3 May 2017
Incontinence When Pregnant
Here at Incontinence UK we understand that regular and involuntary peeing during pregnancy can
be annoying, and occasionally embarrassing, but it's normal and (mostly) temporary. If the liquid is clear and odourless, there's a slim chance you might be leaking amniotic fluid and we recommend that you call your doctor or nurse immediately.
During pregnancy, many women experience at least some degree of urinary incontinence. The incontinence may be mild and infrequent for some pregnant women. But it can be more severe for others. Age and body mass index are risk factors for pregnancy incontinence, according to one study.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH EXCESS PEEING DURING PREGNANCY:
- Do your Kegels! Try to work up to three sets of 30 Kegel exercises a day.
- Keep your weight gain moderate, since extra pounds put extra pressure on your bladder during pregnancy.
- Train your bladder to behave. Urinate every 30 minutes — before you have the urge, in other words — and then try to extend the time between pees each day.
- Try to avoid constipation during pregnancy, so that your full bowels don't put added pressure on your bladder.
- Keep drinking at least eight glasses of fluids every day. (Cutting back on water to control the peeing only makes you vulnerable to dehydration and urinary tract infections.)
- Avoid coffee, citrus, tomatoes, soft drinks, and alcohol — all of which can irritate your bladder and make it harder to control those leaks.
- Incontinence pads can help absorb leaking urine (no tampons, please — they don't block the flow of urine and they're off-limits during pregnancy anyway).
- As a last line of defence, do Kegels or cross your legs when you feel the need to cough or sneeze, or when you're about to laugh or lift something heavy.
If you are pregnant and are suffer from mild incontinence; then please do visit our Incontinence UK website for all products relating to incontinence. We stock a huge variety of products from well-known brands including small disposable insert incontinence pads that can fit into your own underwear or washable incontinence pants with a built in pad.
Best Wishes
Incontinence UK Team
www.incontinenceuk.co.uk
