Severe incontinence after birth

[thewallisblue]

I had my first child 9 days ago, which ended up in an episiotomy and ventouse. Since then I have had almost complete urinary incontinence when I stand up or walk. Has anyone else had this? Did it improve?

I’ve been doing pelvic floor exercises everyday since. I have an appointment with a physio but not for another five weeks. I was previously really active, and this is really making me feel so low. I can’t even walk without urine constantly leaking - it’s so demoralising. I’ve wet myself a couple of times (when there’s been too much for TENA pads).

Anyone experienced anything similar?

Hello, I had a forceps episiotomy a month ago now and really struggled with urine leaking for the first two weeks, would barely make it to the toilet! Even sometimes now when I sit down I feel some leaking out on my pad but it’s definitely better than it used to be. By the end of the second week I ended up with a urine infection and needed a 3 day course of antibiotics so keep an eye out for having the urge to pee but when you go not much comes out or burns when you do go. I’m still very early days in recovery as well but I’d like to say it gets a bit easier as the weeks go on.

Thanks so much for the reply @Amelia49, really appreciate it. I’m sorry you’re going through something similar (it’s so stressful, isn’t it?!), but I’m really glad to hear things are improving over time.

Hi OP, I don't have any advice but I can imagine this must be so distressing . It is so early days so I'm sure things will improve over time, especially with pelvic floor exercises/ physio. I'm guessing it is not possible for you to visit a gynaecologist and/or pelvic floor physio privately to speed things up?

Hi OP, I didn't give birth in the UK so not sure on set up but you absolutely shouldn't have to wait five weeks. Is there any way you can ask GP for support? In my case I didn't have symptoms at your stage but had a third degree tear following ventouse, and I had midwives who visited after the birth who checked and a public health visitor I could contact. Is there anyone like that who could signpost services?

Dont' panic because I don't think being symptomatic at this stage means it will be long lasting, but I do think you should have support now. I think the after-effects of birth injuries are one of the most neglected health areas.

In my case I wasn't immediately symptomatic but did develop some urge incontinence and had post-natal physio for about 15 months. My team were really good: they basically said they wouldn't discharge me till they were confident I wouldn't have future issues. I think often its about making sure you're flagged to the right team and service for follow up. Its very common, but that doesn't mean you should suffer in silence or that you won't have to be insistent on getting proper treatment.

Have you contacted your maternity unit? You may be able to get in and see a specialist midwife/doctor who can help, put plans in place etc

Hi going through the same thing after my forceps delivery with epidural and episiotomy. Same situation had my daughter 8 days ago and almost complete incontinence. Doing pelvic floor and midwife going to refer me to physio. Just feel really down and isolated as I don’t want to leave house… Did it improve for you?

Hi, my wife had our first baby three days ago, also episiotomy, and she is suffering from severe urinal incontinence, no control at all, and she's really down and worried about it. I was wondering how others' condition evolved over time - did it improve? We haven't been to doctors yet but after googling it i came across this thread and wanted to ask (and just registered especially for it), as your cases sound very similar.. thanks

Like PP says I would ring ward direct. Don’t wait and go back through gp. Technically this is their injury from intervention so there responsibility. Don’t get fobbed off and lost in the system or you will be back of the line for referrals via gp.

I’m sorry to read this. Did she leave the hospital with incontinence or has it developed since being home?
call the contact number you’ve been given for the maternity unit and they should see her. Meanwhile pelvic floor exercises to start. I hope it’s resolved quickly for her

Thanks for the advice. She left hospital with the incontinence. She's got an appointment there in a couple of days and has started the pelvic exercises. She's also going to see a physio. It's now five days since the labour and she has already started to regain minor control of her bladder which is hopefully the beginning of the road to recovery.

@Newdad22 this is good news she is starting to regain control. Hopefully everyday will be a bit better. Pregnancy/labour/birth (normal vaginal, instrumental and CS) really do batter our pelvic floor

@Newdad22 I hope your wife is feeling better and has had the help she needed - do you have any update?

I'm in the same situation and I very worried I'm going to have a permanent problem!

Just an update as I wrote in the thread worried but never updated and be good to have some positive notes!

my continence after episiotomy and forceps got significantly better soon after birth. By 6 weeks I was pretty much continent again. I don’t dribble now or anything but do find i need the toilet I can’t hold on for hours!

Great news @ZMum22 Would recommend Pilates for the last bit. The pelvic floor is not just a muscle in isolation, it’s the whole of the bottom of your core. By working on that the whole area it will strengthen in unison and you will be stronger, and able to hold for longer. Much better than just trying to strengthen from below IYSWIM with pelvic floor exercises and kegels.

If you have a slippy floor in your kitchen I like to do everytime I make a cuppa. Put a piece of paper of slippy cloth under your foot then breathe in and pull your belly button to your spine, hold that contraction then breathe normally but keep it held, lean forward slightly or hold onto worktop and bend knee while pushing the other out and back in. Rep 10 then switch and do the other side.

I had urinary incontinence (almost complete to begin with, then gradually improving) for at least 6-8 weeks after episiotomy and ventouse delivery. I did attempt to do pelvic floor exercises but in the newborn chaos was extremely inconsistent with them. Fully resolved, I'm now 16 months postpartum and my bladder is as strong as it was pre-pregnancy.

@ZMum22 @pbdr this gives me hope thank you so much for sharing!

I have a grade 3 tear so expecting a slow recovery but I wasn't expecting to have no bladder control at all .

Hi @loopyb sorry for slow response. It's two and a half months since the birth and my wife is much, much better. She's being doing pelvic floor exercises which has helped a lot. Also pilates. She says a bit of wee comes out if she sneezes or makes fast movements like jumping, but that's also getting less and less. It's a massive relief because the first week or so after birth she had no control at all. All the best for your recovery too.

@Newdad22 thats fantastic news. The stress incontinence will improve over time. It’s not uncommon for women to have this form of incontinence particularly after pregnancy/childbirth but physio/pelvic floor/exercise should continue to improve this

I had this with a tear, episiotomy and forceps. It got better quite quickly. I had issues for a long time when running.l. Saw a woman’s health physio and have a pessary now as I have a uterine prolapse. I ran 15 miles the other day without leaking! That’s 4 years on and one more baby (c-Section for the second).