How Long Does Postpartum Incontinence Last?
If you’re months postpartum and still crossing your legs every time you sneeze, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to just ‘wait it out”. Many women after birth are left questioning, “how long does postpartum incontinence last?”. So let's discuss what's normal, what’s not and how you can get rid of bladder leaks for good.
What Causes Postpartum Incontinence?
The pelvic floor plays a vital role in keeping bladder leaks at bay. However, pregnancy and childbirth can cause decreased coordination and/or weakness of these muscles. There are other factors that affect the pelvic floor’s ability to keep you dry including:
Hormonal changes: increases of the hormones progesterone and relaxin can cause changes of the muscles and connective tissues causing increased leaking. This should go back to your normal postpartum
Pressure from the growing baby: As the uterus grows, it can put stress and strain on the pelvic floor muscles and connective tissues. Again, this should lessen once you delivery the baby
Vaginal delivery: Tears during delivery can cause scar tissue. This can make it difficult to fully contract the muscles.
Impact of cesarean delivery: Although many think a c-section “saves your pelvic floor”, this actually isn’t the case. C-section mamas can still have difficulty connecting with their core and pelvic floor postpartum and may have increased scar tissue that affects their ability to contract core muscles.
Although incontinence/bladder leaks are common postpartum, it doesn’t have to be your normal long term.
How Long Does Postpartum Incontinence Last?
Mild symptoms may improve within a few weeks to a few months, sometimes referred to as the “fourth trimester”. If symptoms are persisting beyond 12-16 weeks, you may need targeted intervention to address it.
Pelvic floor therapists can assess your pelvic floor, core, pressure management and breathing patterns to figure out what the best treatment plan looks like for you. You can read more about what this treatment may look like here.
Factors That Can Impact Leaking Without Intervention
Weak or uncoordinated pelvic floor muscles: these muscles aren’t able to do their job to help keep you dry
Constipation or poor bladder habits: straining or repeatedly bearing down can affect the pelvic organ connective tissue as well as the pelvic floor muscles. Constipation can also affect leaking as it can push into the bladder causing urgency, frequency and/or leaking
Return to high-impact or heavy weighted exercise too early: Although exercise is good, it needs to be a gradual return so your body has time to heal and readjust to the loads. Your pelvic floor worked hard during pregnancy to carry your baby and it needs time to heal as well. Returning too early can cause increased pressure which can lead to leaks, pain or prolapse
Scar tissue: Whether its scar tissue at the perineum or c-section scar, it can cause issues with the way the tissue moves, coordinates, contracts and relaxes.
Diastasis recti: Abdominal separation should also heal naturally in the first 12-16 weeks postpartum. Otherwise, you may need targeted intervention. Leaking and diastasis recti often go hand in hand as both are related to pressure management.
What You Can Do to Speed Up Recovery
Focus on healing and listening to your body during the early postpartum period. Working on diaphragmatic breathing and gentle core contractions are a good starting point. And of course, good hydration and fiber intake as well!
Return to exercise/movement when you’re cleared by your OB/GYN with a gradual, supported plan – think of an ankle injury– you wouldn’t go straight back to sprinting before doing some rehab exercises. Postpartum bodies deserve the same level of care.
Get evaluated by a pelvic floor therapist. They can provide targeted intervention based on your personal symptoms by:
Assessing your muscles and function to identify weakness or tension.
Teaching corrective exercises to strengthen and coordinate the pelvic floor and core with a whole body approach
Consider addressing habits and postures that may be contributing to leaks.
Providing tips for toileting habits to reduce any unnecessary strain to the pelvic floor
Although those 12-16 weeks are the benchmark set for things to naturally heal, it is never too late to seek pelvic floor therapy. It doesn’t matter if it's been three months, three years or three decades since you’ve had your child, pelvic floor therapy can still help!
When to Seek Professional Help
Signs it’s time to see a pelvic floor therapist can include:
Leaking more than 6-8 weeks postpartum.
Feeling pressure, heaviness, pain or bulging.
Leaking when laughing, sneezing, or exercising.
Difficulty controlling urges.
Although you may have been given the advice to just “wait and see” if your leaking gets better, this isn’t always the best advice. The smaller the issue, the quicker the problem is to solve!
One of the reasons I love being a pelvic floor therapist are the success stories from previous patients. So many women have no idea that their bladder leaks can be fixed. Some have only dealt with the issue for a few months prenatally and postpartum, however, some have been dealing with it for years!
Although bladder leakage is often considered something normal that happens to women, it is not something that you should have to suffer with. Pelvic floor therapy is an effective option for getting rid of the leakage and back to the activities you want, whether that is running, jumping or laughing with your girlfriends!
If you are in Lancaster, OH or surrounding areas, you can
Click here to book a discovery call to answer any questions you may have in a one on one free phone consultation
Click here to book a 90 minute evaluation so we can develop a plan that works best for you!
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