Dr. Harrish Kantheesan

Pregnancy is definitely the most wonderful period in a woman’s life. It has its won bliss and hazards as well. To gain something, you need to bear the pain. There are a plenty of conditions that come as side effects of pregnancy. The experiences may vary from woman to woman. Thus, urinary incontinence is a condition that is experienced by some women. It is a medical term to refer to the involuntary loss of urine during pregnancy. This might be sometimes mild in nature. Pregnant women may experience this condition quite frequently. It may even last after pregnancy or disappear soon after childbirth. It may also occur to women in their late 40s, as they develop bladder problem with age.

Causes of Urinary incontinence in women during pregnancy: Researchers believe that the urinary incontinence in pregnancy is caused due to stress on the urinary bladder. This is called stress incontinence. It happens as extra pressure is put on the urinary bladder. The sphincter muscles in the bladder don’t work well to hold the urine during pregnancy. Another reason behind this condition is an overactive bladder. Women usually don’t posses an overactive bladder. They are known to have controlled spasms. Sometimes, the urethra or the tube carrying urine may also be the cause of urinary incontinence in pregnancy. The tube is infected or affected to give birth to this condition.

It has also been seen that the sphincter muscles get stressed in pregnancy. The urinary bladder exerts pressure on the sphincter muscles and in the pelvic region. This may lead to leakage of urine. The condition is such that urine may leak out even at the slightest movement like sneezing or coughing by the pregnant lady.

Incontinence may continue even after childbirth as the entire pregnancy puts enormous pressure on your pelvic region. As a result of which, the muscles in the pelvic region become weak. The condition leads to overactive bladder. The condition may also arise due to the following reasons:
1. The nerve cells that regulate the functioning of the bladder got damaged.
2. The urethra and the urinary bladder may have got shifted from their original position during pregnancy
3. Episiotomy in the pelvic region.

How to avoid pregnancy incontinence?
You should not panic about urinary incontinence. You have ways to deal with this issue. You can schedule your bathroom breaks to avoid stress and embarrassment. Moreover, you can practice kegel exercises to keep your pelvic region healthy and strong. Try to keep a check on your body weight prior to planning a pregnancy. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult a Gynaecologist.