Do pregnancy and childbirth affect urinary incontinence?
Yes. But don't panic.
If you experience urinary incontinence (UI) after childbirth, the
problem often goes away by itself.
Your muscles may just need time to recover.
When do you need medical help?
If you still have a problem after 6 weeks, talk to your doctor.
Without treatment, urinary incontinence can become a long-term
problem.
Accidental leaking can also signal that something else is wrong
in your body.
Incontinence problems do not always show up right after childbirth.
Some women do not begin to have problems until later, often in
their 40's.
You and your health care team must first find out why you have
lost urinary incontinence. Then you can discuss treatment.
After treatment, most women regain or improve their urinary incontinence
. Regaining control helps you enjoy a healthier and happier life.
Can you prevent bladder problems?
Yes. Women who exercise certain pelvic muscles have fewer bladder
problems later on. These muscles are called pelvic floor muscles.
If you plan to have a baby, talk to your doctor. Ask if you should
do pelvic floor exercises. Exercises after childbirth also help
prevent bladder problems in middle age.
Ask your health care team how to do pelvic
exercises for urinary incontinence.
How does urinary incontinence work?
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The pelvic muscles work to control the release
of urine.
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Your bladder is a muscle shaped like a balloon. While the bladder
stores urine, the bladder muscle relaxes. When you go to the bathroom,
the bladder muscle tightens to squeeze urine out of the bladder.
More muscles help with urinary incontinence . Two sphincter (SFINK-tur)
muscles surround the tube that carries urine from your bladder down
to an opening in front of the vagina. The tube is called the urethra
(yoo-REE-thrah). Urine leaves your body through this tube. The sphincters
keep the urethra closed by squeezing like rubber bands.
Pelvic floor muscles under the bladder also help keep the urethra
closed.
When the bladder is full, nerves in your bladder signal the brain.
That's when you get the urge to go to the bathroom. Once you reach
the toilet, your brain sends a message down to the sphincter and
pelvic floor muscles. The brain tells them to relax. The brain signal
also tells the bladder muscles to tighten up. That squeezes urine
out of the bladder.
Strong sphincter (urinary incontinence ) muscles prevent urine leakage
in pregnancy and after childbirth. You can exercise these muscles
to make them strong. Talk to your doctor about learning how to do
pelvic floor exercises.
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| Healthy bladder with strong urinary incontinence
muscles. |
Leaking bladder with weak urinary incontinence muscles. |
What do pregnancy and childbirth have to do with urinary incontinence
?
 |
| Unborn babies push down on the
bladder, urethra, and pelvic muscles. |
The added weight and pressure of pregnancy can weaken pelvic floor
muscles. Other aspects of pregnancy and childbirth can also cause
problems:
- changed position of bladder and urethra
- vaginal delivery
- episiotomy (the cut in the muscle that makes it easier for the
baby to come out)
- damage to urinary incontinence nerves
Which professionals can help you with urinary incontinence ?
Professionals who can help you with urinary incontinence include
- your primary care doctor
- a gynecologist (guy-nuh-CALL-uh-jist): a women's doctor
- a urogynecologist (YOOR-oh-guy-nuh-CALL-uh-jist): an expert
in women's bladder problems
- a urologist (yoor-ALL-uh-jist): an expert in bladder problems
- a specialist in female urology
- a nurse or nurse practitioner
- a physical therapist
Points to Remember
- Temporary urinary incontinence problems are common during and after
pregnancy.
- Exercising pelvic floor muscles can help prevent urinary incontinence
problems.
- Incontinence problems may show up months to years after childbirth.
Talk to your health care team if this happens to you.
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