Unexpected pregnancy side effect making me miserable

[didihearthatright123456]

I’m currently 26 weeks pregnant with twins. So far I’ve had a relatively easy time. I have had raging heartburn, which I’ve coped with, I’ve had leg cramps which have been excruciatingly painful but again have coped with.

The unexpected thing that has made me want to cry tonight is the loss of bladder control (sorry if this is TMI).

In mid Dec last year I got a terrible cold and cough, I coughed so much that I pretty much lost all bladder control. The cough did get a lot better just not gone completely but the loss of bladder control pretty much went away which was a huge relief.

I’ve been out with tea with friends tonight and 5 minutes before we left I sneezed, and well you can guess what happened. I then had to drive the 30 minutes home feeling so horrible. Immediately got in, burst into tears before heading for the shower.

All the expected pregnancy symptoms I’m coping with but this one is just horrible and you’re never sure when it’s going to occur next. I didn’t want to have to wear pads everyday but I might have to.

Please tell me that other people have suffered with this and I’m not on my own? I’m currently feeling very sorry for myself 😢😢

31 weeks here. Haven't wet myself yet. Piles, on the other hand? They are hideous, painful and bleed all the time.

Pregnancy can really suck sometimes; a little bit of wee is nothing. You're doing a top job cooking the baby nicely.

I'm pretty sure once I've given birth I'll piss myself every time I sneeze.

Good luck OP :-)

It is horrible - you have my sympathy. When I was pregnant with my second I got a terrible stomach bug. I was vomiting so hard I was also peeing with some force and there was not a thing I could do. Have a wee drip was ok but having to mop the floor was hellish.

I accepted the temporary nature of it and took to wearing very thin Tena lady. At least then I had a modicum of dignity

Oh god I nearly wrote the exact same post earlier! I had bronchitis before Christmas and I have a killer cough right now- I’ve changed my underwear three times this evening! It doesn’t matter how many times I preemptively go to the bathroom or do my Kegel exercises and it’s just so soul destroying. Especially at work. All I can say is pads, spare pants and you’re not alone!

You poor thing! It's awful and leaves you with no dignity! I'm 36 weeks with second DD and I was horrendously sick for first 26 weeks and every morning I would be wretching into the toilet bowl I would also be wetting myself at the same time and had no control...zero dignity! Just wanted to say you are not alone

I've had poor bladder control for years (needed physio for it at one point) but since getting pregnant I can't do anything without a bit of wee coming out 😭 I sneeze, cough, trip over, throw up, run, anything and a bit of wee comes out. And I'm only 18 weeks 😭😭 I'm dreading the baby pushing on my bladder more and making the situation worse, and I'm really dreading giving birth. It's got to the point where I've stopped drinking anything from 10pm until I finish work the next day because I'm so scared of having an accident at work.
No advice apart from talk to your midwife and she might be able to offer some exercises or something, but I am offering solidarity in a horrible situation which I too cry about a lot

You are definitely not alone! I had this with my third pregnancy. Vomitting and peeing myself at the same time, I was on the floor of our bathroom with my two toddlers around me covered in bodily fluids. Tears, pee and vomit. Pregnancy is not glamorous and it can really dear you down emotionally. I also used to pee myself when sneezing and coughing.

Pelvic floor exercises can help a bit...

I find having a newborn so much easier and definitely so, so much nicer than being pregnant.

Sending you hugs!

I think I accidentally peed twice in my last pregnancy and accidentally pooped once (in the shower so it could have been worse) 🙈

Pregnancy is so gross but your babies will make it so worth it!

For now, you may have to wear the pads but it won't be forever. Xx

@LittleBirdBlues I'm pregnant with dc2 and pee a bit when I puke 🙈
So glamorous isn't it! 😂

You're not alone! I'm 27 weeks with my second now and struggling with the same thing. The Tena liners are really good. I kind of forget about the problem and don't notice I'm wearing them. It's much better than repeatedly changing underwear and feeling miserable. Midwife says bladder control should come back after delivery and recovery so fingers crossed!

Thanks everyone that’s made me feel so much better knowing I’m not alone. I think a trip to the supermarket this morning is in order.

Sending to all those struggling too, I never thought for a moment that this would be the worst thing about pregnancy so far xx

Totally with you, I’ve had twins and it’s the weight from pregnancy that does it. I’m pregnant again and wear a Tena lady daily. Post birth I think I’m going to invest in an Elvie trainer and hope gets it better x

Pregnancy does awful things to your body, and I'm sorry you've got this. It's definitely worse for me in the second pregnancy than the first, but, it was rectified pretty easily after pregnancy with regular pelvic floor exercises.

I ended up getting an app with reminders on it and 'exercise routines', I did them 3 times a day and still do them regularly now I'm pregnant again and it worked so well. Unfortunately until the babies arrive, there's not a huge amount you can do :(

I went to an antenatal physio session today, and one of the things they said is that a little bit of leakage when you sneeze is normal and just down to the pressure on the pelvic floor (do your exercises!). But if it is more severe than that and you're properly wetting yourself, and especially if it's not sneeze/cough related, then you should be talking to your midwife or GP in case it's a UTI. Also keep an eye out for other symptoms - any kind of pain in your lower tummy or when weeing, blood in wee, cloudy or strong smelling wee. Pregnant women are prone to them because of the impact on the pelvic floor, and they can be dangerous for the babies too, so please talk to someone if you're at all unsure.

Also pregnant with twins, and I know it is hard – at 29 weeks I reckon I"m nearly the same size as I would have been at full term with a single baby and the strain on my body is immense.

That’s interesting @newrubylane that you were told it’s normal. I was at an early pregnancy antenatal class on Wednesday and the physio said leaking is absolutely not normal and not to listen to anyone who said it was!! She said not to settle for leaking and to seek a referral to the physio team in the maternity hospital.

@newrubylane that’s interesting to know. My leaking didn’t start until I came down with this awful cough before Christmas. When I went to see the GP with it I did say that as a result of the cough I was getting a lot of leaking and she just nodded her head and said it was to be expected.

I had been a lot better and not leaking half as much other than the other night when I sneezed. It was definitely more than a dribble but not a full on wee if you see what I mean?

I totally get you on how hard it is carrying twins. I’m often out of breath and know that it’s only going to get worse. The other thing that gives me anxiety is when the midwife asks if I can tell which twin is moving/kicking. Up until a few days ago I had absolutely no idea. Getting more a feel for it now but you can’t be exactly sure can you.

Good luck in the rest of your pregnancy

Xx