Cloudy Urine during Pregnancy

Since the day a woman conceives a baby, certain physical and mental symptoms are exhibited until childbirth. Change in urine appearance during pregnancy are common conditions, which concern many expecting women worldwide. Fortunately, the causes of cloudy urine are temporary and harmless in most cases. But, if alterations in normal urine color and odor are observed for several days, they should not be neglected at any cost.

Is it Normal to have Turbid Urine during Pregnancy?

All of us have a fair idea about urine color and what it means. A normal urine sample is clear, almost transparent or slight yellowish in color, and odorless. Any alteration in these urine criteria can be a sign of some medical problems. As far as cloudy urine during pregnancy is concerned, it is quite normal, unless the change in urine color is associated by other worrying health conditions. For most cases, the causal factor is the food intake, and prompt results are achieved after removing the trigger foods.

In another case, cloudy urine with odor and frequent urination may be warning signs of infection in the bladder and urinary tract. As per medical data, approximately 2-4 percent woman experience urinary tract infection (UTI) during pregnancy. Hence, getting the condition checked by a trusted doctor at the earliest possible date is imperative. Notable symptoms of UTI during pregnancy are burning sensation and pain at the time of urination, mucus in urine, abdominal discomfort and pain in the pelvic region.

What Causes Turbid Urine during Pregnancy?

Most of the symptoms accompanied with pregnancy result due to hormonal fluctuations brought about by conception. Likewise, cloudy urine during gestation is partly caused as a consequence of hormonal changes in the body. Dietary modifications together with alterations in hormone levels are the major reasons for passing cloudy urine by pregnant women. While these are not subject to worry about, there are a few incidences that require timely therapeutic intervention to ensure good pregnancy outcomes.

Regarding actual cloudy urine causes, having a large meal just before going to bed is a common reason for turbidity in the next day's urine sample. It is the increased phosphate crystals generated after digesting the foods, which result in urine cloudiness. This is a temporary condition and there is no need to worry about. Most likely, normal urine color is restored within the next two days.

In addition to the serving size, the types of foods included in the pregnancy diet are also responsible for causing cloudy urine during early pregnancy. Some triggering foods for change in urine color are milk and dairy products, beet, asparagus, orange juice and berries. These food items after breaking down causes buildup of phosphate crystals, which are expelled in urine and caused cloudiness.

Another cause of cloudy urine in expecting women is contamination of vaginal discharge in the urine. Odor free vaginal discharge having normal color is a healthy sign. On the contrary, smelly and discolored vaginal secretion that gets mixed in the urine is a sign of medical concern. Proteinuria or protein in urine during pregnancy is also a probable cause for cloudy urine. In fact, excess protein is the cause for cloudy urine during late pregnancy.

Passing dark urine which is also cloudy is considered as a referred sign of dehydration. This condition is not restricted to expecting women, but it is a common symptom for lack of bodily fluids in healthy adults too. To overcome dark urine during pregnancy, one should drink ample amounts of water and healthy fluids. Failure to do so exacerbates the problems, resulting in severe medical complications, which in turn are dangerous for both the mother and unborn baby.

Other causes of cloudy urine in pregnant women are food allergies, medication side effects and sexually transmitted disease (e.g. gonorrhea). When identified in the early stages, infections can be treated promptly without side effects. To be on the safer side, do not hesitate to take medical attention, if passing of cloudy urine during pregnancy continues for more than 2-3 days. The doctor will examine the physical symptoms (if any) and medical history along with the diet plan. Based on the present health conditions and diagnostic results, appropriate treatment options will be recommended for the patient.