To not want to pee myself post birth

[Janeypopz]

I am 6 days postpartum and went for short walk (but longest since birth) and peed myself! Now doing my pelvic floor exercises but feeling scared to go outside. Does anyone have any experience or tips?!

I would go see the GP. Women put up with a lot of stuff after having a baby and laugh it off as being one of those things, but there are treatments out there to help! I found post partum yoga (mum and baby yoga) strengthened my pelvic floor incredibly well.

For about a week or so after having my daughter I had a few near misses. I was getting sudden urges to have a wee and had trouble holding them in. It’s much better now, so hopefully it’ll pass. Perhaps pay your GP a visit and do those pelvic floor exercises.

It should pass, it took me a good few weeks to completely control myself and even now I do have to be extra careful not to leave it to the last second.
6 days is not a lot of time, it should get better esp if you do your kegals but definitely don’t suffer in silence if it feels like there’s no noticeable improvement

Well, undoubtedly lots of people will be along to disagree with me, but I would say that 6 days post partum is very early days. Keep doing the pelvic floor exercises obviously, but you do need to give it a bit of time, just like any other kind of exercise. I really don't think having a fragile pelvic floor after just 6 days counts as "women putting up with stuff". Patience, grasshopper!

Six days is no time at all. Give it time and don’t worry.

It’s still early days. I had a c section and peed myself a few times in the first few weeks and was still a bit leaky for a few weeks after that. If it’s still an issue at your 6 week check ask to be referred to a women’s physio.

Pelvic floor physios should be the norm post childbirth IMO. I was 'lucky' in that over 3 hours in the pushing stage and an episiotomy meant an automatic referral to one at my hospital. Definitely ask your GP for a referral to one.

In some areas you can self refer for physio - check the inside cover of your maternity notes for physio phone number (in our area at least).

Hi OP

I had the same after my second. I think it depends where you've had a tear and how bad it was. I tore downwards and 2nd degree I think and that's the muscle that stops you weeing. I was very very upset by it (came home crying after attempting a walk after a week or so) but after I thought if I'd turn my leg muscle in half i wouldn't expect to be able to run as well as I could beforehand, I'd have to rest it and build it up again.

I said I'd give it 6 weeks and go to the doctor if it wasnt sorted by then but it was fine by my 6 week check.

I'd give it some time, keep up with the pelvic floors and then reassess if it's no better in a few weeks. Just make sure you're following proper instruction on pelvic floors and doing them properly and frequently

Women's health physio

If it doesn't improve please ask for a physio referral, and yes, lift that elevator!

Nobody wants to pee themselves, but it's very common from my discussions with ppl. So don't be too unkind to yourself, it's pretty normal

OP I’d try to get a doctor or physio if I were you. It’s true that six days after birth is still very early days but in my limited personal view, I would think your description is quite extreme and so you’d likely benefit most from having a proper assessment and being given a proper course of physical exercises to follow.

It does depend though on what exactly happened - do you mean a tiny bit of leaking which is probably better suited to a wait-and-see, or full loss of bladder control in which case I’d seek the earliest appointment.

Be careful that fear of incontinence doesn’t leave you too immobile or confined. Moderate activity is essential to prevent the risk of blood clots - in the first six weeks after birth, you are massively more prone to blood clots in your legs so make sure you don’t sit on the sofa for hours etc. (Plus the obvious social benefits of being free to get out and about)

Best wishes.

Meanwhile, use pads. Incontinence pads are better, but you can use sanitary pads if you'd feel embarrassed buying incontinence pads. It takes away all the worry about visible leaks.