How to recover from postpartum urinary incontinence?

Written by Zhang Lu
Obstetrics
Updated on April 27, 2025
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During the process of natural childbirth, the presenting part of the fetus significantly compresses the woman's pelvic floor, causing conditions such as uterine prolapse and bladder prolapse. Postpartum, many women experience urinary incontinence. Postpartum urinary incontinence can be alleviated through the following methods. First, one can perform Kegel exercises independently. Kegel exercises, a set of movements that contract the pelvic floor muscles, are quite effective in treating mild urinary incontinence. Second, if the urinary incontinence is more pronounced, it is advisable to undergo assisted treatment at a hospital, mainly involving electrical stimulation. This can stimulate the local pelvic floor muscles, promoting recovery and alleviating symptoms of urinary incontinence. Third, if the symptoms are very severe and conservative treatment is ineffective, pelvic floor functional repair surgery should be considered.

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Is it normal to have urinary incontinence with morning sickness during pregnancy?

Morning sickness and urinary incontinence are considered normal phenomena. If severe nausea and vomiting occur after pregnancy, it could increase abdominal pressure, leading to stress urinary incontinence. This condition is thought to be caused by the relaxation of pelvic floor muscles. It is crucial to actively engage in pelvic floor rehabilitation after childbirth to aid the recovery of the pelvic floor, to prevent symptoms like urinary incontinence and leakage when coughing postpartum. The best period for pelvic floor recovery is between 42 days to six months after childbirth. Engaging in pelvic floor rehabilitation during this period is beneficial for recovery. The longer the delay, the slower and more challenging the recovery will be.

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How many types of urinary incontinency are there?

Urinary incontinence is currently mainly divided into stress urinary incontinence, urge urinary incontinence, overflow urinary incontinence, and true urinary incontinence. The main symptom of stress urinary incontinence is urine leakage from the urethra during coughing, sneezing, laughing, or jumping rope. Urge urinary incontinence is commonly seen in acute bladder inflammation, people with diabetes, and those with sclerotic bladder necks, leading to situations of urge incontinence. The main manifestation is a sudden strong urge to urinate, requiring immediate action to urinate; if not managed in time, urine will leak from the urethra. Overflow incontinence, commonly found in lower urinary tract obstructions, especially in elderly men with prostate enlargement, causes overflow incontinence due to urethral blockage, characterized by a distinct feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen.

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Can postpartum urinary incontinence be recovered?

Most cases of urinary incontinence postpartum in women are treatable. To manage postpartum urinary incontinence, it is essential to develop good urination habits. Patients with postpartum urinary incontinence should urinate every two to three hours. This practice can help train the bladder control muscles and enhance the new mother’s awareness of urination. Each time you urinate, try to empty the bladder completely to train the pelvic floor muscles. Regularly performing exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles can increase their contraction and control abilities, alleviating cases of urinary incontinence. Most conditions can improve; however, more severe cases may require further treatment.

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Can you have intercourse with postpartum urinary incontinence?

Postpartum urinary incontinence should preclude sexual intercourse, as intercourse can exacerbate the condition. It is necessary to wait until recovery is achieved before resuming sexual activities. It is advised that patients promptly seek hospital treatment for pelvic floor muscle rehabilitation, which can generally bring effective relief within six months. If recovery begins after more than six months, the results can be poor. It is also important to develop good living habits, ensuring adequate sleep, avoiding fatigue, and refraining from heavy physical labor. Proper bowel movements should be maintained to prevent constipation, which can increase abdominal pressure and worsen urinary incontinence.

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What should elderly people do if they have slight urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence is relatively common in the elderly. After excluding organic causes of urinary incontinence through examination, we should consider functional causes. This is mainly due to the relaxation of the urethral sphincter, pelvic floor, and the muscles around the urethra, which decreases the urethral pressure. When the abdominal pressure increases, it can cause urinary incontinence. We can improve the muscles of the pelvic floor gradually by undergoing pelvic floor rehabilitation therapy, which increases their strength and improves urinary incontinence. The key to pelvic floor rehabilitation is to provide patients with guidance and exercises for lifting the anus. By persisting in these exercises, the symptoms of urinary incontinence can be alleviated or eliminated.