Pregnancy encourages a variety of changes in the female organism. Any changes should be tracked carefully, so as not to miss the worrying signs of the disease. Changes in the urine are among the most demonstrative signals of something going wrong. The change of color and consistency alterations are reasons to consult your healthcare provider.
If your urine appears cloudy, it may speak of some health issues. Still, even such changes may be normal in the given circumstances.So to learn more, let’s discuss the various causes and consequences of such a symptom.
The Causes
Seeing cloudy urine is common during pregnancy and can be a harmless occurrence. It is often the result of a woman’s lifestyle or hormonal changes, inevitable when expecting a baby. However, it’s best to know all possible causes, so you can act accordingly.
Dehydration
Without a doubt, the most common and least threatening cause of cloudy urine during pregnancy is dehydration. On average, pregnant women are required to drink more water than they used to. Suffering from nausea and vomiting during their first trimesters, women lose more fluids. This condition will turn your urine a darker color and make it more concentrated.
Also, the female body has to support the development of a fetus, placenta, and a sufficient amount of amniotic fluid. This requires adequate fluid levels in the body.Therefore, without increasing the daily water intake, a woman may experience severe dehydration.
To see if dehydration is the real cause of your newly spotted symptom, drink more water throughout the day. If your urine changes color to lighter and becomes more watery, it’s dehydration to blame. Just drink more water to prevent the reappearance of the problem.
Urinary Tract Infections
Unfortunately, urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a frequent health issue in pregnant women. The growing size of your uterus causes pressure on the bladder, thus preventing it from fully emptying. This elevates the risks of UTIs. It’s easy to recognize UTIs as the cause of cloudy urine. Beyond this symptom, a woman will also
- feel the need for frequent urination;
- have painful urination;
- experience burning sensations when passing the urine;
- feel strong odor from the urine;
- have fever;
Remember, only healthcare professionals should diagnose and treat UTIs. It is a serious medical condition that can lead to kidney infection and provoke premature birth. Fortunately, all UTIs can be treated with antibiotics.
Preeclampsia
Some pregnant women start experiencing unusually high blood pressure around their 20th week. This symptom and the presence of protein in the urine (which also makes it look cloudy) signal preeclampsia. This condition is dangerous for the mother and fetus and requires instant action.
Sometimes, a daily dosage of aspirin to prevent preeclampsia will be a sufficient measure. In other cases, bed rest, a balanced diet, or other medications can be prescribed. Severe cases of preeclampsia may require emergency childbirth to save the mother and the baby, or at least the mother. At each doctor’s appointment,you will have your blood pressure and urine tested not to miss the early signs of this dangerous condition.
Kidney Stones
Renalstones are a very unpleasant and potentially dangerous medical problem.It may show through nausea, pain during urination, pain in the lower back, and blood in the urine that can make it look cloudy. If left untreated, it may have severe consequences for the expecting mother’s health.
Fortunately, such a condition is rare and happens in one in 1500 pregnancies. To prevent developing kidney stones, you should stay hydrated, treat any UTIs in time, and keep a healthy diet.
Unbalanced Diet
Most pregnant women have to deal with severe food cravings they can barely control. It’s okay to pursue your desires to a certain degree. However, a pregnant woman has to maintain a healthy balanced diet packed with all the vitamins and nutrients she and the fetus need.
Otherwise, changes in the diet that lead to the abundance of certain products (like chocolate, fried foods, etc.) may change your urine composition, turning it cloudy. If you have been eating more chaotically lately, try to take control of your nutrition and observe how it affects your urine. If it turns back to normal, your diet choices were the cause of the symptom.
Pregnancy Hormones
Women during their first trimester produce a lot of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG). The high levels of this first hormone indicate that a woman is pregnant. However, hCG and other pregnancy hormones may turn your urine cloudy. Most likely, there is nothing to worry about. The symptom will probably disappear by itself after several weeks. Though, it is still worth discussing with a doctor at the nearest visit to prenatal care.
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Some sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea or chlamydia can be the cause of unusual-looking urine samples. Pregnant women are extremely vulnerable to any STIs, so they should practice safe sex and be fast to schedule an appointment with their OB once any concerns arise. Some STIs can be the reason for premature birth or other pregnancy complications. They should not be left untreated.
Preventative Measures
Cloudy urine can be a combination of several factors. The best way to maintain good health and reduce discomfort is to take it into your hands. Let’s recall the essential steps to preventing and treating cloudy urine symptoms:
- have lots of rest;
- drink plenty of liquids;
- have a balanced diet;
- do a reasonable amount of physical activity;
- do not skip medical appointments;
- take prescriptions regularly;
- practice safe sex.
Following these steps should be the foundation of a healthy pregnancy.
A perfect situation is when a woman should treat all the infections or other health disorders before trying for a baby. However, plenty of treatments are available during pregnancy as well. So, active measures should be taken to deal with all chronic diseases or other health issues. A healthy and happy mother is the guarantee of a healthy baby.
Cloudy Urine Pregnancy – The Takeaway
Pregnancy can be a challenging time for your body and mind. A woman should keep a close eye on all the changes in her body and mental health. Of course, it also includes paying attention to the state of urine samples or any unusual or painful sensations during urination. Most often, cloudy urine gives no reason for concern. However, when this symptom is combined with others, like pain, blood in urine, burning sensation, fever, or else, it is certainly the time to schedule an appointment for further testing and observation.