QuestionI am currently 36 weeks and 3 days pregnant with my second child. With my first child I had to be induced at 40 weeks, only because my placenta was aging more rapidly than my fetus. It was what they called a stage three. Other than that I had no problems with my first pregnancy/childbirth. Not even the standard morning sickness that seems to over take some women's pregnancy's.
The same so far has been happening with my second pregnancy. I have not had cramps, stretch marks, morning sickness, or even the bracksten hicks contractions. Until I hit about 32 weeks, I started having severe pain and clicking in my pelvic area. The research I have done on it has called it Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (or Pelvic Pain). My doctor has only prescribed Lortabs for the pain, I take two right before going to bed, and wake up able to actually get out of bed. Now being as far along as I am now, I cannot help but be worried, when I go to the bathroom and see my urine being almost a light brown or tan or sometimes even dark pink in color. I know it may have something to do with blood in the urine, almost positive its in the urine, not a discharge. I am not sure if this is normal or not. There is no pain with urination, and I drink plenty of water in a day. I am just worried that it may be something really serious, then again I just don't know......
AnswerDear Brittany,
First, I feel I must share information about Lortab. Hydrocodone (the narcotic ingredient in Lortab) may be habit-forming, so you should not quit taking suddenly or you can experience withdrawal symptoms. It also is a FDA pregnancy category C drug. This medication may be harmful to an unborn baby, and could cause addiction or withdrawal symptoms in a newborn as well.
I absolutely understand your discomfort, but I did feel the need to share that information so you go into it all fully educated. If you can at all get by with weaning down to maybe one Lortab and one Tylenol - that much the better (with your doctor's recommendation, of course).
Dark urine is almost always a sign of concentrated urine. Many times we need to measure and keep track of how much water we are drinking per day to really know that we are drinking what is required. Even the manufacturer recommends drinking at least 6-8 full 12 ounce glasses of water to avoid constipation while using Lortab. Since you are seeing the dark urine, I would actually suggest keeping track every day and drinking 8-10 glasses of water in addition to your normal diet/fluids.
I would also mention the very dark, pink-tinged urine to your doctor at your next prenatal visit.
I hope this has helped you and answered your question. I wish you well.
Brenda
