How to Deal With Incontinence During Pregnancy

Incontinence, or the involuntary loss of urine, is common during pregnancy. It may be a mild, occasional inconvenience, or it may be a more problematic, regular occurrence. The most common form of pregnancy-related incontinence is stress incontinence. It develops as the uterus expands, which puts pressure on the bladder. The bladder sphincter is stressed, and when additional pressure, from laughing or coughing, for example, is put on the bladder, urine leaks out. A secondary condition, known as overactive bladder, can also develop during pregnancy. With this condition, the bladder receives irregular nerve signals, which cause the bladder muscles to tighten. People with overactive bladders have to urinate frequently, and may have trouble making it to the toilet without leaking urine.

Things You'll Need

  • Barrier cream, such as petroleum jelly or cocoa butter

Instructions

    • 1

      Check your diet. Certain foods and drinks can overstimulate or irritate the bladder, which may increase your risk of developing incontinence during pregnancy. Steer clear of spicy or acidic food and drinks, such as tomatoes, citrus fruits and coffee.

    • 2

      Practice timed voiding. Keep a daily chart of how often you need to urinate so you can head to the restroom before the need is so urgent that you have an accident.

    • 3

      Extend the time between bathroom visits. Once you are comfortable in making it to the restroom in time, gradually extend the period of time between each visit. This helps strengthen the bladder sphincter. Don't try to go too long between bathroom breaks. Three to four hours should be the outside limit you work toward, and that may not be realistic during pregnancy. You want to build in a cushion of time, so you don't feel chained to the bathroom during your pregnancy.

    • 4

      Perform Kegel exercises. Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles that support the bladder, and can help reduce incontinence during pregnancy as well as the chance of incontinence developing later in life. Tighten the pelvic floor muscles and hold while you count to 10. Relax, then repeat. Aim for 10 repetitions, three times a day.

    • 5

      Apply a barrier cream such as petroleum jelly or cocoa butter any spots that become irritated due to exposure to urine leakage.

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