Postpartum Urinary Incontinence

Ladies, we all prepare ourselves to buy diapers for our young ones but brace yourselves to buy maternity pads as well to tackle postpartum incontinence. It may come as a surprise, but many women face the problem of postpartum urinary incontinence post-childbirth. If you happen to develop this, don’t worry, there are ways to tackle and treat your problem. Read on for more information. 

 

WHAT IS POSTPARTUM URINARY INCONTINENCE?

 

Your body goes through various changes to support your growing baby and to make room for it. Your organs adjust, and pressure is placed on your bladder and pelvic floor muscles which cause them to weaken. As your body prepares for childbirth, your cervix stretches, and as the baby passes through your vaginal canal, your pelvic muscles, bones and ligaments stretch too. Post giving birth, your body continues to experience hormonal changes which affect the bladder. 

Due to all this stretching and pressure, your pelvic muscles weaken and may cause the inability to contract and hold or stop urine leakage. 

There are two types of postpartum urinary incontinence: stress and urge. If you leak when you laugh, cough, sneeze, jump, run, or lift heavy weights, it is stress incontinence. Urge incontinence is caused by an overactive bladder where you get the sudden urge to pee, and you leak on your way. 

 

NOW THERE ARE MANY WAYS BY WHICH TO CAN TREAT AND MANAGE THIS PROBLEM. 

 

INCONTINENCE PADS – Well, the easiest and quickest solution to this problem is using maternity pads which are specifically designed to tackle maternity problems like heavy flow and postpartum incontinence. 

 

KEGEL EXERCISES – These exercises help to strengthen and increase the elasticity of your pelvic floor muscles. You do this exercise by contracting your pelvic muscles (the ones used to stop urine) and holding for about 10 to 15 seconds. Repeat for a minimum of ten times. Gradually work your way up to holding for thirty seconds. 

 

PESSARY – A pessary is a small device that is fitted into the vagina and acts as a speed bump for your urethra. You place it in the vagina in the morning and remove it during the night. Some women use pessary only while jogging or running. 

 

BLADDER SLING SURGERY – this surgery has a success rate of 90% and is suitable for you if you are not planning any future pregnancies. A u-shaped mesh is permanently fitted to support your urethra in this minimally invasive surgery. 

 

LIFESTYLE CHANGES – small changes to your everyday life can help regain control over your bladder. Avoid caffeine, alcohol and carbonated beverages as they can irritate the bladder and make it contract more easily. Weight loss can also help relieve the pressure on your bladder. 

 

ABDOMINAL SUSPENSION – stitches are placed on both sides of the urethra, which are then attached to a strong ligament on the pubic bone, thus supporting the bladder and repositioning it. 

 

COLLAGEN INJECTIONS – collagen injections bulk up and strengthen the area around the urethra. It is not recommended for young, active women as it eventually dissolves and is not permanent. 

 

TIMED VOIDING – visit the bathroom and empty your bladder every two to three hours. Don’t wait for the urge to go. If you are frequently urinating, try retraining your bladder by visiting the toilet every 30 minutes and gradually increasing the time between each visit. 

In the meantime, don’t worry about a little leakage, use incontinence products to cope with minor leaks, take help from a doctor and enjoy your time with your newborn! Bond with your baby as they will be a few of the most beautiful moments of your life. Don’t let incontinence spoil the fun! 

 

By

Nt.Heena Gupta