Frequent Urination During Pregnancy

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Urinary Frequency During Pregnancy

Most women notice they have to pee more urgently and frequently during pregnancy. Frequent urination during pregnancy is a common side effect of pregnancy, and for many is an early sign of pregnancy. Typically anywhere from six to eight weeks into a pregnancy women start noticing the need to urinate more frequently. This happens in part because the volume of blood in the body increases dramatically, putting your kidneys through extra effort and causing you to void your bladder more frequently. As your uterus continues to grow and expand, this places more pressure on the bladder which can make you feel the need to pee even if your bladder is not full.

While some women experience less urgency during their second trimester, others continue to feel the urge to urinate more frequently throughout their pregnancy. This can be uncomfortable at best but a necessary part of pregnancy.

Tips For Coping With Frequent Urination
You will need to drink plenty of fluid to keep hydrated during pregnancy. Don't think for a moment that reducing your fluid intake is the key to avoiding the bathroom frequently. Your best bet is avoiding diuretic fluids that can contribute to the sense of urgency you feel when you have to pee. These include caffeine products like tea, soda or coffee. You might try consuming most of your fluids during the day to reduce the number of trips you have to make to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

When using the bathroom, you may find it helps to lean forward a bit to ensure you completely empty out your bladder. Many women find they have to pee again shortly after a visit to the bathroom simply because they were not able to empty their bladder fully. This is more common in the later stages of pregnancy.

Is Frequent Urination During Pregnancy Problematic?
Usually frequent urination during pregnancy is a normal side effect of pregnancy. There are some cases however when frequent urination may signal an underlying problem. If the frequent urge to urinate is accompanied by burning pain on urinating, you may have a urinary tract infection. You may also find you have a urinary tract infection if you frequently need to urinate but aren't able to pass more than a small amount of fluid.

UTI's are quite common during pregnancy. If left untreated however, they can develop into serious kidney infections. A kidney infection during pregnancy may contribute to preterm labor or premature rupture of the membranes. It is important you check in with your doctor as soon as possible if you suspect you have a urinary tract infection. Fortunately with proper treatment most are cleared up in a few short days.

Will You Leak Urine During Pregnancy?
Many women will experience temporary urinary incontinence during pregnancy. Sometimes referred to as stress incontinence, many women find they leak some urine when lifting, bending, sneezing or even coughing. Certain forms of exercise may also worsen the problem. Temporary or stress incontinence is most likely to occur during the third trimester when the uterus is placing the most amount of pressure on the bladder. You can help alleviate the problem by emptying your bladder as frequently as possible and wearing a light pad to help catch any leaking.

Kegel exercises can also help with urinary incontinence. Kegels help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. While this may not resolve the problem completely it may help reduce the stress incontinence you experience during pregnancy. Kegel exercises can also help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles after delivery.