What Cloudy Urine During Pregnancy Means

Pregnancy is surely a life-changing period and it literally changes a lot of things in your body. Cloudy urine is generally considered to be a sign of infection and it can raise concerns among many. The level of concerns hikes if the person is pregnant. Have you been experiencing cloudy urine lately? Are you worried about your baby and your health? Before you jump to any conclusions and freak out, you should probably read this:

What Leads To Cloudy Urine During Pregnancy?

Cloudy urine is not really going to be a speed bump in your pregnancy and delivery. Something as harmless as your pee can actually convey a lot about your health and this is especially true in case you’re pregnant. If you do not experience any symptoms of an infection, but you’re still observing cloudy pee, you may not have to worry.

A lot of women experience cloudy pee during pregnancy due to hormonal changes that happen in their body (1). The amount of vaginal discharge can increase due to hormonal fluctuations which mixes with your urine when you pee. This is why you get to see cloudy urine and it is very normal during pregnancy.

When To See A Doctor?

Even if cloudy urine isn’t usually harmful, you will have to consult a doctor in case it comes with symptoms of infection. These symptoms include difficulty in urinating and burning sensation (2). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that around eight percent of pregnant women are likely to get affected by Urinary Tract Infections (UTI).

We understand that sniffing a container filled with urine isn’t among the most wonderful feelings. However, you can try smelling your pee to check if something is wrong with your body or not. If the urine smells sweet and fruity, don’t be happy. It’s not supposed to smell sweet and have a yeasty scent. If that’s the case, you should probably run to your doctor ASAP! While sweet-smelling urine indicates dangerous diabetes, a fruity or yeasty scent may be the sign of Maple Syrup Urine Disease (MSUD) (3).

MSUD is a metabolic disorder that can be easily passed on to your children (4). In case you’re experiencing the symptoms, you should consult a doctor. This disorder can occur in a person due to genetics as well and it need not be always acquired. Even though MSUD is a rare disease, it can prevent the break down of amino acids by your body and cause a lot of issues. If your child acquires this from you, he/she will face serious aftermath of the condition that includes vomiting, lethargy, slow development, and unusual movements.

What Are The Other Possible Reasons?

• Cloudy urine can occur due to a change in its pH level. This happens when the quantity of phosphates (phosphaturia) or urates (hyperoxaluria) changes, resulting in alkaline or acidic urine (5).
• Dehydration can also lead to cloudy urine because of overconcentration.
• In women, cloudy urine can occur during the period of ovulation due to the increased production of cervical mucus (6).
• Cloudy urine can indicate kidney stones if it comes along with other symptoms like a frequent urge to pee, fever, and chills. You may also experience body pain in areas like your side or back, under the ribs, groin, or stomach.
• It can also be a symptom of kidney infections or pyelonephritis. The infection mostly occurs when UTI-causing bacteria moves up into one or both of your kidneys. If you experience other symptoms that are similar to kidney stones, along with nausea and vomiting, you must consult a doctor (7).
• Chyluria, a disease that occurs when the lymphatic fluid leaks into the kidneys can also result in cloudy urine. Watch out for other symptoms like frequent urination, pain when you pee, and blood in the urine (8).

These are just a few possible reasons why you may expel cloudy urine. The bottom line is that if you’re pregnant and you experience cloudy urine it may be normal. However, if you experience any other symptoms of infections or other diseases, you need to consult a doctor and get it checked.

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