News Moms Need

Stress incontinence is accidentally losing urine during physical activity, such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercise. This major “Oops!” happens to a lot of us. One of the most common reasons for a woman to have this embarrassing lack of control is childbirth. Childbirth can weaken the pelvic muscles that support the bladder and urethra. It often is diagnosed in women who have had more than one pregnancy and vaginal delivery or who have pelvic prolapse. 

Women who develop stress incontinence during pregnancy are more likely to suffer from it afterward, as are obese women or women who smoke. It usually goes away after a few weeks or months post-delivery, but not for some of us lucky gals.

There are four types of treatment for stress incontinence: behavior changes; medication; pelvic floor muscle training; and surgery.  Obviously, taking the least drastic measure that proves successful is the better route to go.

Something that can be very helpful in tightening up that region again is continuing the kegel exercises you learned when you were pregnant, and doing them often. Shed those extra pounds that may be hanging on. Don’t give up drinking water or you might end up with a UTI. (Make sure you drink those 6-8 glasses a day.) Avoid alcohol and caffeine which can irritate your bladder.
 
If this is bothering you (and believe me it bothers lots of women), talk with your provider about help that’s best for you. You can read more about stress incontinence and treatment options at this link.

I remember being with a group of women watching our small children trying to “play soccer.”  We were chatting about different things when suddenly something struck us as hilarious and we all roared with laughter.  To my embarrassment, I simultaneously leaked urine in my pants, but before I could react another gal in the group jumped up and said, “Oh jeeze, I just peed myself again!”  Many of us began sharing that since we had delivered our children, we occasionally lost  control, especially when we sneezed or laughed hard.  Another perk of motherhood.

This phenomenon is called stress incontinence caused by weakening of the nerves and muscles related to the bladder and pelvic floor.  Women who develop it during pregnancy are more likely to suffer from it afterward, as are obese women or women who smoke.  It usually goes away after a few weeks or months post-delivery, but not for some of us lucky gals.
 
Something that can be very helpful in tightening up that region again is continuing the kegel exercises you learned when you were pregnant, and doing them often.  Do them in the car, in the grocery store, at the soccer field – who’s to know?  Shed those extra pounds that may be hanging on.  Don’t give up drinking water or you might get a UTI.  (Make sure you drink those 8 glasses a day.)  Avoid alcohol and caffeine which can irritate your bladder, ‘cause you really don’t need that right now.  And then there’s always crossing your legs before you sneeze – seriously.