Urgency to pee pregnancy

Frequent urination during pregnancy | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

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What is frequent urination during pregnancy?

Frequent urination is when you need to urinate (wee) more often than usual when pregnant. Needing to go to the toilet more often during your pregnancy is normal and is caused by the hormonal and physical changes occurring in your body. Your bladder (which stores urine), your bowel (which your poo passes through) and your uterus (where your baby grows) are all located in the small space of your abdomen, so changes that occur in one organ are also likely to affect the others.

What causes frequent urination during pregnancy?

You experience frequent urination because when you are pregnant, your body produces more fluids than at other times. Your kidneys, which produce urine, also become more efficient. Your uterus – situated directly behind your bladder – becomes larger to accommodate your growing baby and as a result, it pushes against your bladder.

For some women, weak pelvic floor muscles are another cause of frequent urination during pregnancy. Pelvic floor muscles support the organs of the pelvis, which include the bladder, uterus and bowel.

When am I more likely to experience frequent urination during pregnancy?

Frequent urination is common at every stage of pregnancy. During the first stages, hormonal changes increase the frequency with which you need to use the toilet. Later in pregnancy, it is more likely to be caused by your baby pressing against your bladder, while in the last few weeks of pregnancy, you may struggle to empty your bladder completely.

Towards the end of your pregnancy, it is common to wet yourself a little while coughing, sneezing or lifting things. This happens because these actions place more pressure on your pelvic floor, and for many women, the pelvic floor becomes weakened during pregnancy.

Am I likely to experience frequent urination if I have had it before pregnancy?

If you have had bladder problems before pregnancy, unfortunately these are likely to worsen after the birth. Women can also develop new bladder problems after having a baby.

How can I reduce frequent urination during my pregnancy?

While you cannot do much to lessen your need to urinate frequently, you can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. Strengthening these muscles can help you ‘hold in’ your urine until you are able to get to the toilet. The best way to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles is through exercise. Exercising the muscles will also provide a sturdy support system for your bowel, uterus and bladder.

Ideally, women should do pelvic floor exercises before becoming pregnant, but it's never too late. Remember to keep up your pelvic floor exercises after your baby is born too.

The Continence Foundation of Australia have produced this video on how to do pelvic floor exercises:

While, in most cases, frequent urination during pregnancy is quite normal and not a concern, in some situations it is best to see a doctor. If you feel a stinging, burning sensation or if you feel any pain when you use the toilet, it is important that you discuss this with your doctor. It might indicate you have an infection that needs to be treated promptly.

Will it continue after I’ve had the baby?

While you may continue to urinate more than usual after your baby is born, you will usually see an improvement in the first 6 months after the birth. This is because pelvic floor nerves, tissues and muscles are beginning to recover from pregnancy and birth. Make sure you keep up your pelvic floor exercises — your midwife can also guide you with what to expect over the first few weeks and months after your baby’s birth.

Where to get help

Call the Continence Foundation of Australia on 1800 33 00 66
Talk to your GP — Click here to find a doctor near you
Check in with your midwife
Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby on 1800 882 436 to speak to a maternal child health nurse

Sources:

The Royal Women's Hospital (Common concerns in early pregnancy), Better Health Channel (Pregnancy - signs and symptoms), Continence Foundation of Australia (Pregnancy and childbirth), The Royal Women’s Hospital (Pelvic floor exercises)

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: January 2021

Incontinence during pregnancy
Pelvic floor exercises
Bladder weakness after birth
Bladder and bowel problems during pregnancy

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Causes and what to do

Urinating more frequently than normal is common during pregnancy. As a standalone symptom, it is not a cause for concern, but a pregnant person should consult their doctor if they experience pain while urinating or other symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI).

Frequent urination is a common early sign of pregnancy. Urinary frequency initially occurs due to increased levels of the hormones progesterone and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

While some pregnant people may experience mild changes, others may feel the need to continuously run to the bathroom throughout the day and night.

Frequency can also reappear later in the pregnancy as the uterus and baby continue to grow, creating pressure on the bladder.

Pregnant people who have a fever or chills, or notice a burning sensation while urinating, should seek immediate medical attention as it could be a urinary tract infection (UTI). Other symptoms may include back pain or a sharp increase in the need to urinate in a small period of time.

In this article, we discuss the causes and symptoms of frequent urination during pregnancy, how to manage and prevent frequent urination, how long it lasts, and outlook.

Although symptoms may vary from person to person, many pregnant people notice they begin to need to urinate more frequently during their first trimester (week 1 to week 12). Some people may also experience leakage or stress urinary incontinence (SUI) while pregnant as the fetus grows and presses down on the bladder, urethra, and pelvic floor muscles.

The Office on Women’s Health notes that leakage may occur when:

sneezing
coughing
laughing
exercising
lifting something
walking

Sometimes urinary frequency symptoms indicate an underlying condition, such as a UTI — an infection of the urinary system.

In addition to urgency, other symptoms of a UTI include:

blood in the urine
cloudy or foul-smelling urine
lower abdominal pain
nausea
pain or burning when urinating
loss of bladder control

Pregnant people are at increased risk for UTIs. According to one study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 8% of pregnant people develop a UTI.

If left untreated, a UTI can pose a serious health risk to a pregnant person and their developing fetus.

Doctors can often diagnose urinary frequency based on a person’s symptoms. In addition to doing a physical examination, they may ask a series of questions about how often the person is going to the restroom and how much they are urinating with each trip.

They may also ask about:

changes in the smell, color, or consistency of the urine
daily fluid consumption
the pattern of frequency (i.e. when it started and what time of day symptoms occur)

If a doctor suspects that the symptoms are not pregnancy-related, they may order one or more diagnostic tests.

Tests may include:

urinalysis
ultrasound
cystoscopy
bladder stress test
sexually transmitted infection (STI) tests

Frequent urination is an early sign of pregnancy and can begin as early as the first couple of weeks following conception.

Most people, however, may begin to experience urgency in weeks 10 to 13, as this is when the uterus begins to push on the bladder.

After an embryo implants in the uterus, the body produces progesterone and hCG, both of which are pregnancy hormones that can lead to urgency.

During pregnancy, the body’s blood supply increases to support the fetus. Approximately 20–25% of a person’s blood filters through the kidneys and leaves the body as waste or urine. The more blood a person’s body produces, the harder their kidneys have to work to flush the extra fluid.

Pressure is another contributing factor. As the uterus expands, it pushes down on the bladder, urethra, and pelvic floor muscles, increasing the urge to urinate.

Pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegel exercises, can strengthen the muscles of the pelvis and urethra and support the bladder. Performing Kegel exercises during pregnancy may help some people regain control over their urine flow.

Kegel exercises are safe to perform during pregnancy and after childbirth.

To perform Kegel exercises, empty the bladder and then follow these steps:

Relax the abdomen, chest, thighs, and buttocks.
Tighten the pelvic floor muscles and hold for 5 to 10 seconds.
Relax the muscles for 5 to 10 seconds.
Repeat 10 times.

The National Association for Continence (NAFC) recommends doing 10 repetitions three times per day.

Staying hydrated by drinking eight to 12 cups of water per day is vital during pregnancy. However, there are a few things a pregnant person can do to ease the flow, including:

cutting down on fluids before bed
avoiding caffeinated drinks
leaning forward when urinating
keeping a bladder journal or recording bathroom breaks

The average person goes to the bathroom between 6 and 7 times per day, though this number can vary depending on what the person drinks and how often.

Urinating between four and 10 times per day can also be “normal” as long as the person is healthy and comfortable with how often they visit the restroom.

For pregnant people, this number will depend on the individual’s “normal. ” For example, if a person typically uses the restroom eight times per day, becoming pregnant may increase their visits to 10 times per day.

Pregnancy-related urinary frequency may ease up in the second trimester but usually returns in the final weeks of the pregnancy. Once the baby is born, a more frequent than usual urge to go to the bathroom should go away.

Frequent urination is a normal pregnancy symptom. However, it also can be a sign of an underlying condition that may require medical treatment.

Pregnant people who show additional symptoms of a UTI, including painful urination, should contact their doctor as soon as possible.

Frequent urination is a part of being pregnant and should resolve after childbirth.

However, some pregnant people may experience symptoms up to six weeks after giving birth.

Pregnant people who experience pain with urination or who are still having bladder problems following birth should make an appointment to see their doctor.

Many people experience urinary frequency during pregnancy, especially in the first and third trimesters.

Unless the frequency is accompanied by burning or painful urination, or other potential signs of a UTI, there is usually no need for concern.

Urinary frequency generally will subside once the baby is born.

Frequent urination. Frequent urination at night. What is considered frequent urination?

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When should urination be considered frequent?

An adult normally excretes 1.5-2 liters of urine. To do this, he has to visit the toilet 3-7 times a day. Urination in children is more frequent: in children of the first year of life - 12-16 times a day, at the age of one to three years - 10 times a day, from three to nine years old - 6-8 times. The spread of indicators is quite wide. How many times a person needs to go to the toilet depends on many factors. In particular, with a large amount of fluid drunk, it should be expected that the need to urinate will increase. A number of products have a diuretic effect; such are, for example, watermelon, melon, cranberry, lingonberry, cucumber, coffee, alcohol. Eating them is likely to increase the frequency of urination due to increased urine output.

It is abnormal to increase urination with even fluid intake and a stable diet. As a rule, urination more than 10 times a day in an adult is already regarded as a pathology, however, for such an assessment, the discomfort experienced by a person with such frequent visits to the toilet is also of great importance.

Frequent urination is abnormal if one of the following symptoms is observed:

constant urge to urinate;
the amount of urine during urination is negligible. Normally, an adult should excrete about 200-300 ml of urine at a time;
burning or pain during urination;
urination interferes with the normal rhythm of life (work, travel, sleep).

Frequent urination at night (nocturia), polyuria and urinary incontinence

Distinguish between frequent urination at night and daytime. Frequent urination during the daytime is called pollakiuria. Particular attention is paid to frequent urination at night. Normally, a person usually gets up to use the toilet no more than once a night. With the increase in nighttime urination, the development of many diseases begins. If most of the urine is excreted at night, then this condition is called nocturia .

Increased urination may be due to the fact that more urine is excreted. If the total amount of urine exceeds 1.8 liters, then this condition is called polyuria . Permanent polyuria is caused by serious diseases, temporary polyuria is also often pathological.

Frequent urination is also associated with such a problem as urinary incontinence . Urinary incontinence occurs when a person can no longer suppress the sudden urge to urinate. Usually, urinary incontinence develops against the background of frequent urination.

Causes of frequent urination

The physiological causes of frequent urination, in addition to the nutritional factor (heavy drinking, a specific diet), include stress and hypothermia. Frequent urination is also observed in pregnant women, especially in the first and third trimesters. Certain medications can also lead to more frequent urination.

In such cases, frequent urination is observed, as a rule, during the daytime and is temporary. As soon as the factor that caused it ceases to act, the frequency of urination returns to normal.

Pathological nature has frequent urination caused by diseases of the genitourinary system. In most cases, the cause of frequent urination is irritation of the urethra and bladder neck, which have abundant innervation. Irritation can be caused by infection or be mechanical (in the case of urolithiasis or tumors). Normally, the nervous system should receive a signal from receptors in the region of the bladder neck only in one case - if the bladder is full. But as a result of pathological irritation, the signal is given prematurely, and there is a urge to urinate.

Frequent urination is caused by the following diseases of the genitourinary system :

prostate adenoma;
prostatitis;
cystitis;
urethritis;
urolithiasis;
weakness of the muscles of the bladder walls.

Also, frequent urination is observed in diseases such as:

diabetes. In diabetes, the patient is thirsty, drinks more than normal, which leads to increased urination;
cardiovascular insufficiency.

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When is frequent urination a reason to see a doctor?

If the frequency of urination has become an irritant for you or there is reason to suspect that the frequency of urination is pathological (caused by a disease), you should consult a urologist. The first signal is often the urge to urinate at night. If you have become more likely to get up to the toilet at night, do not put off a visit to the doctor. Remember: the earlier the treatment of the disease is started, the easier it is to treat it.

Urinary frequency treatment in Moscow

With a complaint of frequent urination, you should consult a urologist.

Urologists of the "Family Doctor" have extensive experience in the treatment of diseases of the genitourinary system. Based on modern diagnostics, Family Doctor urologists will determine the cause of frequent urination and prescribe an effective treatment.

Pediatric urologists of JSC "Family Doctor" will help in case of frequent urination in children.

Do not self-medicate. Contact our specialists who will correctly diagnose and prescribe treatment.

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All answers from doctors

When frequent urination becomes a problem.

2020.10.15

The technical name for your problem is "frequent urination". In most people, the bladder is able to store urine until we find a good time to go to the toilet, usually we need to go to the toilet four to eight times a day. If you have to go to the toilet more than eight times a day or wake up at night, it could mean that you are drinking too much fluid and/or too much before bed.

Frequent urination can also mean more serious health problems. It can be a symptom of many different problems, from kidney disease to simply drinking too much fluid. Frequent urination, fever, an urgent need to urinate, pain or discomfort in the abdomen are symptoms of a urinary tract infection.
Other possible causes of frequent urination:

Diabetes.

Frequent urination with unusually large amounts of urine is often an early symptom of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Thus, the body tries to get rid of unused glucose in the urine.

Prostate problems.

Men have a walnut-sized prostate that can grow after 25 years. An enlarged prostate can compress the urethra (the tube that carries urine out of the bladder) and block the flow of urine. An enlarged prostate can cause weakness and uneven urine flow. As a result, the bladder wall becomes irritated. The bladder begins to contract even when it contains a small amount of urine. You may feel like you need to travel more often, sometimes urgently. Rarely, it can be a sign of a more serious condition, such as cancer. Your doctor can help treat other causes and treat an enlarged prostate.

Too much alcohol or caffeine

They can act as a diuretic and remove more water from the body.

Interstitial cystitis.

This condition of unknown cause is characterized by pain in the bladder and pelvis. Often the symptoms are an urgent and/or frequent urge to urinate. This condition of unknown cause is characterized by pain in the bladder and pelvis. Often the symptoms are an urgent and/or frequent urge to urinate. You may feel like you want to urinate all the time, but when you go to the toilet, little urine comes out. It can damage your lower abdomen, which worsens when you are suffering or after intercourse. This seems to happen when the bladder tissue swells and becomes very sensitive. The reason for this is not always clear. This condition, also called interstitial cystitis, is treated with diet and exercise, medication, surgery, and physical therapy.

Use of diuretics.

These medicines, used for high blood pressure or fluid retention, affect the kidneys and excrete excess fluid from the body, resulting in frequent urination.

Overactive Bladder Syndrome

Overactive Bladder Syndrome is very common. The main symptom is a feeling of urging to the toilet, frequent and unpredictable urge to urinate. If you can't urinate quickly, urine may leak undamaged until you get to the toilet. It is treated with bladder training, sometimes with drugs.

Kidney stones

Minerals, salts and proteins can form small kidney stones. You begin to feel like you need to urinate more often. There may be nausea, fever, chills, and severe pain in the side and back that radiates in waves and spreads to the groin. It is more common in people who are overweight, low in fluids, high in protein, and have a poor family history. Stones may be removed during urination or may require surgical removal.

Tumor

Both malignant and benign tumors can cause frequent urination because they take up more space in or around the bladder. Blood in the urine is the most important sign of cancer. Talk to your doctor if you see blood, notice a lump in your lower abdomen, or notice pain when urinating.

Stroke or other neurological disease.

Damage to the nerves that make up the nerves in the bladder can lead to problems with bladder function, including frequent and sudden urination.

Less common causes include bladder cancer, bladder dysfunction, and radiation therapy.