. In addition, there may be feelings of frequent thirst, tiredness, and dry mouth. These are the symptoms of gestational diabetes
So if you are already suffering from diabetes or if you have symptoms of gestational diabetes with severe frequent urination during pregnancy, consult a doctor immediately.
General inquiries
Can frequent urination be prevented?
When will urine return to normal?
Last updated: August 24, 2022
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