Frequent urination is a symptom you need to manage rather than avoid. Make sure bathrooms are nearby, so you can urinate frequently to reduce the risk of incontinence, Grundland says. Rushing to the washroom can set off our fight or flight system in our body, causing the brain to think this is a normal response. This can make you feel like you will pee your pants, as the fight or flight response includes elimination of the bladder.
Over time, it creates a pattern and can worsen to the point where a pregnant woman may experience leakage before reaching the bathroom. And try not to strain, as it can cause the muscles to tighten and can lead to further difficulty in peeing, and may cause hemorrhoids as well. Along with having more pressure on your bladder during pregnancy, she explains our bodies also secrete a hormone called relaxin, which makes our ligaments and muscles relax—including our pelvic floor muscles.
Grundland recommends women do Kegel exercises to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles. Start doing Kegels early in pregnancy—if not before. Later in pregnancy, you growing uterus will put pressure on your bladder, leaving less room for urine and more frequent urges to pee. At the end of pregnancy, when the baby drops into your pelvis, they'll press on your bladder, increasing the urge to go even more.
When you sleep, your body absorbs fluid in your legs, increasing your urine output. This may be especially significant if you have swelling in your lower legs and feet. That's in part because when you lie down, your legs are level with your upper body.
This makes it easier for your blood to carry some of the fluid you retained during the day to your bladder — now that it doesn't have to work against gravity. There are three types of urinary incontinence: Stress urinary incontinence. Both the pressure of your uterus on your bladder and weak — or overactive — pelvic floor muscles may cause you to leak urine when you cough, laugh, sneeze, lift heavy objects, or do certain types of exercise, like jogging.
This is called stress urinary incontinence SUI , and it's most likely to happen in your third trimester or in the postpartum period.
Urgency urinary incontinence. If you have a sudden, strong urge to urinate — and sometimes leak on the way to the bathroom — it's called urgency urinary incontinence. Mixed incontinence means that you have symptoms of both types of incontinence, SUI and urgency urinary incontinence. Some tips if you're experiencing urinary incontinence: You may be able to prevent incontinence somewhat by not letting your bladder get too full, so don't ignore the urge to pee.
And remember to empty your bladder before exercising. Ask your healthcare practitioner about doing Kegel exercises , which strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor. In some cases, this may help minimize stress incontinence caused by weak pelvic floor muscles. Incontinence caused by an overactive pelvic floor, on the other hand, requires relaxation, not tension. If need be, wear a mini pad or panty liner to catch any leaks. Keep fresh pads handy in your purse or diaper bag.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you have any of these symptoms: Pain or burning when you urinate Blood-tinged urine Lower abdominal pain or pelvic discomfort Back pain Feeling the need to urinate even when you've just urinated or if you're only able to produce a few drops at a time Fever Cloudy or foul-smelling urine Nausea other than the usual morning sickness you may be experiencing Stress incontinence that is more than just a couple of drops How can I avoid having to urinate so frequently during pregnancy?
Here are some tips to help limit the number of times you need to visit the bathroom while still staying hydrated: Skip certain beverages. Limit your consumption of coffee, tea, and soda , because these are all diuretics, meaning they increase urine production and make you need to pee more often. Alcohol is also a diuretic.
Empty your bladder. When you pee, lean forward to empty your bladder completely. Don't hold it. Go to the bathroom as soon as you feel the need. Waiting can actually weaken your pelvic floor muscles in the long run. Cut back at bedtime. To limit the number of times you need to get up overnight, you can try drinking plenty of fluids during the day, then cutting back for a few hours before you go to bed. Just make sure you don't go thirsty in the attempt to make bathroom visits less frequent.
If you have had bladder problems before pregnancy, unfortunately these are likely to worsen after the birth. Women can also develop new bladder problems after having a baby. While you cannot do much to lessen your need to urinate frequently, you can strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. The best way to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles is through exercise. Exercising the muscles will also provide a sturdy support system for your bowel, uterus and bladder.
Ideally, women should do pelvic floor exercises before becoming pregnant, but it's never too late. Remember to keep up your pelvic floor exercises after your baby is born too. The Continence Foundation of Australia have produced this video on how to do pelvic floor exercises:. While, in most cases, frequent urination during pregnancy is quite normal and not a concern, in some situations it is best to see a doctor. If you feel a stinging, burning sensation or if you feel any pain when you use the toilet, it is important that you discuss this with your doctor.
It might indicate you have an infection that needs to be treated promptly. While you may continue to urinate more than usual after your baby is born , you will usually see an improvement in the first 6 months after the birth.
This is because pelvic floor nerves, tissues and muscles are beginning to recover from pregnancy and birth. Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Pelvic floor exercises help to strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor which come under great strain in pregnancy and childbirth. Leaking urine after childbirth is very common. It can be embarrassing and inconvenient, but there are ways to improve bladder weakness. The perineum — the skin between the vagina and anus - stretches during childbirth and can sometimes tear.
Learn here how to prepare the perineum for the birth. In This Article. Continue Reading Below. Read This Next. Nail Changes During Pregnancy. Manicures and Pedicures During Pregnancy. Pregnancy in 3 Words. View Sources.
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