Of all the bodily changes that come about during pregnancy, incontinence, particularly stress urinary incontinence, is probably the least welcomed. Unfortunately, many triggers could result in incontinence during the pregnancy process, including increased pressure on the muscles surrounding the bladder!
An expanding uterus creates pressure on the bladder, reducing its capacity to prevent urinary incontinence and may lead to bladder and bowel problems. The weight of a growing baby typically leads to prolonged pushing on the pelvic floor muscles, which can become stretched and weakened, making it harder to control the bladder and prevent urine leakage. Finally, hormonal changes during pregnancy, such as the production of higher levels of the hormone progesterone, can relax the bladder and urinary tract muscles and tissues.
What's worse, those same reasons could also lead women to experience incontinence even after delivering their baby. Hormonal changes and weak pelvic floor muscles (i.e., the muscles that support the bladder and uterus) could result in continued bladder control problems. Other complications related to postpartum, such as urinary tract infections, hemorrhoids, or even nerve damage during delivery could stretch those muscles, which can lead to continued stress incontinence.
While it's a totally normal side effect, fecal and urinary incontinence during pregnancy can be a frustrating and stressful issue, especially when you're dealing with a lot of other overwhelming circumstances related to your pregnancy. This article will serve as a guide to help you or pregnant women you know navigate incontinence both during and after giving birth!
Tips to Deal with Incontinence During Pregnancy (Prenatal)
The good news is the pregnancy incontinence you are dealing with at the moment is more than likely temporary. But until you give birth, here are some tips that can help make it easier:
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Do pelvic floor muscle exercises
Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles can help to either fully prevent or at least lessen the intensity of incontinence during pregnancy. More commonly known as kegel exercises, work by tightening your pelvic muscles as if you're trying to stop the flow of urine, holding for a few seconds, and then relaxing. It's recommended to repeat kegel exercises several times a day and be done anywhere seated or lying down.
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Stay hydrated
It sounds counter-intuitive but drinking plenty of water can actually help to keep your bladder healthy and actually reduce the risk factors associated with involuntary loss of urine.
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Empty your bladder regularly
Some pregnant women experience an overactive bladder during pregnancy, but even if you don't, it's recommended to try to go to the bathroom every two to three hours, even when you don't feel like you need to. Releasing urine voluntarily whenever possible will decrease the bladder's involuntary releases and reduce the risk of a urinary tract infection.
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Invest in incontinence products
There are plenty of fantastic products out there to help manage pregnancy incontinence, from night pads to briefs to diapers that can help absorb leaks. Keep your clothes dry and absorb any odor that can be embarrassing!
Tips to Deal with Incontinence After Pregnancy (Postnatal)
Dealing with pregnancy incontinence after giving birth is a different ballgame, which involves a combination of lifestyle changes, exercises, and medical treatments. Unfortunately, if you are still experiencing incontinence post-pregnancy, there are some more radical options to recover from the issue, as opposed to the more at-home remedies you can use for urinary incontinence during pregnancy. Here are some tips for dealing with incontinence after giving birth:
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Pelvic floor exercises
Just like with incontinence during pregnancy, strengthening the pelvic floor muscles is one of the most effective ways to improve bladder control. Kegel exercises are an effective way to improve your body's ability to reduce urinary incontinence symptoms.
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Bladder training
Bladder training involves more timely and scheduled trips to the bathroom. In the case of postpartum incontinence, you should gradually increase the time between bathroom breaks to help your bladder hold more urine. This technique is more helpful for those who may be dealing with an overactive bladder or have damaged their nerves or bladder muscles.
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Medications or Surgery
You should contact your healthcare provider if you have reached a stage where you're interested in considering either of these options. There are several medications that can help to improve bladder control, such as anticholinergics and mirabegron. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to correct stress incontinence, with some surgical options being sling procedures and bladder neck suspension. Please note, you should contact your healthcare provider if you're interested in either of these options.
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Invest in incontinence products
Investing in good urinary incontinence products out there is highly recommended, even if you are looking to get rid of your incontinence altogether. In the time being, incontinence products can make sure you are feeling safe from embarrassment and worry since they absorb any leaks before they become a problem.
WellBefore and You
Whether you're dealing with urinary incontinence or offering support to a pregnant woman, with the right combination of lifestyle changes, exercises, and medical treatments, incontinence during and after pregnancy can be managed effectively. One of the most important ingredients to the successful management of incontinence is incontinence products, and WellBefore has just the ones for you!
Getting comfortable, well-fitting incontinence underwear or discreet adult diapers could make your day when you're dealing with incontinence. That's why WellBefore offers affordable incontinence products with many different features and sizes to keep you feeling fresh and ready to take control of your daily life!
If you're unsure about what products, features, or sizes are right for you, reach out to our customer service team who are happy to help with your questions.