Many women experience urinary incontinence during and after pregnancy as the body’s changes can affect bladder control, sometimes causing unexpected leaks when coughing, sneezing, or laughing. It’s natural to feel embarrassed, but don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about it. It is a common condition and seeking guidance can make a big difference. We aim to inform and empower you with practical tips for the management and prevention of urine leakage during and after pregnancy.
First, it is important to know that there are various types of urinary incontinence, including:
- Stress: Occurs when physical pressure on the bladder leads to urine leakage.
- Urgency: Involves urine loss due to a sudden and strong urge to urinate, often caused by bladder contractions.
- Mixed: Combines symptoms of both stress and urgency incontinence.
- Transient: Temporary leakage caused by factors like side effects from medications or conditions such as urinary tract infection or constipation.
What is Incontinence During Pregnancy?
In simple terms, urinary incontinence is the inability to control urine flow. Some women may experience leakage unexpectedly, while others may have stress incontinence triggered by actions like coughing, sneezing, or physical activities such as standing up or walking. Many also report symptoms like sudden urges to urinate, leakage between bathroom visits, and frequent trips to the toilet. These issues are often linked to physical changes during pregnancy and childbirth.
The good news is that pregnancy incontinence is not usually a permanent condition. For most women, bladder control returns to normal within a few months after childbirth or the end of pregnancy.
Why Does Urinary Incontinence Occur with Pregnancy?
Your bladder sits just above your pelvic bone and is supported by the pelvic muscles, also known as the pelvic floor. As your uterus expands during pregnancy, it increases pressure on your bladder, leaving less room for urine. This, coupled with higher urine production, can make you feel the need to use the restroom frequently. The pressure can also weaken your pelvic floor muscles, affecting your ability to control your bladder.
Hormonal changes during pregnancy can further impact bladder control. Fluctuations in progesterone levels can relax the muscles and bladder sphincter, making it more challenging to maintain continence.
Furthermore, childbirth, especially vaginal delivery, can exacerbate these issues. The process of giving birth can stretch and strain the muscles, leading to tears and injuries. These injuries may affect the nerves and muscles that control bladder function, potentially causing long-term urinary continence issues. Additionally, assisted vaginal deliveries using forceps or vacuum extraction can damage the pelvic floor and anal sphincter, contributing to urinary and faecal incontinence.
How to Treat and Manage Urinary Incontinence:
1. Lifestyle Adjustments: Making simple adjustments to your daily routine can help manage urinary incontinence. Opting for decaffeinated beverages or water and avoiding spicy or acidic foods reduces irritation to the bladder. Limiting fluids after dinner reduces nighttime bathroom trips, promoting better sleep. Maintaining a healthy weight can also lessen the pressure on your bladder, potentially alleviating incontinence symptoms.
2. Pelvic Floor Exercises (Kegels): Kegel exercises are another technique for controlling incontinence. These exercises tighten and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, improving the function of the urethra and rectal sphincter. Regularly practising Kegel exercises during pregnancy and after childbirth can significantly improve bladder control. They involve contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles to build strength and endurance, helping prevent and manage urinary incontinence.
3. Behavioural Methods: Methods like timed voiding and bladder training can help manage incontinence. Timed voiding involves keeping track of when you urinate and experience leakage, helping you understand your patterns and plan bathroom trips to prevent accidents. Bladder training aims to improve bladder control by slowly increasing the intervals between toilet trips. This approach retrains your bladder to hold urine longer, reducing the urgency to go frequently. When combined with pelvic floor exercises, it provides a holistic strategy for managing incontinence during and after pregnancy.
Urinary incontinence is a common issue during pregnancy that is often temporary. You can manage and prevent involuntary urine leakage by understanding its causes and applying the remedies mentioned. If you have concerns about pregnancy-related changes, consult your doctor or a healthcare provider specialising in women’s health.
At SMG Women’s Health in Singapore, our team of specialists are here to offer personalised guidance and support for managing urinary incontinence. If you prefer a female gynaecologist, our professionals are dedicated to helping you navigate this important phase of your pregnancy with confidence and comfort.
Make an appointment today for more information on how we can assist you in your journey to improved bladder health.
