What is frequent urination during pregnancy?

Frequent urination is when you need to urinate (wee) more often than usual. It is common to experience this when you're pregnant. Frequent urination is also called overactive bladder.

What causes frequent urination during pregnancy?

Needing to go to the toilet more often during your pregnancy is normal.

Weak pelvic floor muscles are a cause of frequent urination during pregnancy. Your pelvic floor muscles support the organs of your pelvis:

• bladder
• uterus
• bowel

During pregnancy, hormonal changes and extra weight from your developing baby can weaken your pelvic floor muscles.

When should I see my doctor?

While frequent urination during pregnancy is quite normal, in some situations it's best to see a doctor. You should seek care from a doctor or midwife straight away if you see anything green or brown in the leaked liquid during pregnancy. This may be contaminated amniotic fluid, not urine.

If you are concerned about how often you need to urinate during pregnancy, speak to your doctor or midwife.

Infection

You talk to your doctor or midwife, if when you use the toilet, you feel any:

• stinging
• burning
• pain

It might be a sign that you have a urinary tract infection (UTI). You will need to have treatment for a UTI as soon as possible.

Incontinence

Frequent urination can be related to incontinence. This is when you pass or leak urine involuntarily — without being able to control it. Incontinence during pregnancy can affect your ability to do your usual activities. Speak to your doctor if you experience frequent urination or leakage that impacts your life, during or after pregnancy.

Ask your doctor or midwife about what you can do to help to with incontinence.

Waters breaking

Amniotic fluid is the watery liquid around your baby. If your waters have broken, you may have amniotic fluid coming from your vagina. There might be a little or a lot of fluid.

Talk to your doctor or midwife if you think your amniotic fluid is leaking or your waters have broken early. It is not the same as wee. It will smell different. Rather than yellow, amniotic fluid may be:

• pink
• clear
• green
• brown

If there is anything green or brown in the liquid coming from your vagina you will need to seek care immediately. It could mean that there is meconium (baby poo) in the fluid around your baby.

When am I more likely to have 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, your uterus (womb) becomes larger to fit your growing baby. Your uterus pushes against your bladder and bowel and makes it harder to wait between urinating.

In the last few weeks of pregnancy, you may struggle to empty your bladder completely.

Towards the end of your pregnancy, you may wet yourself a little when:

• coughing
• sneezing
• lifting things

This happens because these actions place more pressure on your pelvic floor. In many people, the pelvic floor becomes weakened during pregnancy.

What are the complications of frequent urination during pregnancy?

A frequent need to urinate can:

• be annoying
• be a burden
• make you feel embarrassed

It is important to remember that frequent urination during pregnancy is common. If you notice it impacting your daily activities and your quality of life, speak to your doctor or midwife. They can give you advice, and information on what treatments and supports are available.

How can I reduce frequent urination during my pregnancy?

Some things place you at a higher chance of having frequent urination during pregnancy. You can make some lifestyle changes to help to reduce frequent urination during pregnancy.

These include:

• losing weight if you are overweight or living with obesity
• reducing your intake of caffeine, alcohol and carbonated drinks
• reducing high impact physical activity
• practicing pelvic floor exercises

Pelvic floor exercises

Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles can help you 'hold in' your urine until you reach the toilet. The best way to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles is through exercise. Exercising your pelvic floor muscles will also offer a sturdy support system for your bowel, uterus and bladder.

Everyone can benefit from doing pelvic floor exercises during and after pregnancy. Ideally, you should also do pelvic floor exercises before becoming pregnant — but it's never too late.

Ask your doctor or midwife for information. A continence physiotherapist can help you to train your pelvic floor.

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

Other treatments

There are supports available such as:

• pads
• diapers
• underwear liners

If you have incontinence talk to your doctor about treatment. Treatment for incontinence might include taking medicine or having surgery.

Will frequent urination continue after I've had the baby?

You may still urinate more than usual after your baby is born. This is because it takes time for your pelvic floor muscles to get better after birth.

Some people will see an improvement in the first 3 to 6 months after the birth. Other people will take longer to recover.

Make sure you keep up your pelvic floor exercises. Your midwife let you know what to expect over the first few weeks and months after the birth.

Resources and support

For help and information about frequent urination during pregnancy, you can:

• call the Continence Foundation of Australia on 1800 33 00 66
• talk to your doctor — click here to find a doctor near you
• check in with your midwife