What causes Frequent Urination during pregnancy?
Frequent urination during pregnancy is very common. Most of the time, it is due to the changes that are happening because of pregnancy.
Your bladder, your bowel, and your uterus are all located side by side in your abdominal region. And the growing baby in the uterus occupies the most space affecting the positions of the other organs.
During pregnancy, the fluid content in your body increases. Since there is a space crunch, and the uterus is situated directly behind your bladder, pushing the bladder as the baby grows inside. The bladder that stores the urine cannot hold the same amount as before pregnancy.
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This can cause frequent urination during pregnancy. Also, the changing hormones in the body cause changes in the fluid content in your body, also there is an increase in the blood flow in the body during pregnancy, adding more work to your kidneys, and the bladder cannot store as much as before due to the space limit.
How to reduce frequent urination?
While you cannot do much to lessen your need to urinate frequently, you can definitely work towards strengthening your pelvic floor muscles. Strengthening these muscles can help you ‘hold in’ your urine until you are able to get to the toilet.
Pelvic floor muscles are part of your core muscles, and you have to work on the complete core strengthening and not just the pelvic floor muscles. Frequent urination is a symptom you need to manage rather than avoid.
For some women, weak pelvic floor muscles can be the cause of frequent urination during pregnancy. Because the muscles may not be able to hold the urine that effectively when there is constant pressure because of the baby.
During the later stages of pregnancy, it could also lead to urinary incontinence.
Note:
Though frequent urination is common, there are certain things that you need to look out for -
Like a burning sensation, while urinating,
Unusual Vaginal discharge,
Bad odor with vaginal discharge,
Pain in the pelvic area,
Pain in the lower abdomen,
The color of the urine is yellow, or darker.
Call your health care provider if you observe any of the above, and do not self-medicate yourself during pregnancy.
Is frequent urination a serious condition?
No, it is not a serious condition. But it can get frustrating to use the bathroom more often than needed. Since frequent urination could also be due to weak pelvic floor muscles, there is a high chance of urinary incontinence during the later stages of pregnancy.
You may not feel that you have emptied your bladder even if you have visited the bathroom. Due to weak muscles, you may not be able to empty the bladder completely, adding to the frequent urination trips.
You would have to let your doctor know about it because gestational diabetes can also cause frequent urination.
Will frequent urination continue after childbirth?
It tends to be better after childbirth. During the initial days after childbirth, you might want to urinate more, but as your body heals it gets better. If you do not see any improvement, you have to contact an expert and work on strengthening your muscles.
Tips to manage frequent urination -
Work on your core muscles. Do not try any exercise on your own during pregnancy. Join a session with expert guidance.
Though you are urinating frequently, it is important to keep yourself hydrated.
Lean forward when you pee so that you properly empty your bladder.
You can wear panty liners if you find yourself peeing when you sneeze.
Avoid drinking too much water or any other fluids at night. This can disrupt your sleep and increase your bathroom visits.
Constipation can add unnecessary pressure to what’s already pushing on your bladder. You may not be able to completely prevent constipation but eat consciously so that your bowel movements are taken care of.
Monitor your weight gain. Gradually increase of weight helps your body to handle the pressure. Too much body weight can add unnecessary pressure on your pelvic floor muscles.
Do not hold your urine. You should go when you have the urge to urinate. Holding urine may cause other unnecessary problems.
If there is any sensation as mentioned in the note while urinating, let your doctor know about it.
Do not strain yourself. Rest while you can. Do not over-exert yourself while exercising.
You can cross your legs. Before a cough or sneeze, cross your legs or squeeze your pelvic muscles to help keep urine from leaking out.
Your amniotic fluid can also leak before it breaks, especially as you get close to your due date. So, be sure it's urine. If you are not sure, contact your doctor.
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