Post Pregnancy Urinary Incontinence - Dr. Parag Gulhane
Urinary incontinence means an involuntary leak of urine from the bladder. It can be a small leak or a complete loss of bladder control. There are several types of urinary incontinence urge incontinence, stress incontinence, or overflow incontinence.
Urinary incontinence post-pregnancy is very common and roughly 30% of women experience it after pregnancy. The most common type observed is the stress incontinence. Stress incontinence means leakage of urine on laughing, coughing, sneezing, jumping, or other exercise.
What causes post-pregnancy urinary incontinence?
Pelvic floor muscles are muscle groups that support the bladder, bowel, and uterus. They are responsible for bladder and bowel control. The combined effect of hormones produced in pregnancy and the weight of a growing fetus stretch these pelvic floor muscles and make them weak, resulting in urine leakage. Overactive bladder during and post-pregnancy is another factor responsible for leaks.
What are the risk factors?
Increased age during pregnancy
Having an episiotomy during delivery
Forceps or vacuum delivery
Prolonged labour
Having a large baby
Obesity
History of incontinence before pregnancy
Smoking
History of taking antidepressant medications
How to treat post-pregnancy urine incontinence?
Treatment depends on the severity of the leak. Lifestyle changes, behavioral therapy and pelvic floor exercises are recommended to all.
TAKE PLENTY OF REST FOR THE FIRST FEW DAYS.
Lifestyle changes
Weight reduction, increase water intake, fiber-rich food, avoid straining, treat constipation, quit smoking. Avoid coffee, citrus, and spicy foods, and soda which can irritate the bladder.
Behavioural therapy
These techniques can be done at home without any side effects.
Bladder training: It aims at gradually strengthening your bladder. Try to hold off from going to the toilet, until your bladder is full. Schedule your voids and slowly increase the time between voids.
Timed voiding: maintain a record of the time when the leak occurs. Going to the bathroom at those times will avoid leaks.
Pelvic floor exercises or Kegels exercise
Toning your pelvic floor muscles will help to achieve faster bladder control. They are easy to do but should be done regularly. The best way to identify the pelvic floor muscles is to go to the toilet, start urinating then stop urinating midstream. The muscles used to stop the urine are the pelvic floor muscles.
Here’s an example of how to do it:
1. Lie down on your back.
2. Keep your abdomen, thigh, and buttock muscles relaxed.
3. Tighten your pelvic floor muscles and hold them tight for 10 seconds.
4. Relax for 10 seconds and repeat again
5. Do it for 3-4 minutes 3 times a day.
Medications
Medications are used to decrease bladder overactivity. Also, infections in the urinary tract need to be treated.
Surgical Treatment
Surgeries are available to help support the pelvic floor and are recommended for women who have completed childbearing and have not had success with conservative therapy.
Percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS)
PTNS is a nonsurgical treatment. During PTNS, a slim needle is placed in the ankle where the tibial nerve is located. The needle delivers electrical impulses to the tibial nerve, which sends signals to the sacral nerves in the spine that control bladder and pelvic floor function. Over time, these pulses block nerve signals that are not working properly to lessen urinary incontinence symptoms.
How to prevent bladder incontinence after birth?
Prevention should start from the beginning of pregnancy:
Drink 2 to 2.5 liters of fluid a day.
Eat a high-fiber diet.
Avoid sugar and coffee
Maintain a healthy weight.
Stop smoking.
Do regular pelvic floor exercises.
Treat constipation
Never neglect a urinary tract infection.
Contact Dr. Parag Gulhane, your trusted Urologist in Hadapsar Magarpatta, Pune, Take the first step toward comprehensive urological care.
Disclaimer: The information provided here should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. The information is provided solely for educational purpose and should not be considered a substitute for medical advice.
AboutMyClinic