Urinary incontinence is a common issue that happens in moderation to almost all pregnant women at least once. The problem usually is temporary, although incontinence may continue after your baby is born, especially if you have a vaginal delivery. If your loss of bladder control is frequent, consult with you doctor. You may have an underlying problem, such as an overactive bladder.
Identification
The amount of urine that escapes from your bladder during pregnancy differs from woman to woman. Some women don’t even realize they lost bladder control because the amount of urine is so small, while others have the embarrassing problem of soaking their pants. If fluid is leaking and you’re unsure what it is, urine has an ammonia scent. If the liquid is clear and odorless, consult with your doctor to make you’re not leaking amniotic fluid. The lower your baby drops while preparing for birth, the worse the incontinence is.
Cause
Stress incontinence during pregnancy is the most common cause of a loss of bladder control. Your growing uterus places pressure on your bladder. The bladder sphincter usually controls the flow of urine successfully, but the added pressure moves the bladder and urethra from its normal location and makes it difficult to stop the flow of urine. As your pregnancy progresses and your baby grows larger, incontinence problems become more apparent. You’re most likely to leak urine during activities that place pressure on the abdomen, such as sneezing, coughing or exercising.
Treatment
Kegel exercises, also known as pelvic floor muscle strengthening exercises, are the best treatment for bladder incontinence during pregnancy. Your doctor or nurse can teach you how to do these exercises correctly. You can find the kegel muscle at home by inserting a clean finger into your vagina and making the muscles of your vagina tighten around your finger. Once you know how to contract this muscle, do three sets of 30 contractions. This is the preferred treatment for pregnant women because there are no side effects and there’s a high degree of success. Wear an unscented pad to avoid leaks that are noticeable to others and change the pad frequently.
Prevention
Keep a chart of the times you use the restroom and the times you leak urine. If you see a pattern, starting using the bathroom before the leak occurs, even if you don’t have the urge to urinate. Continue kegel exercises after bladder incontinence discontinues to prevent the problem from reoccurring. Do not drink caffeine since this increases the amount of times you urinate during the day. Always avoid alcohol while pregnant since it increases urination and can harm your growing baby. Urinate when you feel the urge and always empty the bladder completely.
