Which of the following urinary symptoms does the pregnant woman most frequently experience during the first trimester?

Feel like you spend more time in the bathroom than you do out of it? Well, when you gotta go, you gotta go — and these days (and nights), you gotta go all the time.

Frequent urination is a symptom no pregnant woman enjoys (especially when it breaks up the sleep you really need right now … or when you're out and about and can't find a toilet).

When does frequent urination start during pregnancy?

Frequent urination is one of the most common early symptoms of pregnancy that starts in the first trimester, around week 4 (or the time you'd be getting your period).[1]

Most women find they have to pee with even more frequency late in pregnancy, from about week 35 on. Nighttime bathroom trips tend to increase throughout the third trimester too. 

What causes frequent urination during pregnancy?

Blame excessive urination on the pregnancy hormone hCG, which increases the blood flow to your pelvic area.

While that blood flow can be good for increased sexual pleasure during pregnancy (if you're in the mood for it), it's not so good for long car rides: hCG also increases blood flow to your kidneys, which become more efficient during pregnancy.

As your kidneys get better at their job, your body gets rid of waste more quickly (including baby's, since you'll be peeing for two).

Your growing uterus also bears some responsibility for your bathroom runs, since it puts pressure on your bladder, giving it less room to store urine.

Near the end of the third trimester, when your baby is preparing for childbirth, the head "drops" down into the pelvis and presses squarely on your bladder — which means you'll have that gotta-go urge more than ever.

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For nighttime urination in particular, those swollen feet and ankles can also play a part. When your body absorbs the fluid in your legs while you're sleeping, those fluids are used to make urine.

What can I do about frequent urination when I'm pregnant?

Since increased urine production is part of a normal pregnancy, there aren't any strategies that can completely resolve frequent urination, but there are some things you can do to reduce it.

Try to empty your bladder completely by leaning forward as you urinate, so that you'll hopefully need fewer trips to the toilet. 

Also, don't cut back on liquids thinking it'll keep you out of the bathroom. Your body and your baby need a steady supply of fluids during your pregnancy. Plus, dehydration can lead to urinary tract infections.

Can I prevent frequent urination during pregnancy? 

Besides fully emptying your bladder every time you go to the bathroom, try these tricks to reduce urinary frequency:

• Skip diuretics like caffeine. They'll make you have to pee even more often.
• Don't drink before bed. If you find you have to get up often to go to the bathroom during the night, try limiting fluids right before bedtime.

When can I expect frequent urination to end while I'm pregnant?

Because the arrangement of internal organs varies slightly from woman to woman, the degree of urinary frequency in pregnancy may also vary: Some women barely notice it, while others are bothered by it throughout their pregnancies.

Frequent urination is generally likely to last through the ninth month of pregnancy, until you give birth.

When should I talk to my doctor about urinary frequency during pregnancy?

If you're always feeling the urge to go to the bathroom (even after you've just peed), or if it seems like the issue is getting worse, talk to your practitioner. He or she might want to run a test to see if you've contracted a UTI.[2]

Also keep an eye on the color of your urine to ensure you're staying hydrated: It should be clear and pale yellow, not dark.

From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.

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On this page

• What is frequent urination during pregnancy?
• What causes frequent urination during pregnancy?
• When am I more likely to experience frequent urination during pregnancy?
• Am I likely to experience frequent urination if I have had it before pregnancy?
• How can I reduce frequent urination during my pregnancy?
• Could it be a sign of something more serious?
• Will it continue after I’ve had the baby?
• Where to get help
• Related information on Australian websites

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:

Could it be a sign of something more serious?

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

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What is frequent urination in early pregnancy?

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