how often is normal to pee at night, pregnant❓
chapters:
what is the normal recommendation?
how many times I peed at night during pregnancy (by month)
why am I peeing so much at night pregnant?
what can I do?
the verdict
The main answer here is going to be that there is no such thing as "normal" in pregnancy, or with anything in life! But this is what I found myself typing into Google, so I wouldn't be surprised if there were other girlies just like me, wondering the exact same!!!
The most important thing I would focus on is that if you are concerned, and feeling like it may not be normal, or feeling scared to what it may mean, then I would always recommend checking with a health specialist or midwife (if you already have one).
They will put your mind at-ease straight away!
This blog post is definitely in no-way professional advice, but is more-so how often I peed during pregnancy at night, how the frequency has changed as my pregnancy has progressed, as well as what I have found this may be linked to - in hopes of alleviating you of any stress, finding some connection and relatability that you are not alone, since we are all just trying to figure it out as we go (specially as a girlie in her 20s, about to be a first-time mum, after an unplanned/unwanted pregnancy; hint: ME!).
what is the normal recommendation?
So, I want to provide you with what you most likely want to know first, to then get into how it personally was for me.
In terms of where to find this information, my go-to's would be:
I'm a London-girlie, so I would always to think to go to the NHS website (the official national health service in the UK) , if I don't have a midwife already
Call the maternity help line of your area
Or call the non-emergency help line of your area (here it is 111)
On the NHS website, I haven't found any specific number or range of times, that is considered "normal" or common to pee at night during pregnancy (demonstrating that there probably is no typical recommendation).
However, when I generally Googled, it can vary very widely, but it seems that if you pee around more than 2-times a night, this may be called Nocturia; which is very common in pregnancy, and specially by the third trimester.
It doesn't seem to be worrying, but can be a common pregnancy symptom!
how many times I peed at night during pregnancy (by month)
About to expose my peeing activity, but I feel like it helps to share this kind of experience so you don't feel alone or entirely worried, if you feel like you are peeing quite often, in early pregnancy.
Currently, I am between 4-to-5 months pregnant, and this is how many times I woke up at night to pee (every night):
1 month: 0
2 months: 1 to 2
3 months: 3
4-to-5 months: 1
So, right now I am waking up about once every night.
This is if I don't drink more liquids than I usually do!
But, my third month of pregnancy was WILD.
I'm not sure what was happening there, but I was waking up about 3 times EVERY.NIGHT. to pee, and it really disrupted my sleep, as you can imagine.
It was extremely annoying, at the same time I eventually got used to it.
If anything, I was shocked when the amount of times I woke up to pee at night 4-to-5 months pregnant (currently) reduced down to 1. Since I had just accepted my fate that this is what it was going to be until the end of my pregnancy, and if anything be progressively more.
If you also have gone through similar changes in the frequent urination during pregnancy, then girl SAME!
why am I peeing so much at night pregnant?
From scavenging the internet for answers, it is pretty much all related to the associated changes your body goes through to prepare for pregnancy, and labour.
The most common reasons boiled down to:
the pressure your growing uterus is having on your bladder
increased blood flow during pregnancy
changes in hormones
Which are the most common answers to most early pregnancy symptoms, from what I have found!
Frequent urination at night when pregnant seems to be a very common early pregnancy symptom, which can come back in the third trimester with the added pressure of the baby's growth, alongside the placenta and your uterus.
As you can see, it is very normal and common to have frequent urination in pregnancy, and specially early on, such as at 3 months just like I did!
what can I do?
I hadn't wondered IF there was even anything I could do, since I thought this was just another pregnancy experience I would need to just go through.
BUT, with my many Google searches it seems there are a few things you can to do to try and reduce the frequency of urination at night, during pregnancy:
avoiding drinking many liquids before sleep
leaning forward when peeing
avoiding caffeinated drinks
This isn't guaranteed to solve all of your getting-up-at-night-to-pee, during pregnancy, experiences but it can help make it better!
I personally did not do any of the above, except to try avoid drinking liquids right before bed (but I found myself to be quite thirsty before sleep so in this case I would hydrate and honour what my body was trying to tell me, without overdoing it).
the verdict
After all, it really is a common early pregnancy symptom to have frequent urination and is not something you should be worried about in most cases.
Once again, definitely check with your local healthcare service if you are unsure or to at least put your mind at-ease.
But I thought it would be nice to share my personal time-stamped progression of frequent urination in early pregnancy, since I had the idea that peeing a lot at night pregnant only happened right at the end, when you were heavily pregnant in your third trimester. Well, apparently not!
So, I wanted to help demystify that a little bit, and let you know that this is a common and normal pregnancy experience that might also not stay the same, but fluctuate as mine did! You might actually pee less after a certain point, like me after 3 months, to potentially experience it again in third trimester which is more spoken about.
If you are currently getting up every night to pee, as I am, and multiple times(!), then please try be patient with yourself and hang on in there! It is only temporary and you can get through it; at least is what I am telling myself!
I hope that's helped reassure you if you also came to seek some validation for frequent urination as an early pregnancy symptom, in the online community, as I did. You will be just fine, and you are doing great!
The way I choose to take control of my narrative here is to simply strengthen my mental resilience as to what I can handle, how I can cope, and hype myself as much as possible through the whole process! I want you to also be able to find your strength, no matter how crazy it may feel!
And as always, before we go, our mantra…
Own your Womanhood. Own your Time.
♡
I’ll be logging updates throughout this whole journey as a mother-to-be, working to be an entrepreneur, but to also still preserve the girlhood within, to try and be her best self, and live her happiest life, so keep-up with me through the blog!
I release a new blog post every Friday at 1pm! (UK-time)
Let me know if you’re in a similar headspace (pregnant or not), being in our 20s is confusing, and taking control of our story is the only way we can take ownership of our happiness and live out our dream life.
I document my unwanted pregnancy journey at 25, taking control of my narrative, figuring out being a girl in my 20s, chasing my dream life, and conquering my boss babe dream of becoming a self-employed, entrepreneur / Blogger!