Dark Urine During Pregnancy

It is common to notice some changes in the body during pregnancy. From the time of conception till childbirth, the body undergoes a series of hormonal changes, which can be seen physically in terms of increase in bodily weight, changes in the way the body may function, etc. One such change is noticing dark urine during pregnancy. Under normal circumstances, the urine may be white or pale yellow in color. But during pregnancy or any illness, the color of the urine may change to a darker shade. Some women may also experience amber or dark yellow urine during pregnancy. Urine odor is also not uncommon during pregnancy.

Reasons for Noticing Dark-Colored Urine During Pregnancy

Though passing dark urine is relatively harmless and hardly a matter of grave concern, it is better to get to the root cause of this condition. As it may be an indication of some abnormality, visit the gynecologist if you have even an ounce of doubt in your mind.

• One of the main reasons for noticing urine color changes is because of dehydration. This condition is caused by persistent vomiting, particularly in the first trimester, which leads to water loss. This in turn results in lower output of urine which is concentrated and may appear as dark yellow in color.
• Dark cloudy urine during pregnancy can be due to a condition called proteinuria. When there are molecules of protein passed through the urine, it may give a dense appearance. This can be observed in women who are in their second and third trimester.
• Contracting urinary tract infection (UTI) is very common in pregnant women. Other symptoms may include burning sensation while passing urine and extreme urge to urinate.
• Another common condition which may result in dark-colored urine is cystitis or bladder infection This is caused due to a surge of hormones in the body, which is usual during pregnancy. This increase in the hormonal levels causes the bladder to enlarge and the muscles relax. The lining of the bladder thins out, making the bladder more susceptible to infections.
• Hematuria or blood in urine is also one of the causative factors for dark-colored urine. There is an abnormal increase in the number of red blood cells, which tend to be passed out of the body through urine. This gives the urine a reddish or brown tinge.
• Pregnant women usually have a high intake of phosphates in their diet, in the form of milk, vegetables like asparagus and beet. The phosphate molecules crystallize and get precipitated in the urine leading to change in the color of the urine.
• Other causes for observing discolored urine during pregnancy are the presence of kidney infection or sexually transmitted diseases like gonorrhea.

Precautionary Measures

It is always better to exercise precaution during pregnancy to avoid any unnecessary complications. Any changes, like discoloration of urine during pregnancy, observed, must be reported to the gynecologist, who may detect the exact reason for the same. The doctor may prescribe appropriate medications that can treat the conditions which can bring back this condition to normal. Following a proper and balanced diet plan will also help ward off this disorder. It would be a good idea to go through dark urine causes to get a better idea of how to reduce this occurrence.

Drinking plenty of water and fluids and following a healthy diet during pregnancy can prevent the occurrence of dark urine during pregnancy. However, it is always advisable to stay in touch with your gynecologist to ward off any unnecessary complications which may arise due to this condition. Take care!