Urinary incontinence in pregnancy can appear as early as the first trimester. The daily volume of urine rises, as does how often you need to pass it, and bladder capacity falls as the uterus grows.
The pelvic floor carries an increasing load throughout pregnancy, and hormones soften the connective tissue. Together this means that coughing, sneezing, laughing or lifting a toddler can be enough to leak.
This is common, but it is not something to be endured. Untreated, it often continues after birth. Therapy is safe in pregnancy and is matched to the trimester.
Therapy
- Detailed history and a bladder diary
- Assessment of pelvic floor function
- Learning correct posture for passing urine and opening the bowels
- Individual pelvic floor training
- Learning to contract and release the pelvic floor correctly
- Breathing work