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The physiological and psychological changes that happen during pregnancy can be hard to miss. While they vary greatly among individuals, some symptoms are so common that they are enough to prompt a woman to take a test.
Some prevalent symptoms like fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and breast tenderness are almost widely acknowledged. However, a common pointer to pregnancy that many people miss is increased urination frequency.
While many people overlook it initially, it can become a worrying cause for inexperienced mothers. You should read this article to the end to learn everything about the increased urination frequency during pregnancy.
Causes of Urinary Frequency during Pregnancy
The unending urge to urinate during pregnancy can be daunting. Imagine having to go again 10 minutes after you have just visited the restroom. Uncomfortable, right? Fortunately, understanding what is going on in your body can bring you one step closer to managing it better. The causes of increased urinary frequency during pregnancy include:
- Hormonal changes: Changes in your hormone levels, including increased progesterone and raised HCG levels can cause more frequent urination.
- Increased blood volume: An increase in your blood volume results in more blood being processed by your kidneys and, in turn, more urine being produced.
- Pressure on the bladder: As your uterus expands to accommodate your fetus, it exerts pressure on your bladder, making you feel the urge to urinate more frequently.
- Increased metabolism rate: Increased metabolism can increase the the production of wastes, and your body will increase the production of urine to compensate.
- Fluid retention: This is a rather common symptom of pregnancy. Your body can attempt to balance this fluid retention by producing more urine.
Symptoms Associated with Urinary Frequency
Frequent urination during pregnancy is very common, with over 80% of women experiencing this symptom. However, it may benefit you to know that constant urination during pregnancy can also be a sign of an underlying condition. Knowing what to look out for is your best assurance that your pregnancy is not masking any complications that can cause urinary frequency thirst.
Here are some symptoms that may suggest that pregnancy is not the only culprit behind your frequent toilet visits:
- Pain or burning sensation during urination: This may point to a urinary tract infection.
- Fever or chills: These symptoms could possibly indicate a kidney infection.
- Blood in urine: This may be a sign of UTI or kidney-related diseases.
- Back or side pain: This may may be a sign of kidney stones.
- Swelling in the legs, feet, or hands: These may be warning signs indicating preeclampsia.
- Unintentional weight loss: This could signal the presence of gestational diabetes.
- Fatigue or weakness: This symptom may suggest underlying anemia or thyroid issue
While these may raise causes for concern, none of these symptoms should be used as a diagnosis, as they either be “normal” or point to other things. For instance, fatigue in pregnancy is normal for about 95% of women.
Also, ruling out these symptoms immediately can be dangerous, as these conditions range from mild to serious. If you notice any of these symptoms combined with an increased frequency of urination, consult your doctor immediately.
What Is Urinary Incontinence?
Have you ever noticed involuntary urine leakage during your pregnancy or witnessed it in someone else? This is called urinary incontinence. It happens when the body loses control over the urinary sphincter or when it is weakened. The problem can range from mild to downright embarrassing.
Some people experience urine leakage during common activities like sneezing and coughing. Others may feel the need to go but will never be able to get to the toilet on time.
Urinary incontinence is of various types, usually depending on the cause. They include:
- Stress Incontinence: This happens when the bladder is stressed due to pressure from coughing, sneezing, or carrying heavy objects.
- Urge Incontinence: This type can be caused by a minor health condition, including an infection. You will feel the urge to urinate but will never get to the toilet on time.
- Overflow Incontinence: This happens when the bladder does not completely empty out and the remnants keep leaking in a steady drip.
- Functional Incontinence: This happens when a functional impairment prevents someone from urinating quickly. The causes could range from weak or overactive bladder muscles to nerve damage.
- Mixed Incontinence: This is a type of urinary incontinence that happens due to a combination of reasons.
The treatment for urinary incontinence depends on its type and severity. Most times, you do not have to worry, as it will get back to normal in no time. However, there is no better person to confirm this for you than your doctor.
Is Frequent Urination in Pregnancy Ever a Sign of a Problem?
Urinary frequency during pregnancy does not need to make you fret much. You may need to go as much as five to eight times daily during pregnancy. In fact, this count may be up to ten in the early trimester. Hormonal changes and body changes are the culprits for your frequent urge to urinate.
However, some things should prompt you to see a doctor, especially since frequent urination can be a sign of an UTI. Coincidentally, urinary tract infections are common among pregnant women due to the higher concentrations of protein, sugar, and hormones during pregnancy. Also, pregnant women tend to retain some urine in their bladder, causing UTIs.
Therefore, you may need to stop blaming your frequent toilet trips on the unborn baby and see the doctor if:
- You experience pain or burning during urination
- You have a strong urge to urinate but only pass a small amount of urine
- You see blood in your urine
- You have a fever or chills
When Does Frequent Urination during Pregnancy Ease Up?
The second trimester is when most women experience a reprieve from their frequent urination symptoms. Your uterus will rise into your abdominal cavity during this time, providing some relief to your bladder and decreasing your urination frequency.
However, the urination frequency can increase again in the third trimester, only to ease finally during postpartum. However, the timeline can vary between women.
Diagnosis of Urinary Frequency during Pregnancy
Your medical practitioner is the best person to properly diagnose you for urinary frequency during pregnancy. However, knowing the process can put your mind at ease. This is not a strict assertion but the most common process.
- Your health practitioner will review your medical history and assess your symptoms.
- You will also get a physical examination to assess your body’s state.
- The doctor can ask you to get a urinalysis done to check for infection.
- You may also need to get blood tests done if there are suspected kidney function and diabetes issues.
- They may also do an ultrasound to check out the bladder, uterus, and even the baby.
- Other tests your doctor may require include bladder diary, post-void residual measurement, or cystoscopy.
- When these tests and diagnoses are concluded, the doctor rules out unlikely options and makes a deduction based on the available data and history.
Natural Remedies for Urinary Frequency during Pregnancy
Now that you are more familiar with urinary frequency during pregnancy and what it implies, it is time to think of possible solutions and treatments. Let us take you through some useful suggestions that can help you manage the condition adequately.
- Limit your fluid intake at bedtime or periods without access to a ready toilet
- Avoid bladder irritants like coffee, alcohol, and spicy foods
- Schedule bathroom breaks to give your body time to ease into it
- You should also consider occasional kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscle
- Stay long enough to properly empty your bladder when urinating
- Maintain a healthy weight, as excess weight can pressure your bladder more
- Wear comfortable clothes and always maintain proper posture
- Consult a healthcare practitioner immediately if you need one.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lifestyle changes, exercises, and body management are the right ways to control your urination frequency during pregnancy. Train your body to urinate at certain intervals, and avoid triggers for sudden urination. Above all, always ensure you hydrate wisely.
There is no one answer that fits all for this question, as the answer can depend on your pregnancy stage. The baseline for urination frequency in pregnancy is eight to ten times daily.
You can urinate that much during the first trimester, see it ease up in the second, and then go back to such frequent urination in the third trimester. However, some people may experience decreased urination during pregnancy in the third trimester.
Above all, we all differ, and no two pregnancies are the same.
Frequent urination during pregnancy is medically considered normal, so there are rarely recommendations for medications. However, your doctor may prescribe Oxybutynin for you in rare cases. Ensure you take it with strict medical monitoring to prevent issues.
hey, so i’m kinda new to this whole pregnancy thing and was wondering, at what point should I start getting worried about how much i’m going to the bathroom? feels like all i do these days. anyone else feeling this?
Hey EllieG, totally normal to feel that way! Your body’s just making room for the baby. Most of my friends said it eased up after their first trimester. Hang in there!
EllieG, I was the same with my first. It’s like all-day bathroom trips lol. It got better for me after the baby was born. Pregnancy is weird but wonderful.
good to know there’s natural remedies for this stuff. was kinda afraid i’d have to be on meds for frequent peeing when i get pregnant.
so everyone’s okay with just accepting this? isn’t there a deeper reason we’re not looking into? just seems like there’s more to it.
I can totally relate to this article. Wish I had this info when I was pregnant last year. Drinking lots of water and doing pelvic floor exercises helped me a lot.
Great read! My wife’s been having trouble with this and we’ve been looking for info. This, particularly the natural remedies, is really helpful. Thanks!
lol gotta say, never thought I’d end up reading about pregnancy pee problems. but here we are. kinda interesting tho.
Regarding the question about frequent urination being a problem, it’s important to remember that while common, excessive urination can also be a sign of UTIs, which are more common in pregnancy. Always best to check with a doctor.
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[…] urinary frequency, linked to rising hCG and blood flow to the kidneys, can pull you out of deep sleep multiple times […]