Pregnancy certainly brings many changes to your body. The changes that occur are not only in body shape, but also related to metabolism. One thing that often gets attention is the color of urine. So, what if the color of urine is dark yellow during pregnancy?
Urine Changes During Pregnancy
Many pregnant women will notice changes in their urination and bowel habits during pregnancy. Typically, when pregnant a woman will urinate more often.
Increased frequency of urination occurs because the body begins to produce the pregnancy hormone hCG after the embryo implants in the uterus. This hormone is what can cause frequent urination.
In addition, there is an overall increase in circulating blood volume during pregnancy.
About 25 percent of this blood is directed to the kidneys.
This means that a lot of extra fluid has to be processed through the kidneys and then ends up in the bladder.
During pregnancy, the body’s fluid needs also increase. The color and odor of urine can often describe whether these needs are met or not.
Apart from being influenced by fluid intake, pregnancy hormones can also cause urine odor to change.
However, a strong urine odor may indicate an infection or other health problem.
On the other hand, pregnant women may be more aware of the ammonia-like smell of urine.
This happens naturally during pregnancy because the pregnant woman’s sense of smell is more sensitive than usual.
During the third trimester, frequent urination will occur and is not a sign of a medical problem.
This is because the growing fetus will press on the bladder.
In fact, it is normal for pregnant women to leak urine when coughing and sneezing.
What Causes Dark Yellow Urine During Pregnancy?
Here are various causes of dark yellow urine during pregnancy:
1. Dehydration or Lack of Drinking Water
The most common cause of urine being dark yellow is a lack of fluid intake.
In fact, urine color can vary significantly from person to person, but urine color is generally greatly influenced by the amount of water consumed.
During pregnancy, the need for fluids also increases.
When pregnant women do not drink enough water, the body retains more water and releases less water into the urine so the urine appears darker.
2. Excessive Nausea and Vomiting Can Cause Dark Yellow Urine During Pregnancy
About 1 in every 200 pregnant women experiences hyperemesis gravidarum .
This condition is characterized by extreme nausea and vomiting and usually occurs in the first trimester.
Excessive nausea and vomiting can cause pregnant women to experience severe dehydration so that the urine color becomes dark yellow.
3. Influence of Gestational Age
Urine turning darker during pregnancy can occur at any time.
However, it is likely that pregnant women will experience it more often during the third trimester.
The growing fetus will press on the bladder so that pregnant women tend to have to urinate more often.
Well, if the pregnant woman does not stay hydrated during this phase, darker urine may be more common.
4. Food Consumed Affects Urine Color During Pregnancy
Pigments in certain foods or food colorings can change the color of urine from light yellow to lighter or darker.
Harvard Health Publishing notes that carrots and carrot juice can turn urine orange.
Other foods, such as asparagus or beets, can also affect urine color.
Changes in urine color due to food are considered normal.
This is not a reason to reduce the consumption of fruits and vegetables which are very important in supporting a healthy pregnancy.
5. Consume Prenatal Vitamins
Another cause of dark yellow urine during pregnancy is the consumption of vitamins or pregnancy supplements.
Excess water-soluble vitamins C and B that cannot be absorbed by the body will be excreted in the urine.
For example, the pigments in vitamin C will turn your urine bright yellow. Vitamin B can turn your urine a neon yellow-green.
6. Certain Drugs or Herbs
Certain types of medications or herbal supplements taken during pregnancy can also darken the color of urine.
For example, Pyridium, which is used to relieve symptoms of bladder infections, can turn urine orange or yellowish orange.
Alternatively, laxatives used to treat constipation during pregnancy can also turn urine orange-yellow.
7. Urinary Tract Infections Cause Dark Yellow Urine During Pregnancy
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are quite common in pregnant women. This condition can change the color of urine to dark yellow, or brown, and cloudy.
UTIs during pregnancy should not be ignored because they can cause serious pregnancy problems, such as premature labor or premature rupture of membranes.
If urine becomes dark, cloudy, smelly, and pregnant women feel burning or pain when urinating, consult a doctor immediately.
8. Other Health Disorders
Liver disease can cause urine to become darker, often accompanied by light-colored stools and yellow eyes ( jaundice ).
Additionally, other medical problems can change urine to other colors, such as red or pink, green, or blue.
Consult a doctor immediately if this condition occurs.
How to Deal with Dark Yellow Urine During Pregnancy?
Drinking enough water is the main way to deal with urine color changing to dark.
Make sure pregnant women drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water every day.
To ensure your body’s fluid intake is met every day, always carry a bottle of drinking water with you wherever you go.
If plain water feels boring, pregnant women can make infused water by adding slices of fresh fruit such as lemon to a drinking bottle.
When to See a Doctor?
Although dark urine during pregnancy is usually nothing to worry about, pregnant women should still report this to their doctor during routine pregnancy check-ups.
At the same time, try drinking more water to see if this helps return your urine color to bright yellow.
If you find blood in your urine, be sure to tell your doctor right away. Additional tests may be needed to find out what is causing it.
Other symptoms that may indicate a more serious problem include severe itching of the palms of the hands and soles of the feet in the second or third trimester, a history of kidney or liver disease, and burning/pain when urinating.
If you experience a burning sensation or pain when urinating, it could be a sign of a urinary tract infection (UTI).
This condition must be treated immediately because if not, it can cause a kidney infection which can have very serious consequences for pregnancy.
So, Mom, that’s the explanation about the causes of dark yellow urine during pregnancy and the conditions you should be aware of.
Hope it is useful!
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Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia
