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Yes. But don't panic. If you lose bladder control after childbirth, the problem often
goes away by itself. Your muscles may just need time to recover.
If you still have a problem after 6 weeks, talk to your doctor. Without treatment,
lost bladder control can become a long-term problem. Accidental leaking can also
signal that something else is wrong in your body. Bladder control problems do not
always show up right after childbirth. Some women do not begin to have problems until
later, often in their 40's. You and your health care team must first find out why
you have lost bladder control. Then you can discuss treatment. After treatment, most
women regain or improve their bladder control. Regaining control helps you enjoy
a healthier and happier life.
Yes. Women who exercise certain pelvic muscles have fewer bladder problems later
on. These muscles are called pelvic floor muscles. If you plan to have a baby, talk
to your doctor. Ask if you should do pelvic floor exercises. Exercises after childbirth
also help prevent bladder problems in middle age.
Ask your health care team how to do pelvic exercises.
Your bladder is a muscle shaped like a balloon. While the bladder stores urine, the
bladder muscle relaxes. When you go to the bathroom, the bladder muscle tightens
to squeeze urine out of the bladder.
More muscles help with bladder control. Two sphincter (SFINK-tur) muscles surround
the tube that carries urine from your bladder down to an opening in front of the
vagina. The tube is called the urethra (yoo-REE-thrah). Urine leaves your body through
this tube. The sphincters keep the urethra closed by squeezing like rubber band.
Pelvic floor muscles under the bladder also help keep the urethra closed.
When the bladder is full, nerves in your bladder signal the brain. That's when you
get the urge to go to the bathroom. Once you reach the toilet, your brain sends a
message down to the sphincter and pelvic floor muscles. The brain tells them to relax.
The brain signal also tells the bladder muscles to tighten up. That squeezes urine
out of the bladder.
Strong sphincter (bladder control) muscles prevent urine leakage in pregnancy and
after childbirth. You can exercise these muscles to make them strong. Talk to your
doctor about learning how to do pelvic floor exercises.
The added weight and pressure of pregnancy can weaken pelvic floor muscles. Other
aspects of pregnancy and childbirth can also cause problems:
changed position of bladder and urethra
vaginal delivery
episiotomy (the cut in the muscle that makes it easier for the baby to come out)
Damage to bladder control nerves.
Professionals who can help you with bladder control include
your primary care doctor
a gynecologist
(guy-nuh-CALL-uh-jist): a women's doctor
a urogynecologist (YOOR-oh-guy-nuh-CALL-uh-jist): an expert in women's bladder problems
a urologist (yoor-ALL-uh-jist): an expert in bladder problems
a nurse or nurse practitioner
a physical therapist.
Temporary bladder control problems are common during pregnancy.
Exercising pelvic floor muscles can help prevent bladder control problems. Bladder
control problems may show up months to years after childbirth. Talk to your health
care team if this happens to you.
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
3 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892 3580
E-mail: nkudic@aerie.com
The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse is a service
of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, of the National
Institutes of Health, under the U.S. Public Health Service. Established in 1987,
the clearinghouse provides information about diseases of the kidneys and urologic
system to people with these disorders and to their families, health care professionals,
and the public. The clearinghouse answers inquiries; develops, reviews, and distributes
publications; and works closely with professional and patient organizations and government
agencies to coordinate resources about kidney and urologic diseases.
Publications produced by the clearinghouse are reviewed carefully for scientific
accuracy, content, and readability.
This publication is not copyrighted. The clearinghouse encourages users of this fact
sheet to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.
Let's Talk about Bladder Control for Women is a public health awareness campaign
conducted by the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
(NKUDIC), an information dissemination service of the National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health.
1-800-891-5388
NIH Publication No. 97-4189
January 1997
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