The Urinary Incontinence and Pregnancy
Editor | Jun 29, 2010 | Comments 0
Urinary Incontinence and Pregnancy
While pregnant, a lot of women encounter at the very least some extent of urinary incontinence, which can be the actual involuntary loss of urine. The incontinence might be moderate and also sporadic for many women that are pregnant. However it may be more serious for other people. Incontinence could carry on after having a baby and also might not be existing following giving birth. A few females don’t have bladder issues right up until they will get to their forties.
What kinds of Urinary incontinence Are usually Experienced Throughout and also Right after Pregnancy?
The type of incontinence encountered while pregnant is generally emotional stress incontinence. Stress incontinence is the losing of urine brought on by increased pressure on the bladder. In stress incontinence, the actual bladder sphincter doesn’t work well good enough to keep in urine.
What can cause Incontinence During and also Soon after Pregnancy?
Bladder control problems while pregnant may also be the consequence of an over active bladder. Women who’ve an over active bladder must go to the bathroom far more than normal as their bladders have got unmanageable spasms. Furthermore, the actual muscles encircling the urethra — the tube by which urine exits the bladder — could be damaged. These types of muscles are made to stop urine from going out of the body, however they could be “overridden” if your bladder includes a powerful contraction.
The bladder sphincter is really a muscular valve that lies at the end of the bladder. It really works to manage the movement of urine. During pregnancy, the growing uterus places strain on the bladder. The muscles inside the bladder sphincter as well as in the pelvic floor may be overwhelmed by the additional stress or pressure on the actual bladder. Urine might leak out of your bladder whenever there’s extra pressure exerted — for instance, whenever a pregnant woman coughs or even sneezes.
After pregnancy, incontinence problems may continue because childbirth weakens the pelvic floor muscles, which can cause an overactive bladder. Pregnancy and childbirth also may contribute to bladder control problems because of the following conditions:
- Damage to the nerves that control the bladder
- The fact that the urethra and bladder have moved during pregnancy
- An episiotomy, a cut made in the pelvic floor muscle during delivery of a baby to allow the fetus to come out more easily
How Is Urinary Incontinence During Pregnancy Treated?
Behavioral methods such as timed voiding and bladder training can be helpful in treating urinary incontinence during and after pregnancy. These techniques are often used first
To practice timed voiding, you use a chart or diary to record the times that you urinate and when you leak urine. This will give you an idea of your leakage “patterns” so that you can avoid leaking in the future by going to the bathroom at those times.
In bladder training, you “stretch out” the intervals at which you go to the bathroom by waiting a little longer before you go. For instance, to start, you can plan to go to the bathroom once an hour. You follow this pattern for a period of time. Then you change the schedule to going to the bathroom every 90 minutes. Eventually you change it to every two hours and continue to lengthen the time until you are up to three or four hours between bathroom visits.
Another method is to try to postpone a visit to the bathroom for 15 minutes with the first urge. Do this for two weeks and then increase the amount of time to 30 minutes and so on.
In certain cases, devices can be used to block the urethra or to strengthen the pelvic muscles. In addition, medications also can be helpful in controlling muscle spasms in the bladder or strengthening the muscles in the urethra. Some drugs can help to relax an overactive bladder.
What Are Kegel Exercises?
Kegel exercises are another method that can be used to help control urinary incontinence. These exercises help tighten and strengthen the muscles in the pelvic floor. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles can improve the function of the urethra and rectal sphincter.
One way to find the Kegel muscles is to sit on the toilet and begin urinating. Then stop urinating mid-stream. The muscles that you use to stop the flow of urine are the Kegel muscles. Another way to help locate the Kegel muscles is to insert a finger into the vagina and try to make the muscles around your finger tighter.
To perform Kegel exercises, you should:
- Keep your abdominal, thigh, and buttocks muscles relaxed
- Tighten the pelvic floor muscles
- Hold the muscles until you count to 10
- Relax the pelvic floor muscles until you count to 10
Do 10 Kegel exercises in the morning, afternoon, and at night. They can be done anytime — while driving or sitting at your desk. Women who do Kegel exercises tend to see results in four to six weeks.
When Should You See a Health Care Professional About Incontinence?
Talk to your doctor if you still have bladder problems after six weeks. Accidental leaking of urine may mean that you have another medical condition. The loss of bladder control should be treated or it can become a long-term problem.
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Filed Under: Pregnancy and Childbirth



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