Does Your Pee Smell Different When Pregnant? – Yes, Here’s Why

Pregnancy / By

Your urine can tell a lot about your health. You will need to provide a sample at every appointment so doctors can test for UTIs and proteins that can signify issues in pregnancy. This is when you may notice your pee is smelling a little stronger than before. We know your body changes rapidly in pregnancy but does your pee smell different when pregnant?

does your pee smell different when pregnant

Does Your Pee Smell Different When You’re Pregnant?

It is just normal for urine to smell different during pregnancy. Your urine may become pungent during pregnancy but it doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong.

The new fragrance that surrounds you after emptying your bladder could be your heightened senses or your body just needing more fluids. On the other hand, it could signify infection but your doctor will be able to indicate this during your antenatal appointments.

Does Your Urine Smell Different When Pregnant?

You expect changes in your body during pregnancy, but one symptom that may take you by surprise is the reek left in the restroom after you empty your bladder. Although you may ask, does your pee smell different when pregnant? Your doctor will be able to shed light on whether you need treatment for an infection or if your smelly urine is just a part of your pregnancy.

Embarrassing as it may seem, fortunately, there are remedies that will be discussed further in this article to help you ping the pong into touch and also identify other changes you may notice when it comes to emptying your bladder. 

Why Is There A Pong After I Pee?

Why does your pee smell different when you’re pregnant? May be a surprising question to ask, after all, it’s not usually on the list of common pregnancy symptoms. Causes of the foul odor left from emptying your overly sensitive bladder can be from a number of things. Check out a few typical reasons for the rancid smell.

  • Hound Dog Senses

Being pregnant can make you as sensitive as a bloodhound. Smells that didn’t have much of an odor in the past have now become overbearing and are usually the culprit for nausea or morning sickness spells.  

Even though science suggests that research needs to be extended to make a strong link to a heightened sense of smell it has been a symptom that many expectant moms have declared over generations.

Having superhuman smell may make you feel like a wonder woman but after noticing the foul smells around you may be considering whether your new power of super smell is good or not. 

Taking this into consideration you could just be sensitive to the ammonia smell produced in all urine, you may not be expelling putrid pee but just receptive to your own odor. 

  • Dehydration 

We always bark on how fluids are important whilst pregnant. You can indicate how hydrated you are with your urine. 

Pee tends to be a yellowish color but the tone of yellow it is would depend on how much water you have drank and then passed. 

Ammonia is the product within urine that gives it a putrid pong and little water will leave your toilet habits looking a very dark yellow and typically very smelly. 

The general rule is the lighter your urine the better hydrated you are so even though the smell may turn you get chugging on your water and you may be surprised at your next trip to the bathroom. 

  • Diet

The first time my daughter tried asparagus was eventful. I was on a mom win with her chomping down on the green stalks with pleasure. My first instinct was ‘amazing, I don’t have to force feed her some vegetables.’ It was not long till after our supper that the tables turned. In the bathroom, she squealed in disgust as she couldn’t stomach the stench of her urine leaving her body.

Your diet has a major role to play in the foul factor of smelly urine. We try to include more vegetables, and more fruits and eat small and often whilst pregnant so depending on what you have consumed may depend on the consistency of your odor. 

  • Urinary Tract Infection – UTI

Having an infection in your urinary tract can cause smelly urine but it’s usually combined with burning pain in the bladder and lower abdomen, needing to wee more often be it day or night, and urine that looks cloudy in color. 

Your doctor should test your urine at every appointment so if it’s been a while since your last appointment and you notice any symptoms it’s best to get yourself checked over.

UTI symptoms can appear overnight or you may not notice them at all but if left without treatment it can turn into an infection in your kidneys which can cause your symptoms to worsen. 

  • Bacterial Vaginosis – BV

Bacterial Vaginosis can also be the reason you have a pong while peeing. This is where bacteria can mix with normal secretions in your vagina creating an odor that is less than pleasant. BV can cause preterm labor if left untreated which is another reason you’re tested at every appointment. 

  • Supplements

If you have never really thought twice about vitamin supplements then you can guarantee that you will be popping them during pregnancy. Pregnancy vitamins are recommended to help the development of your baby’s brain and organs. On the whole the benefits of these supplements outweighs the fact they could give you the stench when in the loo. Before you begin taking any supplement it’s vital you consult your doctor, they will educate you on the best diet and advise you on which supplements are best.

  • Accidents

Whether this has happened yet or not, you are very much a walking target for wet accidents. Now I’m not talking about full blown accidents but trickles in your underwear can happen.

Your baby is putting pressure on your bladder and the result can be embarrassing. Losing control of your waterworks happens to the best of us but even if you don’t feel wet noticing a strong urine smell may indicate your bladder is under more pressure than you anticipated. 

Luckily if you are the bearer of this natural yet unfortunate situation you can wear panty liners to help protect your clothing. Changing at intervals during the day can help pause the pong and help you feel fresher.

What Treatments Help?

If you find that you can no longer cope with your smelly urine and your anxiety is taking hold the best treatment would be from your doctor. You will be expected to provide a sample for your clinician to test. If bacteria are found then you may be placed on antibiotics or further treatment to clear your infection. 

This in itself is the first pit stop regarding treatment. Remember UTIs and BV can lurk without any typical signs of infection so getting the all clear from a urine test is paramount.

Once you have the green light you may start to wonder does your pee smell weird when you’re pregnant? The fact is it can have a different smell but you can help dilute the dodgy aroma by trying the following:

  • Keeping hydrated – the stale urine stench is made from ammonia and if you are not drinking enough then the concentrate of ammonia will inevitably be stronger. According to this pregnancy hub they recommend that any woman who’s expecting should drink at least six to eight glasses of fluids a day. This not only dilutes your urine and the pungent pong but water is essential for a healthy pregnancy.
  • Hygiene- I am not about to tell you the best way to wash your vulva but maintaining good hygiene is critical to prevent bacteria buildup. Wiping front to back will help keep the germs from your butt away from your vagina. Avoid overly perfumed soaps as these strip your self cleaning vagina of its natural ph balance and can cause infections to occur. 

Whilst on the topic washing regularly is important regardless of pregnancy however there is such a thing as being overly assertive when it comes to your vag. Douching often has the same principles as using perfumed soaps, your vagina is naturally self cleaning so allow it to do its job with a helping hand from you when you bathe. 

  • Don’t hold it – this isn’t always easy to do when you have a baby using your bladder like a bouncy house but holding your urine in can increase the risk of UTIs. Plan ahead when going out and about and ensure when momma needs to go she does.
Wrapping Up

To finalize our research, the query ‘Does your pee smell different when pregnant?’ Has an answer of yes.

Noticing a stronger urine smell during pregnancy has many reasons. The main indicator could point to infection so if you notice any blood in your urine along with a high fever and a foul smell seek medical advice immediately. catching the infection early is always in your best interest. 

Alternatively, if it’s your bloodhound senses picking up on the stench then maintaining good hygiene and hydration levels can aid in diluting your urine so you won’t need to invest in so much air freshener in the future. 

More to Read