Everything you need to know about urinary leaks after childbirth

Postpartum urinary leakage is one of the most common ailments affecting women after giving birth: it is estimated that postpartum incontinence affects 18 to 40% of new mothers. Although this disorder is common, it remains taboo and debilitating in daily life. As an e-concept store dedicated to women's intimacy, we felt it was essential to address this topic and provide you with tips and solutions. Discover everything you need to know about postpartum urinary leakage in this article.

Disclaimer: Don't wait to seek help. After birth, your health is just as important as your baby's. And even if urinary leakage isn't "serious," it's still difficult to manage and can take a toll on your mental health. If you're struggling, seek help.

What is postpartum incontinence?

Incontinence is defined as involuntary loss of urine or the inability to hold urine.

In the specific case of postpartum incontinence, these urine losses occur following pregnancy and childbirth. They occur at times when the perineum relaxes unconsciously, such as when laughing, coughing, sneezing, or during physical exertion (such as trampolining).

Why do urinary leaks particularly affect women after childbirth?

Pregnancy and subsequent childbirth have an impact on a woman's body, particularly urinary leakage. This is for several reasons. It is important to understand the underlying causes of postpartum incontinence so that we can provide the necessary care to help women regain normal urinary function.

Fetal pressure on the bladder during pregnancy

As pregnancy progresses, the fetus grows and increases in weight. The larger the fetus grows, the more pressure it exerts on the bladder. This constant pressure over several months can weaken the bladder muscles, making urinary control more difficult during pregnancy and after delivery.

Pelvic floor stretch

The perineum, also called the pelvic floor, is a group of muscles and tissue that, like a hammock, supports the pelvic organs. During pregnancy, the baby puts pressure on this muscle, while vaginal delivery stretches it enormously. Such stretching can cause these muscles to weaken or even injure, compromising their ability to effectively control urination.

Hormonal changes

Pregnancy is a hormonal rollercoaster. The increase in various hormones, including relaxin, which aims to loosen the pelvic ligaments before childbirth, results in the relaxation of various muscles in the area...which can unfortunately lead to a loss of tone in the perineum and bladder control.

Childbirth-related trauma

While pregnancy can have an impact on perineal flexibility, vaginal delivery can undoubtedly have an impact on the vulva, urethra, or anus. During childbirth, the use of certain medical instruments or procedures, such as vacuum extraction, forceps, or episiotomies, can cause trauma to the pelvic region. Women also sometimes experience uncontrolled tears to the vulva. These various traumas impair the ability to urinate and hold urine.

Urinary retention

After childbirth, particularly due to the trauma mentioned above or weakened bladder muscles, some women may have difficulty emptying their bladder completely. This leads to urinary retention. If the bladder regularly remains overfull, this can lead to episodes of incontinence.

Cystitis and urinary tract infections

If you're prone to cystitis (also known as urinary tract infections) before and during pregnancy, chances are you'll be prone to it after delivery as well. Urinary tract infections can also cause urinary leakage.

What consequences?

Beyond hygiene, which is impacted by urinary leaks, the consequences of postpartum urinary incontinence are felt primarily in terms of mental health. This is true on two levels: first, women who experience it can feel very unwell, and second, it can prevent them from resuming sports and social activities for fear of experiencing a leak.

Shame and discomfort

Urinary incontinence can be leaking or total, with the complete inability to hold back urination. While it may seem possible to put on a brave face in the former case, it may be impossible in the latter. Women who experience postpartum urinary incontinence may feel ashamed and experience the situation very uncomfortably.

Difficulties resuming sporting or social activity

When faced with urinary leakage, or even the inability to hold it in, playing sports or leaving home for long periods of time for social activities can be very difficult. Women experiencing this condition may be tempted to isolate themselves until the best time comes, even if it means sacrificing their personal activities and their personal balance.

3 Steps to Managing Bladder Leakage After Childbirth

Unlike other conditions related to pregnancy and childbirth, time alone is generally not enough to treat postpartum urinary incontinence. Intervention is necessary. Therefore, before presenting you with long-term solutions to limit urinary leaks, let's start by giving you solutions for managing them on a daily basis and allowing you to resume your life despite everything.

#1 Adopt a postpartum diaper

The postpartum diaper is a disposable, highly absorbent panty that can be used to control heavy postpartum bleeding and urinary leaks. Suitable for heavy flows, it can be ideal for more or less heavy postpartum urinary leaks and allows you to “limit the damage” if you are prone to it. Always keep a spare in your bag: you can simply throw it away and replace it in case of an accident!

🌈 How to choose your postpartum panties? At Gapianne, we recommend Jhô brand postpartum diapers. Highly absorbent, comfortable, disposable, and leak-proof, they're super practical to discreetly keep in your handbag. Made from organic cotton 🌱 and dermatologically tested, they're very safe for you and your intimate areas. They're sold in packs of seven.

#2 Get some hygienic wipes

To help you feel fresher in case of a leak, we also recommend keeping sanitary wipes in your purse at all times. You can keep them in a sealed pouch with your postpartum diaper to stay discreet if you're uncomfortable. These sanitary wipes will allow you to clean your intimate area after changing, for a renewed feeling of freshness.

#3 Consider having a change of clothes in your bag

Don't trust your postpartum diapers in case of a major leak? They're usually sufficient, but it's normal to have doubts, especially if you're planning to be away from home for a while. In this case, don't hesitate to pack a change of pants and a waterproof plastic bag in your purse to seal the soiled pants, if necessary. You can stop carrying this change of clothes once you have more confidence in your body and your protection.

What long-term solutions?

If you're having trouble holding your urine or experiencing urine leakage in the months following your delivery, don't panic. There are solutions.

#1 Call a healthcare professional

There can be many causes of postpartum incontinence. As such, treatment options vary, and only a qualified healthcare professional can advise you. Seek advice from your primary care physician, gynecologist, or midwife: these three healthcare professionals are usually with you after delivery and will help you find a solution.

#2 Strengthen your perineum

Most often, urinary leaks are linked to the successive traumas suffered by your perineum during pregnancy and childbirth. Lacking tone, it is no longer able to play its role in urine retention. Pelvic floor rehabilitation may be prescribed by your doctor. It takes place with a specialized physiotherapist and can be done at home with the help of connected probes and specific applications.

When to ask for help?

While urinary incontinence poses no risk to your physical health, it can still be a burden on your mental health and daily life. That's why we recommend seeking help from a healthcare professional as soon as you experience any discomfort or inconvenience. Your body changes enormously after childbirth, and the medical profession is there to help you and answer your questions. You should never feel ashamed about this situation, which affects 18 to 40% of women after childbirth. Your postpartum health is as important as your child's: don't put it on the back burner for their benefit, or you risk simply postponing the due date. Take care of yourself 🫶.