New mums experience incredible joy alongside unexpected challenges. You've probably prepared for sleepless nights, sore nipples, and emotional ups and downs. But here's something many women don't expect: bladder leakage after giving birth.
You're not alone if you find yourself crossing your legs when you sneeze or rushing to the loo more often. At Ontex Healthcare, we understand the personal hygiene challenges women face at every stage of this journey.
Our article will give you the facts you need about postpartum bladder changes. We’ll also share practical tips to help you feel confident and comfortable during your recovery.
Let's tackle your postpartum incontinence together.
Postpartum Urinary Incontinence (PPUI) refers to the involuntary urine leakage post-childbirth. Two main factors contribute to it: the physical impact of childbirth on your pelvic nerves and tissues, and the weakening of your pelvic floor muscles throughout pregnancy.
We’ll break down how each of these factors affects your bladder control.
Childbirth puts tremendous pressure on your pelvic area. This process can stretch and strain the nerves and supportive tissues around your bladder. And when these structures get disrupted, they temporarily lose their ability to send clear signals about when you need to pee.
In our experience, vaginal deliveries typically cause more nerve stretching than caesarean sections. However, both types of delivery can affect bladder control to some extent.
Your pelvic floor muscles work like a support hammock beneath your bladder, bowel, and uterus. Throughout pregnancy, these muscles gradually weaken under the weight of your growing baby.
The hormones that soften your ligaments for delivery also affect that bundle of muscle. Eventually, these muscles lose strength and can't support your bladder properly. That’s when actions like coughing, sneezing, or lifting your baby can cause leaks.
Don’t worry even if you can’t control your bladder currently… There's hope. It’s totally reversible, and you can take charge of your recovery with a two-pronged approach that’s proven to help you control your bladder. The process involves combining active pelvic exercises with effective daily habits to rebuild your pelvic floor strength.
After working with thousands of new mums, we've seen that women who focus on both areas recover faster and stay stronger.
Let’s take a look at those strategies now.
You have targeted pelvic floor muscle training as your primary method. This active exercise will help rebuild your muscle strength, but you need to understand how to do it correctly for effective results.
So, here’s a three-step process on how to exercise your pelvic floor muscles the right way:
Isolate the Muscles: First, sit comfortably and imagine you're trying to stop the flow of urine midstream. Then feel for the muscles that lift and tighten around your vagina and back passage.
Master the Technique: In step two, squeeze and lift these muscles upward, hold for five seconds, then relax completely for five seconds. But don't hold your breath or tense your buttocks.
Establish a Daily Routine: You have to make this exercise one of your regular habits. A good example is to do three sets of 10-15 repetitions per day, while feeding your baby or watching TV.
Daily adjustments in your baby care routine, like the ones below, will further progress your recovery and reduce strain on your pelvic floor:
It’s vital for you to manage your fluid intake. You can try sipping water steadily and absolutely avoid the consumption of bladder irritants like caffeine.
Ensure having a fibre-rich diet to avoid constipation.
Always bend your knees first when you’re picking up your baby.
Your body experiences massive hormonal changes during and after pregnancy, which can badly affect your mental well-being. The bladder leakage is a part of it, and then you have baby blues to deal with as well.
We’ll now share some information on how you can handle them.
Loss of bladder control can create anxiety about leaving the house or social withdrawal from activities you once enjoyed. It’s because you might worry about accidents in public or feel embarrassed around friends.
We highly recommend that you speak with your general practitioner (GP), health visitor, or a trusted friend to help normalise your childbirth recovery experience. Professional support can guide you toward additional treatments if needed.
Ontex products can provide reliable external support for your pelvic floor during recovery. Our continence care range includes iD, Lille, and Kylie products that give you discreet, comfortable protection when you need it most.
Postpartum bladder leakage affects countless new mums, but you don't have to suffer in silence. There are effective solutions to help you regain control and confidence during this important recovery period.
Throughout this article, we've explored how childbirth impacts your pelvic nerves and muscles, plus practical recovery strategies. You've learned pelvic floor exercises, good daily habits, and how proper support products can improve your experience.
Talking about support products, don’t forget to browse Ontex's trusted incontinence range today. Our quality products give you the reliable protection you need for confident motherhood.
In addition to understanding postpartum incontinence, new mothers may also need to consider other aspects of their postpartum health. For those in the Oregon area, accessing comprehensive care can be crucial. Services such as a Lebanon pregnancy ultrasound can provide valuable insights into your postpartum recovery and overall well-being. These ultrasounds can help monitor any changes and ensure that your body is healing properly after childbirth. It's important to stay informed and seek out resources that support your health journey during this transformative time.
Supriyo Khan
Supriyo Khan
Supriyo Khan
Supriyo Khan
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