What is the colour of urine during pregnancy?

Being pregnant is a joyful time. Waiting and planning for the family member to be is exciting. But it means lots of change for your body – and that includes the colour of your pee.  

Typically, early pregnancy pee colour is a darker or a more concentrated yellow. We discuss the reasons for this below, as well as what happens to urine colour in the later stages of pregnancy. 

Fear not – a small change in urine colour during pregnancy is normal. We also list when changes to pregnant pee might be an issue and when to see your doctor. 

During early pregnancy, hormones are released to support the growing foetus. One key early pregnancy hormone is hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin). hCG enhances blood flow to the kidneys, prompting them to produce more urine as it’s needed to handle the body’s increased waste materials (the natural byproduct of nurturing and developing the foetus). So, pregnant urine may have a more concentrated yellow colour, due to the greater quantity of waste materials it contains. 

hCG also promotes the production of progesterone – another hormone that fluctuates during pregnancy and can impact pregnant women’s urine colour. 

You may experience morning sickness – particularly in the first trimester. Vomiting causes the body to lose a lot of water, and so it’s easy to get dehydrated, resulting in urine which is more concentrated, and therefore darker in colour. 

Mid-pregnancy, your pee might change to a lighter yellow or clear colour, as your kidneys become more efficient at the waste filtering process.  

But once you reach late pregnancy, urine often gets darker. This is primarily because the amount of blood you’re carrying between you and your child is much greater than before you were pregnant. This is more blood for your kidneys to filter, so your urine contains more waste products and  appears darker. Darker, more concentrated urine may also be due to the pressure put on the bladder making it harder to empty completely – and meaning urine stays in the body longer and becomes a more concentrated colour. 

The extra weight carried during pregnancy can also put pressure on your pelvic floor muscles, ligaments, and bladder, which can result in issues such as incontinence. And after childbirth, leaks may keep occurring, because giving birth weakens the pelvic floor muscles. Find out more about managing urine leaks during pregnancy and after childbirth. 

Why does your urine change colour when pregnant? It could be due to: 

• Dehydration and not getting enough fluids 
• Medication you’re taking (such as antibiotics or Vitamin B) 
• Certain foods and drinks – from teas and coffee turning the urine slightly yellow-brown to a high protein or low carb diet leading to foamy or darker urine 
• Diseases and illnesses, especially those impacting the liver or kidneys 

Speak to your doctor if you’re pregnant and experiencing: 

• Pain or burning when peeing and/or orange urine – this could be the sign of a UTI in pregnancy 
• Dark orange or brown urine – which could also indicate infection 
• Blood in urine – or pink or red urine – which could indicate infection or the presence of kidney stones 
• Foamy or bubbly urine – can mean too much protein and be a symptom of proteinuria 
• Milky urine – possibly caused by a bladder or kidney infection  

Colourless pee (which looks like water) - can indicate an underlying condition, such as gestational diabetes insipidus, especially if experienced alongside excessive thirst. Although rare, some women develop the condition in pregnancy, but it often resolves following birth.  

Many women find it hard to track their pee colour. Try to pay attention to not just urine colour but the smell, consistency, and anything else that seems unusual about your pee when you go to the bathroom. 

The colour of pregnancy pee will change from pale to darker yellow depending on what you have had to eat and drink. But pee colours such as red, brown, orange, green, and blue can be a cause for concern and shouldn’t be ignored. Drink plenty of water and reach out to your GP if worried about the colour of your pee and/or other symptoms.  

To avoid dehydration during pregnancy, which itself increases the risk of infection, dizziness and falls, consider the following practical steps to staying hydrated: 

• Increase the amount of clear fluids you’re consuming 
• But be careful not to increase your intake of caffeinated drinks (tea, coffee and energy drinks) 
• There are plenty of foods that have a high water content. As well as salads, fruits and some vegetables, meals like soups and casseroles are a good way to increase fluid intake 
• We’re particularly prone to dehydration when the weather is warmer. Try frozen fruit, smoothies and ice lollies to increase fluid intake and help cool you down. 

While darker pee during early and late pregnancy is a common for many women,  keep an eye on what seems normal for you. Talk to your doctor or midwife if you are experiencing unusual pee smells, colours, or consistencies, so they can help diagnose and recommend the best treatment options for you.     

If you are dealing with incontinence during or after childbirth, you might find that using a TENA product can help you feel more confident and supported.