Incontinence during pregnancy

[LWooldridge]

Hi all.

I'm very aware incontinence during pregnancy is common. However, I have a chesty cough and it is making me completely house bound as I’m emptying my bladder with every coughing fit.
I’ve had issues with stress incontinence since having my first child, saw a specialist, did pelvic floor exercises and was able to just wear a panty liner for any little accidents from the usual sneezes, coughs, laughs (I can deal with that!).

Now I’m expecting my second, everything’s got worse and the last few days have been unbearable. GP told me it was physiological and nothing they can do.
I don’t know what to do? I have a 4 year old and I’m unable to even do school drop off and pick ups, never mind go to work (I’m a primary school teacher).
Anyone been in this situation?

Thanks in advance,
Lauren

Yep all of the above past and present
tbh it was the worse cough i think iv ever had but every cough was a pee some quite bug no chance of holding it
i also tried going to toilet every he to makesure it was empty as culd be but didnt help much
i ended up buying lady pants for incontinece black in colour? Cnt remeber name now? Abit like nappies 🙈🙈 Culdnt keep getting changed every hour though
once the cough had gone its all settled again. It was driving me crazy?

@J1290 it’s awful isn’t it!
I’ve now got some incontinence pants, thank you.
just need to get rid of this cough!! But literally can’t take anything when pregnant can you! Xx

Don’t panic! Just keep doing your pelvic floor exercises. Don’t give up on them. The pressure and weight of your baby on top of a hacking cough might mean that this will keep happening whilst you’re pregnant but all the building up of the muscles you’re doing now will stand you in good stead for the birth and recovery.

Lots of questions from me:

What gestation are you?
Are you still doing pelvic floor exercises? Did your GP do an internal vaginal examination when you went to see them? Have you discussed your issues with your community midwife?
Have you heard of the app 'Squeezy'?

I suffered from stress incontinence during my second pregnancy and I'm happy to say it had completely resolved within about 3 months post-partum, with pelvic floor exercise. However, mine wasn't anywhere near as severe as yours.

@SecondhandTable an internal vaginal exam would absolutely not be the norm for urinary incontinence in pregnancy. I second the squeezy app though

Hi there - I’m just getting over the flu and was about 20 weeks pregnant when I caught it. The coughing made me completely incontinent for a few weeks. But now I’m back to normal - just the odd leak. I bought some of the always panty liners for those weeks. Don’t panic. It’s probably just the awful cough. But also get that cough seen to - mine turned to a chest infection then pneumonia. Needed lots of antibiotics! Take care and hope you feel better soon!

I'm going try the app. I have hyperemesis and everytime I vomit that's me leaking!

Honey and lemon in hot water can really help. I had very similar about a month ago and whilst maybe it's not the same as cough medicine it did genuinely help.

Hugs Op. It's crap. If it helps I was wetting myself so often my thighs started to ache from constantly trying to stop it. 😂 now my nemesis is my still present morning sickness.. once that's out of the way my bladder is fine for the rest of the day

Hi, I was just wondering how you are getting on now? I could have wrote your post myself this week. I'm 36 wks pg with my 2nd DC and for the past week I've had a nasty virus/cough every time I cough I'm emptying my bladder. It's utterly miserable. I've started wearing the disposable pants and having to change them frequently. I've started the squeezy app but I'm worried I've started it too late, and that labour is going to make a bad situation worse.

Let me know if you've any good advice for this.

Note* my bladder hasn't been its strongest since birthing DC1 but has been manageable with a panty liner every now and then.

Aww I’m sorry you’re going through this.. I remember it very well and it’s so depressing.

I don’t have any advice other than what you have already said about pelvic floor exercises. Sorry 😞 I do remember doing lots of steam inhalation to try ease the cough but ultimately it was just try and survive until the cough passed and then the incontinence wasn’t as bad.

But on a positive side, I’ve now had my baby and I am back to how I was before pregnancy. I was so worried after Labour I would be incontinent but I’ve been ok with a pantyliner.

Really feel for you and hope you’re feeling better soon x

If you're not already using them, get some actual incontinence pads. I use Tena ones. Seriously they hold SO MUCH more than any liner would, absorb properly away from your skin so they aren't uncomfortable even when you've had several substantial coughing fits and associated meals, and they're genuinely not as bulky as you may be expecting.

I have THE WORST coughs (I'm on my third epic cough in the last five months or so) and have been suffering from worse and worse stress incontinence because of them, but it's been transformative to just embrace the actual proper pads and get on with things.

Thanks for replying. I'm glad to hear baby is here safe and well and you're doing much better with the bladder!

@persipan thank you, yes I'm going to embrace them for the mean time. Its just miserable isn't when you're unlikely the thick of it.