HEALTHIER YOU: Hold it? Not so simple when you’re pregnant

BY DR. MARGUERITE BRATHWAITE OB-GYN

Pregnancy brings many changes, some of them unexpected. One you probably saw coming is frequent trips to the bathroom. 

Frequent urination is par for the course when you’re growing a baby, but it isn’t the only way pregnancy affects your bladder. As your uterus grows, it presses on your bladder, and your body begins making more of the hormone progesterone.

Frequent urination 

As the uterus expands, it presses on the bladder and reduces how much urine the bladder can hold. That means you feel the urge to go more often.

Leaking urine 

That same pressure pulls on your pelvic floor, the muscles that support your pelvic organs. The result may be urine leakage, a condition known as stress incontinence.

Infections 

The physical and hormonal changes of pregnancy can raise your risk of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and kidney infections. Left untreated, these infections can cause complications such as preterm birth. To avoid that risk, doctors often test your urine for bacteria. If it’s present, they may prescribe antibiotics even if you have no UTI symptoms.

Kidney stones 

Kidney stones are uncommon during pregnancy, but when they occur, it’s usually in the second or third trimester. A growing uterus can press on the urinary tract and slow drainage from the kidneys to the bladder. Pregnancy also increases calcium in the urine, which adds to the risk of stones. 

Women’s Innovative Care is committed to supporting healthy pregnancies and identifying potential complications as early as possible. Through compassionate care and advanced screening services, the team works closely with mothers-to-be to promote the best possible outcomes. For questions or concerns about pregnancy care, call (702) 413-7740 or visit 851 South Rampart Blvd., Suite 160, Las Vegas, NV.