You will experience so many physical and mental changes caused by change in hormones during pregnancy. Certain mental and physical symptoms will continue to make things difficult until childbirth. One of the changes you notice during pregnancy is that your urine will change its appearance. Many women are often concerned about cloudy urine during pregnancy. You usually do not need to worry about it because that happens due to dietary modifications and hormonal changes, but you may want to consult a doctor if you experience clouding urine during very early or late pregnancy. Keep reading to learn more about certain causes of experiencing a change in urine appearance during pregnancy.
Is It Normal to Have Cloudy Urine During Pregnancy?
A normal urine sample is odorless with clear or slightly yellowish color. If these characteristics change, it usually means there is an underlying medical problem. You do not need to worry about your cloudy urine during pregnancy if it is not the outcome of any underlying medical problem. The following are two common causes:
Your Hormones
The change in hormonal levels is usually the most common cause of cloudy urine during pregnancy. After the formation of the placenta, your body will produce hCG, the levels of which will double every couple of days or so. This will continue to work this way until the 11th week. Some of these hormones may affect your urine and give it a cloudier appearance. You do not have to worry much if your cloudy urine is the outcome of hormonal changes. The issue may resolve itself by the end of your first trimester.
Certain Foods and Dietary Habits
If you make sudden changes in your diet, this may lead to a change in your urine appearance. Your cloudy urine may indicate your diet includes a lot of asparagus, orange juice, and dairy. Maintain a food diary and eliminate certain food groups to see if your condition improves. If you have a large meal before going to bed, this may also affect the appearance of your urine. It usually happens due to phosphate crystals that are extracted through urine after digesting the food. This is a temporary condition though and usually resolves itself without medical intervention.
However, the change in its appearance may indicate other underlying problems as well.
You May Have UTI
You may be dealing with a bladder infection if you notice cloudy urine with odor. You may also feel an urge to urinate more often. About 2-4% of women develop urinary tract infections during pregnancy. It is therefore a good idea to discuss your concerns with your doctor. If it is in fact an infection, you may experience symptoms such as mucus in urine, pain while urinating, abdominal discomfort and slight pain in the pelvic region. You need to take medication to clear the infection.
Proteinuria (High Protein in Urine)
You are more likely to develop this condition during the third trimester, but it can affect you early in your pregnancy. It occurs when there are high concentrations of protein in your urine. In some cases, it is considered an early symptom of preeclampsia, which is a serious condition with life-threatening consequences.
Are You Dehydrated?
If you are drinking less than 8-10 glasses of water a day, you may notice cloudy urine during pregnancy. Your urine becomes darker when you are dehydrated. If you are not drinking enough water, drinking more fluids will resolve the issue. You may need to consult your doctor if dehydration is caused by some underlying medical conditions.
Kidney Stones Can Be the Culprit
The presence of kidney stones may also be the reason why you are experiencing cloudy urine during pregnancy. The cloudy look of your urine may be due to the pus in the urine. If that is the case, you should see your doctor immediately because the pain of passing kidney stones through urine can be excruciating. A stone may have jagged edges that can tear against the ureters and even block your urinary tract.
Watch Your Medications
The use of certain medication may change the appearance of your urine. You may want to check the fine print of any medications you are taking to see if cloudy urine is one of the side effects. Inform your doctor about any medications you are taking before or during pregnancy to avoid any side effects.
STDs Like Gonorrhea
You may notice cloudy urine because of a vaginal discharge caused by gonorrhea or another sexually transmitted disease. Do not overlook it and go see your doctor for treatment.
In addition, you may notice your urine a bit cloudy early in the morning. Just pay attention to any other symptoms you may experience with cloudy urine during pregnancy. Call your doctor immediately if you also experience cramps, burning sensation, a foul odor, urinary incontinence, or pain in the abdominal region.
What Others Have Experienced
"I experienced cloudy urine during pregnancy but it did not cause any complications. Your doctor screens your urine for infections, bacteria, protein, sugar, etc., on your routine checkup, so I do not think you should worry about cloudy urine. Dehydration may also make your urine look a bit concentrated. This may also happen when your mucus membrane starts to produce more discharge to prepare you for delivery."
"I started noticing cloudy urine when I was 18 weeks pregnant. I read a lot about the subject and experimented a bit with my diet. I also realized that I should drink more water to make my urine look less cloudy. I did not experience any other symptoms though. Increasing my water intake really helped improve my condition."