Increase Frequency of Urination is Common in Pregnancy

Increase frequency of urination during the day time is due to the uterus directly putting pressure on the bladder. This pressure on the bladder, gives you the sensation that your bladder is full. The sensation causes you to urinate more frequently. Your bladder may be nearly empty but due to the pressure from the uterus it still feels full.

Increase frequency of urination at night (nocturia) is common and increases with later pregnancy.The reason you go to the bathroom more at night is due to the fact that a pregnant women's kidney excretes larger amounts of sodium and water during the night than nonpregnant women.

Unfortunately, there is not much you can do to relieve frequent urination. You might try to decrease coffee, tea, and cola (caffeine drinks) which stimulate urination. Don't stop drinking fluids before bed time. It is important to you and your baby that you keep your fluid intake up.

Toward the end of your pregnancy the fetus will drop down into the pelvis (an action known as lightening) and rest its head against your bladder. During this time the urge to urinate is even stronger than earlier in your pregnancy. You may also start losing urine as your baby's head bounces on your bladder. Your trips to the bathroom at night will now be very frequent.

Although this consistent urge to urinate is perfectly normal, there are some things you need to watch out for. Contact your doctor if any of these occur, as they may be signs of a urinary tract infection (bladder or kidney infection).:

• Pain when you urinate
  
• Feeling like you must urinate right away
  
• Blood in your urine
  
• Fever
  
• Back pain