Urine Smells Bad During Pregnancy

If your urine smells funny during pregnancy, then it may be an indicative of something amiss in the body. It is a normal fact that women develop a heightened sense of smell during this time of their life. This makes anything smell virtually potent; more than it actually is. An important fact to be kept in mind is that pregnancy does not really bring about any difference in the quality of the urine. However, if you sense that it is smelling stronger and different than usual, then this might indicate an infection; a bladder infection, for example. So not only smelly urine, but also cloudy or dark urine, warrant a quick visit to your doctor.

Factors Behind Foul-Smelling Urine During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is the greatest change which could occur in the body of a female. It is also one of the most critical phases of her life and also that of the unborn inside her. The process of nurturing the growth of the new life inside, puts the body in a tremendous amount of pressure. This may not be noticed by those who take extra vitamins, minerals and plenty of extra fluids, for her and her baby. But women who do otherwise, experience several problems; one of them being bad-smelling urine. Keeping the body from having enough amount of fluids, means running the risk of developing bladder or kidney diseases. So, as mentioned above, bad and strong-smelling urine during pregnancy may signify a urinary tract infection. If this symptom is accompanied by a burning sensation while urinating or an inability to pass urine despite the urge to do so, then the likelihood of the infection become higher.

Treatment

An unattended urinary tract infection has all chances of turning into a kidney infection and this is something which you would not desire, and especially when you are pregnant. The effects caused by such an infection can be quite severe on the infant, resulting in an early/premature childbirth and low birth weight. But such serious repercussions may be avoided by treating an UTI as early as possible.

The doctor may prescribe you with supplements of vitamin C, beta-carotene, zinc and other medication which would be helpful in fighting infection. In combination with what your doctor prescribes for you, you can take up a few simple self-care measures at home to counter the problem. These measures include:

• Always remember to keep the genital area clean and dry, especially after urinating. Pat dry the area from the front towards the back, with a clean cloth. Warm and moist area provides an ideal environment for bacteria to thrive
• Avoid scented soaps
• Never ignore the need to urinate. Whenever you feel the urge, visit the washroom and empty your bladder. If the urine stays for a longer time in the bladder, then it heightens the risk of infection.
• Wear clean inner clothes everyday and it is preferable to go for loose cotton clothing. It helps in keeping the area dry

It is advisable to keep bathing water plain, without adding any bubble bath or any kind of oil. Also, avoid soaking yourself in the tub for more than 30 minutes twice a day. It is not always necessary that foul-smelling urine is a sure indicative of an infection. But it is better to err on the side of caution.