The Risk Of Developing Postpartum Incontinence

Physio&SoleClinic Incontinence, Physiotherapy, Pre & Postnatal July 8 2022

You’re not alone if you’re finding it difficult to control your bladder after giving birth, in addition to experiencing other postpartum symptoms like perineal pain and constipation. Postpartum urinary incontinence is a very common symptom amongst many mothers who have just given birth – in Singapore, approximately 15% of women suffer from this condition. However, despite the normalcy of incontinence after childbirth, many new mothers may still feel shame or embarrassment about this change in their bodies. 

Instead of seeking treatment, most women choose to adapt by altering their lifestyles to avoid embarrassment, or be convinced that urinary incontinence is part of the normal process of ageing. The lack of dialogue about incontinence in Singapore also leads to many women assuming that this is a condition with no easy solutions. Contrary to popular belief, urinary incontinence responds to a number of noninvasive treatment options such as pelvic floor exercises  which can  help manage and decrease leakage over time. Read on as we share more. 

What Causes Postpartum Incontinence?

The miracle of childbirth can do a lot of wonderful and strange things to your body. As your body prepares for birth, your organs will have to adjust themselves, and more pressure is placed on your bladder and pelvic floor muscles. This, in turn, causes them to weaken throughout your pregnancy. 

Furthermore, your pelvic muscles, bones, and ligaments become stretched when your baby passes through the vaginal canal during childbirth. As you recover from childbirth, your body continues to experience hormonal changes that can affect the bladder; when your uterus contracts back to its original size, it can also place extra pressure on your bladder. 

All of this pressure, coupled with the stretching before, during, and after childbirth, results in a weakened pelvic muscle that may be unable to contract to hold or stop urine from leaking. Thus, you may experience urine leakage when you laugh, cough, sneeze, or perform strenuous activities. This is referred to as postpartum incontinence, otherwise known as stress urinary incontinence since leakage occurs when the bladder is “stressed”. 

How Common Is Urinary Incontinence?

You are more likely to develop stress incontinence after birth if you already have bladder or bowel problems before pregnancy as the condition worsens after birth. Other risk factors include: 

•  Having bowel or bladder issues during your pregnancy
• This is your first baby or if your baby is large
• You had a long labour, or if your delivery was difficult – for instance, needing stitches, experiencing tearing, requiring a vacuum cup or forceps during the delivery. 

According to research done in 2018, women who undergo natural vaginal birth are 50% more likely to experience incontinence than delivery by caesarean (C-section). 

It can take a few weeks or even months for postpartum incontinence to go away and for you to regain complete bladder control. However, there are some steps that can be taken to manage your incontinence or speed up the recovery process. 

Postpartum Urine Incontinence Treatment And Management Options

1. Bladder Control Pads

Bladder control pads are discreet incontinence supplies useful in absorbing urine leakage. Like menstrual pads, these bladder control pads can quickly absorb leaks and are easy to change as well as carry around. 

2. Pelvic Floor Exercises

Like any other muscles in your body, the muscles around the bladder, bowel, and uterus can be exercised, toned, and trained. These pelvic floor exercises are easy to do, anywhere and anytime. An example could be: 

• Firstly, breathe in and out.
• Pull the pelvic floor muscles up and inwards as though you are trying to stop yourself from urinating.
• Hold the squeeze for 10 seconds while still breathing normally.
• Repeat this another ten times.
• Do this exercise three times a day. 

Alternatively, you can also engage the help of pelvic floor therapists — these are trained specialists in pelvic floor disorders, especially in prenatal and postpartum mothers. PSC Women & Children’s Centre has a team of local women’s health physiotherapists to treat a comprehensive range of conditions that affect women at different stages of their lives. 

3. Bladder Training

When you are pregnant, it is normal for your growing baby to put pressure on your bladder. As such, this causes your bladder to feel full quicker than usual, resulting in more frequent trips to the toilet. Hence, after the birth of your baby, it is recommended that you retrain your bladder by holding off from going to the toilet for as long as you can, at least until your bladder is full.

4. Lifestyle Changes

Aside from pelvic floor exercises and bladder training, there are many other small changes that you can make to your daily routine to relieve unwanted stress on your bladder. These can include eating more fibre-rich foods and avoiding bladder irritants like coffee, caffeine, and spicy foods. It is also recommended that you stay hydrated to prevent the risk of dehydration or developing urinary tract infections (UTIs). 

Lastly, you can also keep your weight within a healthy range to relieve pressure on your bladder. 

Relieve Your Incontinence With Women’s Health Physiotherapy 

If you are suffering from incontinence symptoms, it is advisable to speak with a healthcare professional or women’s health physiotherapist to rule out other severe conditions, and they can develop an effective treatment plan for you. Furthermore, seeing a pelvic floor therapist during your pregnancy can also be beneficial in helping you to regain the strength of your pelvic floor muscles. 

You don’t have to go through this alone. Postpartum urine incontinence is a prevalent issue experienced by many women in Singapore. Offering a range of treatment options, our team of women’s health physiotherapists has helped many women with this condition. Reach out to us and make an appointment today.