Urinary incontinence is a loss of bladder control that results in unwanted leakage of urine. There are various types from stress incontinence to overactive bladder, which result in different amounts of leakage.
During pregnancy, women commonly develop transient stress incontinence. Due to an increase of fluid in the bladder combined with the weight of the baby on the abdomen, urine can accidentally spurt out when a woman coughs, laughs, or sneezes. And there are other risks that may predispose a woman to incontinence.
Fortunately, many instances of incontinence during pregnancy resolve within a month after childbirth, said Dr. David Shusterman, the managing urologist at Advanced New York Urology in Manhattan. But even if the leaking stops, a woman is likely to have the problem again later in life, he said.
However, she doesn’t have to keep it a secret or feel embarrassed, because there are treatment options that can resolve or significantly reduce leaking.
Risks
According to the Urology Care Foundation, pregnancy, delivery, and having more children increase the risk of incontinence in women.
And it doesn’t matter whether the woman has vaginal delivery or a C-section. Surgery doesn’t reduce the risk states the Urology Care Foundation website.
