The long-awaited pregnancy is the time for natural changes in the body’s functioning and, consequently, the first worries. Frequent urination in early pregnancy is common. There is no need to be afraid, but prevention and treatment methods must be used.
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Frequent urge to go to the toilet as a sign of pregnancy
Frequent urination during early pregnancy can be considered one of the likely signs of conception. All this is associated with a restructuring of the bladder, which is not a pathology, as in the case of cystitis.
The reason is simple: the uterus begins to increase in size already from the 5th week after fertilization, which accordingly puts pressure on the main organ of the urinary system. All this is not a mandatory indicator, so you should still rely on indicator indicators and indicators.
Causes of the problem
As mentioned above, the nature of the ongoing process is based on the restructuring of the bladder. The main thing is not to confuse similar symptoms with and other deviations from the norm. All these dangerous diseases of an inflammatory and infectious nature can have a bad effect on the development of the fetus. The consequences of these negative changes can lead to the following disappointing results:
- premature birth;
A timely visit to a gynecologist and appropriate tests will help either prevent the problem or solve it as soon as possible.
Before planning a pregnancy, you should be checked for all genitourinary infections so that the expectant mother’s condition is as comfortable as possible.
Preventing frequent urination before and during pregnancy
To avoid negative feelings, you should adhere to these recommendations:
- Limit your fluid intake as much as possible after 6-7 pm (to avoid frequent visits to the toilet at night);
- refuse food that causes increased thirst (spicy, salty or smoked products);
- empty the bladder as much as possible (bending forward helps with this);
- do not refrain from urinating (at the first urge, immediately satisfy natural urges);
- completely eliminate diuretics (fruit drinks from some berries, tea, melons in the form of watermelon or melon);
- ban synthetic underwear (cotton products should be the main accessory of a pregnant woman).
We recommend reading the article. From it you will receive general recommendations about what is healthy for an expectant mother to eat in the early stages of pregnancy, which foods must be included in the diet and which are absolutely forbidden, as well as tips on choosing food for toxicosis.
First aid for a problem
What to do when it’s already painful to write during early pregnancy? The problem that has arisen should be taken calmly, but it is strictly contraindicated to start the process that has arisen.
Pain, cramping, burning sensations are an alarming signal indicating the presence of an infection in the genitourinary system. It is recommended to immediately visit a specialist and undergo appropriate sterility tests in order to understand the cause of the ailment. Treatment on the advice of friends should also be rejected, because in the future they may be detected during pregnancy. The protein will indicate the presence of kidney problems, as well as the need to take urgent measures to maintain the pregnancy:
- if the indicator does not exceed 0.14 g/l, it is normal;
- over 0.14 g/l - doctors begin to sound the alarm and first send you for a repeat analysis, and then for treatment, if necessary.
Ways to relieve frequent urination
Frequent urination during early pregnancy can occur at any time. If it is not possible to visit a specialist in a timely manner, then a few simple rules will help bring temporary relief before visiting a doctor:
- a solution of soda (steam 1 tablespoon of the original substance with a liter of boiling water and consume a spoonful of the resulting mixture three times a day);
- juice from cranberries or lingonberries (pour half a kilogram of berries with 3 liters of water and drink a liter per day for a month);
- regular drinking water in an amount of at least 8 glasses per day until the evening;
- dill herb, taken at the rate of 1 tbsp. l. starting material for a couple of glasses of boiling water (use the decoction a couple of times a day at the rate of a third of a glass before meals);
- birch leaves (7 grams of raw material, pour 0.5 liters of boiling water, after boiling, consume with food three times a day in an amount of 50 ml);
- black currant leaves (infuse 6 tablespoons per liter of boiling water, add sweet flavorings in the form of sugar if desired, and take a tablespoon 5 times a day).
- oat grains in a water bath (a glass of grains to two containers of the same volume of boiling water), intake is limited to half a glass of the resulting decoction three times a day;
- Boil turnip juice for 5 minutes, take 2 tbsp. spoons 2-3 times a day for a month.
Why does pain and burning occur when urinating?
Pain when urinating in the early stages of pregnancy often brings suffering to the expectant mother. The following factors can be provocateurs of an unpleasant syndrome:
- changes in the functioning of the bladder due to squeezing it by the embryo;
- kidney stones caused by pregnancy;
- inflammation of the bladder (cystitis).
Burning sensation when urinating in early pregnancy is caused by the same changes that occur in the body due to fertilization or previously acquired chronic diseases. If pain occurs at the final stage of urination, this may indicate cystitis. This diagnosis implies a number of reasons for its occurrence:
- incomplete excretion of urine, causing stagnation in the genitourinary system;
- general hypothermia of the body;
- damage to the genital tract by infectious diseases.
It is necessary to consult a doctor if you have the following symptoms:
- burning in the lower abdomen or genitals after visiting the toilet;
- admixture of foreign formations such as blood, pus in the urine;
- unusual color and;
- general weakness for no obvious reason;
- aching pain in the lumbar region.
Cystitis during pregnancy
General changes in the body's activity or chronic diseases can cause cystitis, which can complicate the course of any pregnancy. Its symptoms are simple: sharp pain at the end of urination, changes in the smell and color of urine.
Self-medication can lead to very negative consequences. The attending physician should refer the expectant mother to a urologist to prevent any complications.
Pregnancy is a huge responsibility for the life of the unborn child, so a woman must make every effort to bear a healthy baby. Cystitis and urolithiasis should be prevented before conception or chronic changes should be put into remission.
Watch the video about cystitis during pregnancy:
During the period of bearing a child, women face many temporary inconveniences. These include: frequent urination during pregnancy, toxicosis, swelling. For some expectant mothers, these conditions occur all at once, while other mothers get away with only frequent visits to the toilet. Frequent urination is usually considered a natural condition, but in some cases it is accompanied by painful symptoms, which is considered unacceptable during pregnancy.
When might a problem occur?
Considering the fact that every woman’s body is individual, the internal changes that occur with the onset of pregnancy may not affect all expectant mothers. Some girls feel discomfort from the first days of an interesting situation, others experience them in the second or third trimester of pregnancy, and others experience discomfort as early as 9 months, immediately before giving birth.
In rare cases, the entire period of gestation is not accompanied by any problems at all.
The primary signs of pregnancy are known to everyone: a delay in menstruation and morning sickness. However, not every girl knows that frequent urination is considered one of the signs of an interesting situation long before a delay in menstruation. However, this is not always the case. It happens that the frequency of the urge to go to the toilet begins only in the later stages. Everything is purely individual, so it is only possible to answer the question of when this symptom appears.
In early pregnancy The enlarged uterus puts pressure on the bladder.
- In the first trimester of pregnancy, changes occur in the female body related to metabolic processes and hormonal levels. Frequent urination in the early stages is caused by the following reasons:
- When the placenta produces the hormone progesterone, the muscles of the bladder relax, as a result of which the organ is unable, as before, to hold back accumulated urine. This leads to increased frequency of urination in early pregnancy.
- In the female body, the uterus gradually increases in volume, which puts pressure on the organ and forces the expectant mother to relieve herself more often.
A possible reason is excessive consumption of foods and dishes containing large amounts of salt and spices. Accordingly, a woman has to drink a lot of liquid, which has a diuretic effect on the body.
In the second trimester If increased urination plagued a woman in the first stage of pregnancy, then, most likely, from the 13th week these inconveniences will completely stop. During this period, the uterus rapidly grows upward from the woman's pelvis. Therefore, the bladder is freed from pressure, and normal urination is restored. The second trimester of pregnancy is the best period when all inconveniences disappear, including toxicosis, swelling of the limbs, and a state of general malaise. The woman relaxes and enjoys her position. If frequent urination in pregnant women continues into the second trimester, it is recommended to be checked for infection and pathology in the genitourinary organs.
In the third trimester
During pregnancy at this stage, the uterus grows to a decent size, which puts significant pressure on neighboring organs, including the bladder. In addition, the fetus at 30-35 weeks of pregnancy becomes larger, its weight increases every day. For the normal development of the fetal kidneys, an additional load from the mother's body is required. Frequent urination during pregnancy in the third trimester is considered to be a normal physiological need of a woman in an interesting position.
Why does the problem occur at night?
Excess fluid accumulates in the expectant mother's body. With pregnancy often comes daily swelling of the limbs. Excess fluid accumulates during the day in the body of the expectant mother. During sleep, swelling spreads to the legs, and the woman feels an urgent need to urinate. Due to the rapid filling of the bladder, I have to run to the toilet 5 times at night. This is why pregnant women constantly complain to the doctor about chronic lack of sleep and drowsiness.
Causes of frequent urination in late pregnancy
At approximately 39 weeks of pregnancy, the fetus descends into the pelvis, preparing for its imminent birth. Because of this, the pressure on some internal organs decreases, but increases on the kidneys and bladder. During this process, pregnant women experience a constant imaginary urge to urinate, and the amount of urine produced may decrease. These are all natural phenomena caused by strong pressure on the bladder. In the later stages of pregnancy, you should not be afraid of them; they will disappear after the birth of the baby.
How to help yourself?
During pregnancy, you need to control the use of diuretic products. In cases where frequent urination irritates and brings inconvenience to the expectant mother, gynecologists recommend following the following rules:
- Limit the consumption of diuretic foods and drinks, these include: melons, cucumbers, tea, fruit and vegetable juices.
- Completely avoid fried and spicy foods, salty and sour foods.
- If swelling of the extremities occurs, you should limit your fluid intake, especially before bed. If there is no edema, the drinking rate per day is at least 2 liters.
- At the first urge, you do not need to hold urine, immediately empty your bladder.
- During pregnancy, it is advisable not to go on long trips where there is no opportunity to go to the toilet when necessary.
- Avoid wearing tight clothing. Try to wear loose underwear made from natural materials.
- If urine leaks, use absorbent pads.
- If you feel the bladder is not fully emptied, it is recommended to change your position while sitting on the toilet. You need to try to urinate so that your stomach does not squeeze the bladder and interfere with its emptying.
- If a woman is wearing a bandage, do not press it too tightly on her growing belly.
- If urination is accompanied by unpleasant symptoms, you need to promptly consult a doctor and get tested. If an infection or pathology is detected, treat in a timely manner.
- itching and burning in the vagina;
- pain and stinging when urinating;
- frequent urge to empty the bladder;
- the presence of blood clots in the urine;
- cloudy color and unpleasant odor of urine;
- copious curdled vaginal discharge;
- slight increase in body temperature.
Similar signs are characteristic of pyelonephritis, inflammation of the bladder, thrush, colpitis and other viral infections. If one of the ailments is detected, treatment must be started immediately. The attending physician will prescribe the most gentle medications allowed for use during pregnancy. If genitourinary infections are not treated in time, the bacteria will harm the developing fetus.
With an ectopic pregnancy, the following characteristic symptoms appear:
- in the first weeks, pain appears in the lower abdomen;
- bloody discharge from the vagina.
If a person does not drink a lot of fluids and does not use medications with a diuretic effect, then frequent visits to the toilet certainly become a cause for concern for him. Often in this case, women begin to suspect hypothermia of the pelvic organs, urinary tract infections and possible pregnancy. The fact is that frequent urination during pregnancy, including in the early stages, is quite normal.
The question of whether frequent urination is a sign of pregnancy often worries women who experience such a symptom. Constant urge to go to the toilet does indeed cause inconvenience and anxiety, but, fortunately, in most cases it is not accompanied by other unpleasant symptoms, so there is no reason for concern.
Frequent urination during pregnancy can occur at any stage. Therefore, some women encounter it at the very beginning of pregnancy, while others experience all the delights of this condition for 9 months.
In some cases, this phenomenon appears several days after conception, before the woman finds out about her situation. Thus, the answer to the question: can frequent urination be a sign of pregnancy will be positive.
Frequent urination during early pregnancy
After conception has occurred, a change in metabolism and biological reactions occurs in the female body, due to which the volume of free fluid gradually begins to increase and sex hormones are intensively produced, aimed at maintaining pregnancy.
How to alleviate the condition?
It’s great if the frequent urge to urinate was the first sign of pregnancy and stopped bothering the expectant mother at the very beginning.
But for many women, this is a happy accident, and they are forced to put up with the inconvenience associated with frequent urge to go to the toilet for many weeks and even months. What to do in this case?
- give up foods that make you want to drink: spicy, salty and fried foods;
- do not include drinks and foods with a diuretic effect in your diet: tea, coffee, fruit juice, rose hips, cucumbers, watermelon;
- do not tolerate the first urge to go to the toilet;
- Do not wear tight underwear or clothing that puts pressure on the bladder area.
Even very frequent urination during pregnancy is not a reason for refusing to take enough fluid per day.
In the absence of medical indications, a woman should drink at least 2 liters of clean water daily. But this volume cannot be drunk at once; the amount of liquid is distributed equally throughout the day. It is not recommended to drink a lot 2 hours before bedtime.
If, due to frequent urges to go to the toilet, urine begins to leak, you need to wear underwear more often and do not overuse sanitary pads, which are often a provoking factor for the occurrence.
To improve bladder emptying, tilt your upper body slightly forward while urinating. In this case, the organ is freed from the pressure of the uterus and empties more efficiently.
When does frequent urination require treatment?
If the frequent urge to urinate is not accompanied by additional alarming symptoms, there is no reason for alarm. But if you experience any discomfort - burning, itching, pain in the abdomen and lower back - you should immediately consult a doctor.
There are several reasons for the phenomenon of frequent urination during pregnancy. Conventionally, they can be divided into physiological and mechanical.
In the first case the cause is phenomena related to metabolism, and in the second- exclusively with changes in the shapes of organs and their relative position.
Most often there is an increase in the frequency of the need to urinate in the first and last trimester of pregnancy.
Physiological
The main physiological reason increased frequency of urination can be called an increase in general metabolism.
The development of the fetus is intensive, and this requires significant expenditure of energy and nutrients, but the life activity of the future person, already at this stage, is accompanied by the release of products of activity, which are removed by the circulatory system through the placenta into the woman’s body.
Actually a woman's kidneys work for two. Despite the small size of the fetus, its high biological activity requires rapid renewal of the environment, including amniotic fluid.
Another physiological reason can be considered changes in hormonal levels. A hormone produced during pregnancy (or hCG), one of the properties of which is an increase in urination.
During pregnancy, blood volume increases, but among other things, the rate of blood filtration by the kidneys also increases, which in turn increases the amount of urine.
After all, the concentration of released toxins must be maintained at a certain level so as not to damage the walls of the excretory system.
Mechanical
As a matter of fact, there are only two of them. They are connected with an enlargement of the uterus during pregnancy and a change in its position.
In the first trimester, when the size of the fetus is small, the uterus increases slightly, but at the same time it puts pressure on the back wall of the bladder, which causes its mechanical and reflex irritation. This is what causes increased frequency of urges in the first trimester.
During the second trimester The fetus enlarges, but at the same time moves from the pelvis into the abdominal cavity, which relieves pressure on the bladder.
In the last trimester pregnancy, the fetus begins to press again, but on the upper part of the bladder, which again can cause increased frequency of urges. This may also be accompanied by fetal movement, so the urge to urinate may appear suddenly.
What can you do?
Frequent urination during pregnancy is most annoying at night, when sleep overcomes you and you really don’t want to get up to go to the toilet.
This is due to the fact that it is at night, or more precisely during sleep, that the body most intensively engages in “self-medication”. It is no coincidence that they say that sleep is the best medicine, and this applies not only to the psyche.
In order to reduce the frequency of night “walks”, It is worth reducing fluid intake 4 – 5 hours before bedtime(as a rule, we are talking about 18 hours, but it largely depends on the individual regime).
Worth giving up and from natural diuretics in the evening. These include mainly, but it is worth remembering that all pumpkins, including cucumbers, have a mild diuretic effect.
Not worth it consume in the evening, since caffeine also increases urination.
Try to sleep during the day if possible. This will help your body rest, reduce the frequency of nighttime visits to the toilet and help you feel better.
You should not try to refrain from going to the toilet if possible. Long hold not only stretches the bladder, which will certainly speed up the next urge, but can also lead to weakening of the sphincters in the postpartum period.
You should completely empty your urine when you go to the toilet, even if it seems like a long time has passed. If the urge does not stop, lean forward a little to tighten your bladder. This will lead to emptying and will help him take a physiological position.
When discomfort occurs Moreover, any pain, pain or burning sensation when urinating should be immediately reported to your doctor.
Self-medication is generally contraindicated, and during pregnancy you also risk your unborn child.
One of the first symptoms that a woman encounters after pregnancy is frequent urination and heavy discharge.
During pregnancy, you will feel the need to go to the toilet more often, regardless of the time of day, even if your bladder is almost empty. Frequent visits to the toilet occur closer to the 4th month of pregnancy. And it returns again in the third trimester of pregnancy, which is associated with a significant increase in the size of the uterus and mechanical compression of the bladder. For the same reasons, with the onset of pregnancy, the “humidity” in the area of the external genitalia increases. At the end of the term, you may have to go “small” more often.
Causes of frequent urination during pregnancy:
This inconvenience is caused by significant hormonal changes that accompany pregnancy. In the first weeks of pregnancy, your body produces a hormone called human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which increases urination. The body of a pregnant woman contains more fluid, blood volume increases, amniotic fluid is constantly renewed, therefore, the woman’s kidneys work faster. Another factor is increased pressure from the uterus, which is adjacent to the bladder. The extra pressure may force you to go to the toilet at night and may also cause urine to leak, especially if the muscles around the urethra are not very strong. Urine leakage can occur when coughing, laughing, or sneezing. This is more likely to occur in the last trimester of pregnancy or during the postpartum period. One way to avoid this problem is to prevent the bladder from enlarging, that is, do not ignore the urge to go to the toilet. With the onset of the 4th month of pregnancy, the uterus enlarges and moves to the center of the abdominal cavity, moving away from the bladder. Accordingly, the pressure on it decreases and the urge to urinate is reduced. This condition persists until the third trimester, when the baby descends into the pelvis.
Urinary tract infections that cause frequent urination
The most common infectious diseases of the genitourinary system in pregnant women are cystitis and pyelonephritis in acute forms. Diseases are accompanied by:- Frequent and painful urination.
- The presence of blood in the urine.
- Increasing temperature.
- Pain in the stomach and lower back.
- Swelling.
Gestational diabetes, may cause frequent urination
Sometimes pregnant women develop diabetes due to hormonal changes. General symptoms:- Constant feeling of hunger.
- Deterioration of visual acuity.
- Frequent urination.
- I'm thirsty all the time.
When will frequent urination go away?
If the cause of frequent urination is hormonal changes, then, as a rule, by the end of the first trimester the problem goes away on its own. With the development of the mentioned diseases, treatment is necessary, after which the situation will change for the better.During pregnancy, many unpleasant disorders occur that are associated with hormonal imbalances. They are not diseases and go away without outside intervention. However, pregnancy can provoke an exacerbation of various diseases, especially chronic ones, in which case therapy cannot be avoided.
How to minimize the problem
Many women while carrying a baby face the problem of frequent urination. In most cases, this occurs due to hormonal changes. In later stages, it may occur due to pressure of the uterus on the bladder.To alleviate the condition, first of all, you need to stop concentrating on the problem. It is important to follow a daily routine and relax more, walk in the fresh air.
How can I help?
You can reduce your trips to the toilet by avoiding caffeinated drinks that have a diuretic effect. Lean forward slightly when urinating to help empty your bladder completely and reduce your need to go to the bathroom. Limit intake of water and food containing liquid after 18 hours. Better drink more fluids throughout the day. Use panty liners to absorb unwanted droplets of urine.You might be interested to know
Exercises to control urination
Most often, women are recommended to perform Kegel exercises to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles. You can add a special Kegel simulator, but during pregnancy it is better to limit yourself to simple exercises. To do this, you need to squeeze and relax your intimate muscles several times every day. You need to start with a minimum number of repetitions and gradually increase to 30. You can perform it anywhere, at any time, sitting or standing. Strengthening intimate muscles will have a beneficial effect not only on the genitourinary system, but also on labor.Also, with frequent urination, this exercise is practiced - when you want to go to the toilet in a small way, you need to be patient a little so that more fluid accumulates in the bladder. This way, the number of trips to the toilet can be reduced.
Symptoms of dehydration
When the body gives off more fluid than it receives, it can become deficient. This condition is called dehydration, but it is indicated by:- Frequent dizziness.
- Weakness, constant fatigue.
- Urination occurs less frequently.
- The urine becomes dark in color and its odor intensifies.
- Mouth gets dry.
- Thirst appears.
- Irritability increases.
- Blood pressure drops.
- Heart rate increases.
- Frequent urination as a symptom of health problems: