Incontinence During Pregnancy: What's Normal and What's Not

While pregnant, you experience unique emotions, with a high chance of some unexpected physical symptoms, as well. Issues that have never occurred for you, such as incontinence, start to happen as your body changes and your baby grows. 

At the same time, you’re alert for any danger to your pregnancy or health. It can be difficult to know if what you’re going through is normal, or a sign that you need care from an experienced obstetrician.

At Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin, board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Mary Grace Bridges answers all of your questions about your pregnancy experience, as well as safeguarding your health. If you’re concerned about pregnancy symptoms, we’re here to help, with locations in Odessa and Midland, Texas.

Sometimes, a little information is all you need to reassure you. In this blog, we explain why incontinence can sometimes occur during pregnancy, and separate the myths from the facts when it comes to what’s normal, and what’s not, about pregnancy-related incontinence.

Temporary incontinence: relatively common during pregnancy

Pregnancy creates a lot of physical changes to your abdomen. It’s not just your outwardly visible baby bump. Inside your abdomen, all of your organs are affected by your expanding uterus and shifting pelvic bones. Your bladder, located relatively near to your uterus, is quite likely to be affected.

During pregnancy, you may notice that you need to pee more frequently. That’s normal, and, unless your quality of life is seriously harmed by the frequency of your trips to the bathroom, it’s not a cause for concern.

You may also experience temporary stress urinary incontinence (SUI), especially in the later parts of your gestation. This means that you might leak a little urine if you do things like cough, sneeze, or laugh. SUI can also be brought on by physical motions like standing or walking. Urge urinary incontinence (UUI) produces leaks accompanied by a sudden, overwhelming sensation of needing to pee.

This is stressful to handle, but normal for pregnancy. Around 40% of pregnancies involve incontinence as a symptom. In most cases, giving birth resolves the issue, although it’s also possible to experience lingering incontinence after pregnancy, especially after a vaginal delivery.

Risks of incontinence during pregnancy

Your risk of this symptom goes up if you’ve struggled with bladder control problems before, or if you’ve had multiple urinary tract infections (UTIs). Being overweight or obese also puts you at increased risk. You’re more likely to experience incontinence if you have a large baby, as well.

There are some risks and complications associated with incontinence during pregnancy. If you have very weak pelvic floor muscles, you could suffer pelvic organ prolapse affecting your bladder. Check with the team at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin if your incontinence symptoms continue for more than six weeks after delivery.

Pay attention to the fluid you’re leaking. Urine should be pale yellow or clear, with a watery texture and an ammonia smell, or no smell at all. Vaginal discharge with a thicker texture, white, brown, or green color, and more pronounced scent may be a sign of an infection that could need medical treatment.

For comprehensive pregnancy symptom support, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Bridges at Women’s Health Partners of the Permian Basin online or over the phone.