Worried about incontinence after dc2

[YouPutYourRightArmIn]

I'm due with dc2 in the summer and my pelvic floor already feels really weak.

After dd was born I think tiny weeny amounts of urine used to just collect and sit there so I wasn't leaking as such but I thought I smelt a bit, well, pissy - though DH is adamant he couldn't smell anything at any point. Hat seemed to go and things got back to normal I guess - still had to occasionally cross my legs during a coughing fit or big sneeze but overall ok.

So now I'm 19 weeks with dc2 and today I had to walk quickly and could almost feel the wee 'gathering' again. I didn't feel like I neded to go but it had been a little while since I last had, so not totally empty but not busting either... And it's got me worried about being incontinent in the future.

I'm trying to do my pelvic floor exercises whenever I think of it but feels like it might be too little too late.

Is the "gathering" feeling happening just because I'm pregnant? If it feels that weak now, what will I be like come full term - and afterwards? Is there anything other than kegels I can do to strengthen it all or is it a case of once it's gone, it's gone??

[Mabelface]

Once you've had the baby, if you still have problems, there is loads that can be done. You can do the exercises, you can have surgery, depending on the type of incontinence, there is also medication. You're not destined to a life of weeing your pants, don't worry. :)

[bigwellylittlewelly]

You need gussygrips

I will try to point you towards her if I can find a thread

[YouPutYourRightArmIn]

Thank you!

People at work used to call me a camel because I could go ages without a wee and was quite expert at holding it. I still can hold it for a while whilst pg land rarely ever feel really busting. But now I'm wondering whether that in itself has strained my poor pelvic floor even more and now it's on the verge of giving in all together

[gussiegrips]

Sorry, Arm, it's taken me a few days to notice the message because I'm a great fanjo evangelist, but, a rubbish PA.

Thanks, Welly, I think we need to get a light beam in the sky a la Batman when there's a "help, my fanny's broken" thread?

So, I'm a physio, and I tend to witter on about pelvic floor exercises most of the time.

Pelvic floor exercises are the answer to incontinence. There's loads of research showing that they work, but, the problem is that women find them hard to do, and hard to remember to do.

There's a couple of other things with you though - the "gathering" sounds a little like incomplete emptying, which isn't uncommon in pregnancy. I take it that you CAN pee? (any inability to pass urine at all is an emergency, so, I really hope it's not that. I feel guilty enough about my tardiness in responding!)

Here's a page about incomplete emptying for info. If any of it looks familiar mention it to your MW or GP. It can be easily treated, usually by sitting for longer, waiting for a few minutes, seeing if you can pee a bit more or leaning forward (though, that's tricky with a bump)

incomplete bladder emptying

Anyhoo, ANY leaking of urine is abnormal. So, yes, you need to get that sorted because it'll worsen as your pregnancy progresses because the weight of the baby, placenta, extra blood, the hormone changes, all squish your bladder or sag your pelvic floor.

My advice would be, see your GP and make sure you've not got a UTI or thrush thing going on.

Do two exercises, three times a day, every day, more if you can manage.

Hold for a count of 10 - imagine you are holding in a fart, you really don't want it to slip out because it's going to be a stinker. Holding for 10 seconds is important because you'll have a reflex inhibition effect, so, it buys you time. When you "let go" you should feel a "drop" into your gusset. No drop and you've lost the contraction, so, keep going and aim to get to 10.

Then, do 10 quick flicks in a row, so on/off, on/off, on/off, on/off, on/off 10 times in a row. That's the one that'll stop you from peeing yourself when you sneeze/cough.

Follow me @gussiegrips on twitter, when I tweet, you twitch your twinkle. Set your phone alarm to go off three times a day, or, do them when you brush your teeth, just something that will remind you, doesn't matter what it is.

Lastly, don't panic. What you are describing is something that 1:3 women experience. Let me say that again, A THIRD of mumsnetter's pish themselves.

But, importantly, it's curable. 84% of simple stress incontinence is cured in 5 physio sessions, and doing it yourself still has a success rate of 70-80%. That's true of women who have had a baby, are menopausal, or who are elderly. The one group who probably won't achieve continence within three months are women who are currently pregnant. So, get some pads, do your exercises , and focus on developing a habit that will help you no end once your baby's here.

So, you clear? See your GP to make sure you've not got a UTI, and get them to check about this "gagthering" sensation.
Hold 10, 10 quick flicks, and lots of it.
Set a reminder on your phone, follow me @gussiegrips,
Don't panic.

Let me know how you get on. Seriously, I get all emotionally invested in leaky ladies.