Hiya, im 19 and nearly 6 months pregnant and noticed that whenever i cough, sneeze or even laugh i wee a little! i haven’t asked anyone because its quite embarrassing!! Is this normal when pregnant? my hormones are really bad so just wondering if its something to do with that? anyone know?
Hi,
Incontinence during pregnancy is normal and very common, so you are certainly not alone. Various factors cause this prevalence, including hormonal changes (as you are experiencing) and the extra weight and pressure of the baby. These factors put pressure on the pelvic floor muscles, which are the layer of muscles that support the pelvic organs. The hormonal complications you have mentioned play an important role, as pregnant women have elevated levels of the hormone relaxin. This hormone is needed to allow expansion as the baby grows and relaxes the connective tissues during pregnancy. This affects the ligaments supporting the pelvic floor and urethra.
You mention you are experiencing leaks when putting pressure on the bladder, which is caused by the weakening of these muscles. Stress incontinence is the type of incontinence you are experiencing and is common in pregnant women. Do not worry, this is the most common type of incontinence in women and can often be treated easily.
You can read our blog about pregnancy and incontinence for more information on this.
Would you like some additional tips and advice on managing incontinence during pregnancy?
Sanitary pads are not designed to absorb urine, so you need to be wearing an incontinence product for urinary incontinence.
For light stress incontinence, you would benefit from a shaped pad. These are small and are anatomically shaped, with some being designed especially for women.
Would you like a specific brand of pad recommending?
Hey all, I’m so glad I found this post I’m 7 and half months pregnant and experiencing the exact same thing! I could have done without this as well as the crazy hormones i’m experiencing lol! How you getting on? you don’t think of this stuff when trying for a baby! tips for managing this would be great!! its really embarrassing! Becky x
