How long did incontinence last after childbirth?

[Gogi1]

I've been suffering with urinary incontinence since I gave birth 7 weeks ago and it's not improved much at all. (I can sometimes hold on for a few hours now whereas when i was in hospital I'd stand up and I'd constantly wee everywhere)

I have urge and stress incontinence. It's the urge that's getting me really depressed as I leak urine all day. Things like turning a tap or seeing a toilet just trigger me leaking and once I start leaking I just can not stop it.

I'm really struggling to leave the house and it's affecting my mental health. Just want to know of anyone else has a similar story to tell amd how long it took for them to recover?

I think you need to see the GP and get checked out @Gogi1

Hey Gogi1,

You need to book a GP appointment who will usually complete an internal examination and assess whether you have a prolapse etc. and then make a referral onto a gynaecologist at hospital.

There is a number of things they can do to help- such as physiotherapist, pessaries or surgery.

Just don’t do what I did and allowed myself to be fobbed off by my GP until 18 months down the line when my mental health was really bad. X

Back to the GP. I have had two babies and no long term issues, no issues at all after a day or two.

I'm so sorry you're going through this op.i think it is worth a chat with the GP. After dc2 I had a little leaking when i coughed or sneezed, luckily this stopped after afew months.
If you can't leave the house this is definately something to get checked.

Speak to the GP, in my area if you are referred before 8ish weeks pp you jump ahead of the physio queue because it's so much easier to fix when it's a new thing. I hope you get it sorted soon

Definitely see your GP or ask your health visitor (if you see one). They will probably refer you to women's physiotherapy in the first instance.
You could try using a pelvic floor exercise app in the meantime, as that will likely be the first course of action anyway. I'm using the Squeezy app (NHS approved) as I have a problem with my pelvic floor muscles - but don't try to do too much too soon. There is guidance on the app to help you.
There is hope, OP. Good luck.

Make sure you’re doing pelvic floor exercises.

And yes, see your GP.

I have 5 children (each a vb) and haven't experienced this. Straight back to GP and do not allow them to fob you off. It is absolutely not normal.

As others have said, you need to see a doctor. This isn’t a normal postpartum experience and needs attention

My DD was a big baby and i had similar issues didn't go to the GP and had months of problems. Definitely go see GP. It resolved itself over the years but I'm still not ok with cardio and have to wear a pad for that (12 years on). Basically don't be like me!

Hope you get it sorted x

I had forceps and episiotomy so that probably is the reason why this has happened. I've got my 6 week pp checkup tomorrow. I'm having physio with nhs but at the moment they're only telling me is to do pelvic floors. (Not had an exam or anything) I was in and out of hospital for first few weeks because I couldn't cope with it all and the Dr's just kept telling me this can happen. Told me I don't have a prolapse but I think i do so will ask Dr again tomorrow 😩 Not much help really, but they referred me to a continence clinic and a Gynaecologist who specialises in urgo-gynae. But got to wait til March for that.

I just feel really alone in this. It's so hard accepting this as my new normal and I have to wear the huge Tena pads everyday.

I haven't had incontinence but have had prolapse, so same muscles. What helped me was doing the pelvic floor exercises religiously and working the other muscles in pelvic basket - glutes, deep stomach muscles etc. I used this programme www.hab-it.com/downloads/hab-it-pelvic-floor-exercises-digital-download/
But am sure you can find similar for free on YouTube. And also time and being gentle with yourself and your recovery !

@Gogi1 You will get through this! It was quite a shock to me too after having an episiotomy and forceps resulting in a 3B tear. It took me 7 months to finally see a NHS physio even though I was referred at 6 weeks (I went private before as I couldn't wait). I had all the tests you'll probably be sent for but ultimately they just told me to change my diet and stick to the pelvic floor exercises and other exercises to help close my diastatis recti. I couldn't even feel my squeezes at first but gradually everything improved. It can take a year for things to settle, even without any intervention during labour. Longer if you're breastfeeding. You will get better. Try to do the squeezes 4 times a day! You aren't alone!

How are you doing now OP? I’ve had really similar issues (I’m 7.5 months post partum) and I’m seeing very gradual improvement. I suspect that it’s nerve damage which can take quite a long time to heal. I can’t say physio has helped me much.

Hi, I'm now about 4.5 months now PP.
I can say the incontinence is much better. I was hammering the pelvic floor exercises, which I initially thought was helping but I'm now seeing a private specialist physio who said I'm quite tense and has got me doing some new exercises.

I still leak when I sneeze and sometimes I get the urge and pee before I get to the loo but it's so much better and feel I can leave the house and be ok now. Its just I've had a constant pressure like pain in my bladder alongside the incontinence and it's really horrible. I'll go for a wee and then say 10 mins after the pressure of feeling a need to wee creaps back in. I can only feel it when I'm walking. Sitting/standing/ lying I'm absolutely fine. I'm not sure if this is pelvic floor dysfunction, nerve damage or IC... the mystery still continues. Its affecting my mental health but I've been referred for CBT therapy to help me get through.

I've just started some new meds called Betmiga. See if that helps the bladder pressure. Takes 6-8 weeks to see any results though

@BathtimeScroller sorry youre going through this too. Do you know if nerves can heal? It's all so horrible this. It's not something I expected after having a baby.

I would say at 4.5 months you’re still so so early and I do believe your bladder issues will go away especially as you’ve already had such good improvement!
There’s a Facebook group I’m in called prolapse postpartum mom’s club and it made me realise that healing really does carry on for 2 years after birth, possibly longer. So that gives me hope! Nerves in particular can take a couple of years to heal.

not sure if you’re breastfeeding but I stopped over a month ago and definitely saw a bit of improvement after (I’m in no way suggesting you should stop, just mentioning that for some women this helps as the prolactin hormones make muscles etc more relaxed - so could eventually help when you do stop. Certainly doesn’t help all women though).

Hi @BathtimeScroller I'm just going to pm you x

I had forceps and had physio afterwards.
11 years later I am still not in control of my bowel or bladder. I had a really nasty tear and I've never been right since

Its awful that they don't prepare us for these birth injuries. Are you any better from the day you gave birth @thebestbirtheraccordingtoDD ?

Hi, I'm just googling similar situations on mumsnet and know this thread is very old so might not get a reply but I also had an episiotomy and tear. I'm only 6 weeks PP but having the same problem you described. How are things for you now? @Gogi1 I'm so fed up, I have been referred to physio, also doing the Squeezy app but my pelvic floor is so weak.

Hi, it's almost been 2 years now. So the severe urge incontinence got noticeably better about 6 months pp. I don't have the huge gushes like I did. I figured its due to nerve damage/Injury, but I still get urgency with some urge incontinence and stress/anxiety and water are the huge triggers. I Still suffer with stress incontinence and I still have a horrible sensation to pee/Bladder pressure when I walk.

I don't want to sugar coat it, but although it has gotten better since day 1 my body will never be the same again. I'm looking into trying bulkamid injections for the stress incontinence. Tried loads of medications and none have helped Physio didn't help, tens machine, kegal 8 machine, accupuncture, pelvipower chair didn't help. I've spent a fortune.

The next thing to try is meditation and relaxation techniques as this helps with the urgency. I just don't know how to make my brain stay calm when I'm stressed out.

D nyou know what triggers the incontinence or is it random?

I'm happy to message/text privately if you want to chat more. I've learnt a lot along the way

@Gogi1 Thank you for replying.

I was hoping it had all gone completely back to normal for you. I'm glad for the most part it has. Would you recommend anything specific to help? What would you say you saw the biggest improvement from?

I haven't noticed any specific triggers yet, but I’ll start paying more attention to that. When I was in the hospital, I didn’t feel the urge to go at all. I assumed it was because the area was still swollen from the surgery. It's improved since then, but now, when I do get the urge, I have to go immediately because I can't hold it for long, it's as though when my bladder gets full up to a certain point it gives up.

Ive been advised to stay hydrated and to keep going to the toilet. Also to go as soon as I get somewhere, which is fine but I'm really stressed that this won't go away. I did call the GP who referred me to physio and said it's too early still to contact urology.

After 6 weeks I don't think there's been a day where it's not happened or I've leaked a little. It does feel sore still down there so maybe I've just not finished healing but it's driving me crazy as I'm only 29.

@Whiterose123 hey, just seen this thread as I’m desperately looking to see if anyone is experiencing the same as me! I’m 30 and I’m absolutely gutted to be in the same situation as it sounds you are! I had forceps in August and they cut me too, ever since I constantly leak every single day but enough that I couldn’t possibly go out without wearing massive pads! Being completely fobbed off by the doctors and hospital and it’s effecting my mental health so much! Have you had any further improvement? They keep saying still early days but to me over 2 months is long enough to still be suffering! Thinking of going for a private consultation just to get someone else’s view and time on it as gp and hospital couldn’t care less!

Never had it and I have a forceps birth

This is an old post from 2022, but what an unhelpful comment. People are asking for advice, and don't need to know you had a forcep birth and didn't have it. This isn't a competition. Think before you post in future.
To anybody who has posted recently, may be worth creating a new thread.