Tired of looking up ‘urinary incontinence pregnancy’ and ‘leaking urine pregnancy’ on Google but finding no relevant results? We have you covered! Keep reading…
What is Urinary Incontinence During Pregnancy?
From taking a pregnancy test to holding your little baby in your arms, motherhood is truly an incredible time of transformation for every woman. Most women report various symptoms—such as fatigue, morning sickness, frequent urination and minimal weight gain—by the first eight weeks, some of which are challenging to deal with. Frequent urination is one of the earliest signs of pregnancy, and as a woman’s body changes to accommodate a growing baby, to-be mothers often start experiencing urinary incontinence while pregnant.
Urinary incontinence is the inability to control the release of urine. People who experience incontinence may feel an urgent need to urinate or may leak urine between trips to the bathroom.
What Causes Urinary Incontinence in Pregnancy?
The release of urine is a common symptom during and after pregnancy. Stress incontinence during pregnancy is very common because the urinary bladder is under the uterus, and with the baby growing in the uterus, the bladder gets squeezed. This creates extra pressure on the pelvic muscles, creating the urge to urinate more often. By the last trimester, the weight of the growing baby, accompanied by fluctuating levels of the hormones relaxin and progesterone, affects the lining of the bladder and urethra. Even simple physical movements like coughing, sneezing, or laughing can result in leaking urine during pregnancy.
It can be an embarrassing experience, especially in public. To combat unexpected leaks, pregnant women can start using insert pads or maternity pads.
How to Prevent Urine Leakage during Pregnancy?
“How to control urine leakage during pregnancy?” is a question that most pregnant women have grappled with in the past. Friends maternity pads help in absorbing unanticipated leaks, allowing pregnant ladies to continue their everyday life without the fear of staining their clothes. Pregnant women are advised to maintain healthy body weight by walking in the fresh air and exercising regularly. This reduces the risk of complications during delivery and helps in easing back pain. However, due to urinary incontinence, many pregnant women develop a fear of going out and even when they do leave home, they may feel uneasy and reluctant to walk around or exercise. With disposable hypoallergenic maternity pads like the Friends maternity pads providing long hours of absorbency, pregnant women can continue their exercise regime to strengthen their back muscles and also boost their mood by stepping out in fresh air. Thus, by wearing maternity pads, pregnant women can stay unworried about unwanted leakage and odours.
Sometimes, due to complications in pregnancies, many women are advised bed rest. Constant exertion from getting up to use the bathroom frequently can have an adverse impact on their baby. For such times, pregnant women should invest in underpads for the bed that have protective, waterproof layers to prevent sheets from getting ruined. These underpads are available in different sizes to fit one’s bed and stay securely in place. It is of immense help during the night when women may have to repeatedly get up to go to the bathroom, thus interfering with their sleep. By morning, most women feel fatigued, and this, coupled with morning sickness or constipation, can start affecting their health.
Urinary incontinence only increases as months go by, and many pregnant women are under the misconception that restricting the amount of fluids can help in cutting back the frequent bathroom trips. However, drinking less water than is recommended can result in dehydration. This, in turn, leads to an increase in other symptoms such as headaches, nausea, cramps and dizziness. Staying hydrated in the last trimester is crucial because dehydration can trigger premature labour. Water helps in forming the amniotic fluid, enhances digestion and flushes out all wastes and toxins during pregnancy. Therefore, pregnant women must not reduce their water intake to curb urine incontinence. The use of maternity pads and underpads for the bed to manage their bladder leaks is a much safer and more viable option.
Treatment for Urinary Incontinence in Pregnancy
If you are pregnant, do not take any medications without a doctor’s prescription, as it can harm your baby. A few things that we recommend to help with leaking in pregnancy are:
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Kegels Exercises
Urinary incontinence in pregnancy can be helped with Kegel exercises. These exercises are safe for even pregnant women to perform. If you can get somebody to assist you, even better! They will help strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, which in turn could help you in holding pee longer.
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Maintain a diary
Maintain a diary to assess when you need to take pee breaks. So, the next time around, you are already prepared to rush to the bathroom when it’s time.
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Food
Avoid caffeinated and carbonated drinks; also, steer clear of foods that have a history of irritating your bladder. This will help you control urine leakage during pregnancy.
How Can Friends' Maternity Pads Help?
Friends maternity pads are a hygienic solution for managing incontinence, especially when women are at work or in public. It also helps in reducing the risk of urinary infections that many pregnant ladies are susceptible to. Timely change of maternity pads ensures that the wearer stays comfortable and can easily manage all her activities while carrying a baby. Incontinence issues can linger for a few weeks after delivery as well. It is best to pack underpads for the bed in one’s maternity bag for quick cleaning and a non-messy experience.
Pregnancy can bring several lifestyle changes for a woman. It’s best to stay prepared by following the advice of doctors at all times and keeping everything ready in advance.
