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Bladder Control Problems During Pregnancy

Bladder control can often be affected by pregnancy and childbirth, but most of the time the problems resolve themselves over time. Bladder control is affected by the additional weight gained during pregnancy and by the resulting increase in pressure on the bladder muscles. Natural childbirth, especially if it involves an episiotomy, can lead to subsequent bladder control issues after the baby is born. But there are steps you can take to help minimize problems before they start and reduce discomfort during pregnancy and after.

  1. How the Bladder and Urethra Work

    • The bladder stores urine as the bladder muscles relax. When it's time to urinate, those same muscles tighten to help empty the bladder and send urine down the urethra. Two sphincter muscles surround the urethra, which carries urine down to an opening at the front of the vagina. The sphincter muscles and the pelvic floor muscles relax, while the bladder muscles contract, to allow you to urinate. The sphincter and pelvic floor muscles tighten to keep the urethra closed.

    Strengthen Your Bladder Muscles

    • There are exercises you can do to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. These are called Kegel exercises. One way to think about them is to imagine a tampon in your vagina is slipping out and you need to tighten muscles to keep it in. These are the muscles to exercise. Start by contracting the muscles for six seconds and then relaxing for six seconds. Repeat that cycle 25 times and try to do three sets of Kegel exercises per day. Doctors warn against practicing this muscle control by starting and stopping your urine stream, because that can lead to longer-term problems emptying the bladder.

    Who To Consult About Bladder Control Problems

    • If you start to experience bladder issues during pregnancy, tell your doctor. You can also discuss the matter with a nurse or nurse practitioner. A urologist or urogynecologist should be consulted if the issue becomes especially problematic and if you continue to have bladder control problems more than six weeks after childbirth.

    Don't Wait to Use the Bathroom

    • There are other steps you can take to help reduce bladder control problems. It's important to stay well hydrated during pregnancy, so don't avoid drinking lots of water. But if bladder control is becoming a problem, resign yourself to the fact that you'll be making lots of trips to the bathroom. The longer you "hold it in," the more pressure builds up on the bladder muscles and the greater the likelihood of an accident. You might also note the time you have to go to the bathroom each day and if a pattern develops, try to arrange your schedule to allow for bathroom breaks during those times to eliminate emergencies.

    Diet Changes

    • While you should avoid alcohol during pregnancy, regardless of bladder control issues, you should know that alcohol and caffeinated drinks, such as soda, coffee and tea, act as diuretics and hasten the need to urinate, so limit them as much as possible during pregnancy. In addition, if you're having bladder control problems at nighttime especially, limit the amount of water and other fluids you take in near bedtime and try to void your bladder as much as possible before you go to sleep.

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