Loss of Bladder Control Postpartum

Are your having problems with your bladder after pregnancy? Here's what to do about the moments when your new-mom bladder lets you down.

Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

What the loss of bladder control postpartum is

The involuntary leaking of urine that new moms often experience, usually while laughing, sneezing, coughing, or performing any strenuous activity. (Does walking count as a strenuous activity?)

What causes the loss of bladder control postpartum

This common postpartum symptom is caused by the pregnancy- and delivery-weakened muscles around the bladder and pelvis, which make it harder for you to control when urine starts — or when it stops (they've taken a licking and, consequently, keep on dripping). Plus, as your uterus shrinks in the weeks immediately following delivery, it sits directly on the bladder, compressing it and making it more difficult to stem the tide. Hormonal changes (what else is new?) during and after pregnancy can batter your bladder, too (you may have also struggled with bladder control during pregnancy).

What you need to know about the loss of bladder control postpartum

Urinary incontinence is very common in the postpartum period (more than a third of moms spring that particular leak). It can take between three to six months, or even longer for some women, to regain complete bladder control — though there are steps you can take to get it back faster.

What to do for your bladder after pregnancy
