A Guide to Pregnancy Incontinence

The test gave you the result you have longed for and now, you have an exciting time ahead of you!

But it would be wrong to suggest that everything about pregnancy and giving birth is rosy and happy. Many women find pregnancy uncomfortable, the morning sickness hard to handle and the lack of sleep makes daytime functions ten times harder.
And then there is the birth itself. Frightening and daunting, all is forgotten the moment you hold your baby in your arms for the first time.

Pregnancy and birth bring an issue for many women that until recently, has remained hidden: pregnancy incontinence. Yes, I'm going there! There are a lot of taboo subjects which have been conquered over the years and it's time to tackle this one, head on.

Pregnancy and stress incontinence

As the guide from incontinence product specialist HARTMANN Direct highlights, incontinence in pregnancy is usually a type called stress incontinence.

It happens when there is pressure on the bladder and a muscle known as the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor health during pregnancy is important, which is why your midwives make such a point of it from the get go!

And this guide covers that too! It looks at lifestyle factors such as eating foods that don’t irritate the bladder but can help to keep your digestive and urinary tract healthy in pregnancy and beyond.

The Guide to Pregnancy Incontinence also looks at how pelvic floor exercises can really help to keep your pelvic floor muscle in great shape.

The good news

On the plus side, stress incontinence during pregnancy and after birth is for many women, a short-term issue that resolves once hormones have returned to pre-pregnancy levels.

But, for many, many women, it is an irritating issue that continues. Embarrassment stops many sufferers from talking about it to partners and friends, putting up with it for many years.

It is important to seek medical help because there are options for both ‘curing’ and managing incontinence in the longer term.

In the meantime, enjoy your pregnancy and what is to come, managing any accidental leaks of urine with high-quality and discreet incontinence pads.

So, don't suffer in silence, have a giggle with friends and share your experiences to make this less of a taboo subject or speak out to your GP. Talk. Open up and do not feel like you're alone.

K Elizabeth xoxox

*Collaborative Post