15/09/2023
Common Bladder And Bowel Issues Post-Pregnancy 🤰
So, you've just had a baby and noticed that you are having some bladder and/or bowel problems.
Firstly just know – you are not alone!
Did you know that more than one-third of women develop temporary bladder leakage during their first pregnancy?
This number increases again to more than three-quarters of women during subsequent pregnancies!
Here is a list of some common issues post-delivery:
➡️Stress Urinary Incontinence (bladder leakage): this is the leaking of urine during activities that increase the pressure inside your abdomen and push down on your bladder. Activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, walking and lifting.
➡️Urinary Urgency: Increased urgency of needing to empty your bladder
➡️Urge Urinary Incontinence: Leaking urine when feeling an urgent need to empty your bladder
➡️Increased bladder or bowel frequency: Going to the toilet multiple times a day for bladder or bowel
➡️Fecal or Flatus Incontinence (bowel or wind leakage): accidental leakage from the bowel
➡️Hemorrhoids: Lumps that can occur inside or around the anus/back passage, they are swollen and enlarged blood vessels, they can be painful when emptying your bowels
➡️Constipation
How do post-partum problems occur?
There are many factors that can contribute to urinary and bowel problems. These factors can include:
➡️Hormonal and mechanical pressures during pregnancy placing pressure on the pelvic floor, fascia, ligaments, nerves, bladder, and urethra
➡️Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (this could be caused by weak pelvic floors, stretching/trauma of the pelvic floor during labour or nerve compression during delivery)
➡️Having a large baby
➡️Difficult vaginal delivery that can cause tearing or requiring the use of forceps
➡️Length of the pushing stage of labour ➡️Breastfeeding can cause mothers to become dehydrated causing issues with constipation and irritating hemorrhoids
Full article here: https://www.wisdomphysio.com/common-bladder-and-bowel-issues-post-pregnancy/
