During pregnancy many women may have a small amount of urine leakage especially in the last trimester. This may occur from coughing, laughing, exercise, bending over or lifting. This condition is known as stress incontinence – very embarrassing, but extremely common and treatable.
Causes
Your pelvic floor muscles are under considerate strain during pregnancy. They have to support the weight of your growing uterus, and cope with the changes caused by pregnancy hormones. A sharp increase in abdominal pressure – as happens when you cough or jump – may be momentarily too much for the muscles to hold back the flow of urine, with the result that a few drops may escape.
Stress incontinence may happen at any time in pregnancy, but is more common towards the end. It is often worse for a few days following the birth, when the muscles of the pelvic floor and other structures are recovering. However, women who give birth by caesarean section may also suffer from stress incontinence.
Treatment
Our Women’s Health Physiotherapist can help to overcome these difficulties by teaching you to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. A personalised treatment plan, involving exercises and lifestyle recommendations will be given by your Physiotherapists.
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