What urine can reveal during your pregnancy

Pregnancy affects nearly every part of your body, including your urine. From sudden urges to pee to changes in color and smell, most pregnant women find themselves wondering what’s normal—and what’s cause for concern.

According to Jacqueline Linder, CNM, a certified nurse midwife at Atlantic Health, urine changes during pregnancy are the body’s way of naturally adapting to hormone shifts for a growing baby.

“Two major hormones surge during pregnancy—estrogen and progesterone—and influence nearly every system in your body,” says Jacqueline. “This, along with an expanding uterus, puts extra pressure on your urinary tract, blood vessels, bladder and nearby organs.”

Jacqueline answers women’s most common questions about urine changes during pregnancy.

Why do I have to pee constantly?

Frequent urination is one of the most common pregnancy changes. The growing uterus compresses the bladder, reducing how much urine it can hold. Increased blood flow also contributes to more frequent bathroom visits.

But if urinating becomes painful, burning or excessively urgent, talk to your doctor.

Why is my urine a different color?

Urine color reveals if your body is hydrated, if you have an infection or if you are developing gestational diabetes or other complications. Here’s what urine color tells you:

• Pale yellow urine is considered ideal
• Dark yellow or amber urine is a sign of dehydration
• Bright neon yellow urine is your body excreting excess prenatal vitamins
• Cloudy urine may be dehydration, vaginal discharge or something more
• Tea-colored or brownish urine needs immediate medical attention

“Cloudy urine could point to a bacterial, yeast or urinary tract infection,” says Jacqueline. “Brownish-colored urine, especially if it comes with pain, fever, swelling or reduced fetal movement, also shouldn’t be ignored.”

Why does my urine smell different?

Many pregnant women notice their urine has an odor, which is likely tied to dehydration. But hormonal changes make women extra sensitive to smells, making normal urine odors more noticeable.

Urine that has a strong foul odor that burns or is cloudy may signal infection, so get it checked out.

What does the urine test evaluate at my prenatal visits?

Prenatal urine tests evaluate the potential for gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. Your doctor is commonly looking for signs of:

• Protein in urine, which can be an early warning sign of serious pregnancy-related high blood pressure called preeclampsia.
• Glucose (sugar) in urine, which may suggest gestational diabetes.
• Signs of infection, which can be detected by urine color, smell and frequency

Are urine leaks normal during pregnancy?

Many women experience leaking, especially when coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercising. That’s because pregnancy strains the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder.

“Your pelvic floor is like a basket,” says Jacqueline. “When you put a growing fetus into that basket, it causes those muscles to weaken over time.”

Everyday habits that can help

“If you notice sudden or major changes from ‘normal,’ say something,” says Jacqueline. She shares a few simple habits that can support urinary and pelvic health during pregnancy:

• Drink more water to stay hydrated
• Wear breathable underwear to reduce the risk of yeast infections
• Wipe front to back to keep bacteria away
• Don’t hold your urine too long, as it can strain the bladder
• Only go to the bathroom when you have the urge to go
• Consider pelvic floor physical therapy during pregnancy and postpartum

“Pregnancy brings many urinary changes,” says Jacqueline. “For anything outside of ‘normal’ for you, talk with your doctor to keep your body and your baby safe and healthy.”