Urine Leakage During Pregnancy – Is It Normal?
Dealing with urine leakage in pregnancy? Discover common causes, helpful tips, and ways to strengthen bladder control during pregnancy.
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Sabiha Anjum
(Gynecologist/Obstetrician)
This health content has been medically reviewed by qualified experts and follows the FirstCry Parenting editorial policy to ensure accuracy and reliability.
As you progress with your pregnancy, your bathroom visits may increase! Is it normal to leak pee while pregnant? Yes, urine leakage during pregnancy is a common problem that means losing control of the bladder and can be both unexpected and sometimes embarrassing (1). This is due to the increased pressure building up on your bladder and the pelvic floor, which can urge you to pee more often and may even cause small leaks when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exercise. Although it is a common issue, it doesn’t mean you have to put up with it. Wondering why urine leakage happens in pregnancy? From common causes and risk factors to simple ways to support bladder control, here’s everything you need to know about urine leakage in pregnancy.
Is It Normal to Leak Pee While Pregnant?
Yes, urine leakage or stress incontinence is one of the most common pregnancy problems (2). According to a study published in the European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, one in every fifth women experiences this problem during pregnancy (3). In some women, the leakage is very little or minimal, but for other women, it may be a cause for concern.
Why Does It Happen?
This common side effect of pregnancy happens due to the increased pressure on the bladder. In pregnancy, your growing belly and various hormonal changes make your pelvic floor tissues and muscles expand. These expanding tissues and muscles weaken the sphincter muscles, which are responsible for controlling the release of urine from the bladder (1). This may cause urine leakage when you cough, sneeze or laugh. Plus, the baby pushing down on the pelvic muscles in the third trimester, which is the peak time, also contributes to urine leakage during pregnancy (4).
Thus, your increasing pregnancy weight, hormonal changes and constipation in pregnancy are some of the causes related to urine leakage, as these all put pressure on your pelvic floor muscles.
How Long Does Urinary Incontinence Last?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, urinary incontinence during pregnancy is generally temporary. Urinary incontinence or urine leakage may get worse in the third trimester because of the increased pressure on the pelvic area. Some women may experience urinary incontinence even after birth. In most cases, this problem gets better within three to six months after your baby is born (5).
Risk Factors for Leaking Urine During Pregnancy
Pre-existing bladder conditions like recurrent urinary tract infections can cause bladder control issues. Other factors that contribute to urine leakage during pregnancy in the first trimester or subsequent trimesters include:
- Age above 35 years or older
- Women above the age of 30 with a previous pregnancy.
- Women with a vaginal delivery history whose injured tissue does not recover 100% of pre-labour strength (less chances) (6)
- Being overweight or obese
- History of vaginal delivery birthing over 4kg baby increase the risk of neuromuscular weakness
- Certain foods and drinks – carbonated drinks, caffeinated drinks, spicy foods, and alcohol – that are known to cause dehydration
Treatment for Pee Leaking During Pregnancy
The first-line treatment for bladder leakage during pregnancy may include the following:
- Keeping up a bladder diary: Maintaining a bladder diary will help you establish the frequency of leakages, which will help you in planning your bathroom visits.
- Practising pelvic exercises: Pelvic exercises will strengthen your pelvic muscles, thus helping you to have better control over your urinary bladder.
- Include more fibre in your diet: A high-fibre diet helps with constipation, which means less pressure on your pelvic muscles in pregnancy.
- Refrain from having caffeinated and carbonated beverages: These drinks will make you pee more, thus more chances of urine leakage.
How to Manage Leaking Urine While Pregnant?
So, how can I stop leaking urine during pregnancy? You can try the following ways to effectively manage your urine leakage in pregnancy:
1. Scheduled Bathroom Visits
If you are facing urine leakage in pregnancy, it will be extremely helpful if you make a schedule for your bathroom visits. You may plan hourly or two-hourly visits to the bathroom. The aim is to not let your bladder feel too full, to avoid any leakage. Keeping track of your loo visits is an effective way of managing urine leakage in pregnancy.
2. Absorbent Pads
Another good option to manage your urine leakage is by wearing an absorbent pad or panty liners. These are very effective in saving you from any embarrassing urine leakage. If you are working or going out of the house for a longer duration, it will be a good idea to carry an extra pad for changing.
3. Reduce Your Fluid Intake in the Late Evening or After Dinner
Keeping yourself well hydrated with fluids in the morning and the afternoon is fine, but as the evening progresses, you can reduce your fluid intake so that you don’t get troubled with frequent loo visits after dinner or when you are sleeping.
4. Try Kegel Exercises
Kegel exercises are the most beneficial in combating urine leakage during pregnancy third trimester. They can be done in any trimester of your pregnancy. Kegels strengthen pelvic floor muscles and provide better control over your bladder. The exercises involve clenching and releasing your pelvic floor muscles for a few seconds.
5. Avoid Caffeine
Caffeine causes dehydration and makes you pee more often. So, limiting your caffeine intake from carbonated drinks, coffee, tea, or soda will prevent unnecessary pressure on your bladder (7). You can instead go for decaffeinated options like herbal tea or plain water.
6. Maintain a Healthy Weight During Pregnancy
Maintaining an optimal weight when pregnant prevents pressure on the bladder and reduces the chances of urine leakage during pregnancy second trimester and the third one (8).
Ways to Prevent Leaking Pee During Pregnancy
You can prevent urine leakage in pregnancy by adopting some of the following measures:
1. Kegel Exercises
Kegel exercises are a very effective way of preventing urine leakage in pregnancy. Urine leakage happens because of weakened pelvic tissues and muscles. Doing three sets of ten repetitions a day of Kegel exercises is a good way of strengthening the pelvic muscles. Strong pelvic muscles will hold urine and help prevent urine incontinence. Kegel exercises are absolutely safe and can be done in pregnancy. However, it is suggested that you consult your doctor to know which Kegel exercises you may do in pregnancy (9).
2. Stay Hydrated
It is very important to stay hydrated in pregnancy as dehydration in pregnancy may lead to complications such as pregnancy-related headaches, preterm labour and other such complications. It is recommended to consume at least six to eight glasses of water in a day to avoid dehydration. Many women may cut back on water and other fluids, thinking it will avoid the problem of urine leakage. But cutting down on water and other fluids is not an effective solution to battle urine leakage; rather, it may cause bladder irritation and other serious medical issues.
3. Pelvic Floor Exercise
Many researchers feel that if a pregnant woman begins with pelvic floor exercises early in pregnancy, it may be helpful in keeping the problem of urine leakage at bay. These exercises strengthen your pelvic floor muscles and thus help you control the flow of urine. Regular practice of pelvic floor exercise refrains the muscles from becoming flaccid.
How Can Accidents Be Avoided?
Here’s how you may avoid urine leakage accidents from happening:
- Keep tabs on your diet: Do not eat spicy foods which may irritate your bladder. Refrain from aerated drinks, tea and coffee. Eat food items which don’t irritate your bladder.
- Keep constipation under control: Drink plenty of water to ward off constipation. The problem of constipation puts pressure on your pelvic region, thus making you more susceptible to have weaker pelvic floor muscles.
- Drink adequate water: Make sure you drink plenty of water as inadequate amounts of water in pregnancy may lead to concentrated urine, which may irritate the bladder.
- You may also try sitting in a cross-legged position: If you feel the urge to sneeze or cough. Sitting in this position helps in controlling the urine to an extent.
Bladder Training
You may even opt for bladder training to manage the urine leakage in pregnancy. Bladder training helps you to manage the gap between two bathroom visits. It effectively teaches you how to hold the urine in the bladder until your next bathroom visit. You may get in touch with your doctor to know more about the bladder training program and your doctor may advise a program that is best suited for your condition.
FAQs
1. Is it normal to leak pee while pregnant?
Yes, it is normal and common to leak urine during pregnancy, and the situation worsens as you progress close to your due date. This is because the fetus moves down and sits in the pelvic region, pressing on your bladder more than before.
2. How do you know if it is urine leakage or water breaking?
To distinguish between urine leakage and amniotic fluid leakage during water breaking, look for some parameters. Amniotic fluid is clear and odourless, while urine is yellowish in colour and strong in odour. A second difference is that amniotic fluid flow during water breaking is slow and constant. Urine leakage, on the other hand, happens suddenly during sudden movement, like sneezing or coughing and stops gradually.
3. Can urine leakage harm my baby?
No, leaking urine when pregnant does not harm the developing baby.
4. Can tight clothes increase the incidence of urinary leakage during pregnancy?
Yes, tight clothing, particularly the bottoms, can put pressure on the bladder region and cause you to leak some pee while sitting or lifting something. Comfortable and breathable clothes are the ideal choice.
Urine leakage is a very common pregnancy problem and can be effectively managed with the above-mentioned tips. However, if you feel that you are not able to manage this problem on your own or you experience a tingling sensation, notice blood, unusual odour or any other symptom in your urine, consult your health care adviser at once.
Also Read:
Epithelial Cells in Urine in Pregnancy
Frequent Urination during Pregnancy
Urine Test and Urine Culture while Pregnant
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