An embarrassing problem

[Benjy]

Hi

I have been leaking urine since 28 weeks. It is worse when I have just been to the toilet - I feel like I have finished, get up and 30-1 minute later start leaking. I have been to the hospital to check it's not amniotic fluid and tests for that were clear. The midwife is concerned as I have no previous problems with my pelvic floor and this is my first pregnancy. I am an older first time mum (36) and current estimates of my baby's weight based on 29 week ultrasound predict a 9.5-10 Ib baby at term (I'm only 5'3"). I also have a low-lying placenta and need to be scanned again at 35 weeks to see if it has moved.

I am now 31 weeks and the leaking has got much worse. I had expected that I might have some problems after the birth but, perhaps niavely, had not expected it to start so soon. This is a much wanted baby, conceived after fertility treatment, and I am very excited but this is really getting me down.

I am very worried about what state I'll be in after the birth if I'm this bad now. I'm seeing my obstetrician tomorrow and don't know whether to ask for a caesarean. I know this is not the easy option and recovery is harder than a vaginal birth so I could really use some advice from women who have been there, particularly those who had some stress incontinence before the birth. Did a 'normal' birth make it worse? The midwife I saw at the hospital said that surgery after the birth is a possibility but I do not want to go for a natural birth if I then need to go in for surgical repair.

I'm going out shortly so I won't be on line for a few hours. I would be so grateful for some advice.

Hi so sorry to hear you're having a tough time. I am also 5 foot 3". I leaked from about your stage and it did get to the point where I was afraid to go out as I started wetting myself if I didn't get to the toilet fast enough. Full on empty bladder with no control at all and no hope of stopping it. I started wearing pads to soak it up and did this when I really had to go out. They checked me also, it wasn't amniotic fluid. I had regular growth scans as my baby was big and I also had extra water, not so much that it was a problem more that bigger babies need more water (or so I was told) I was very heavy and this was the cause of the leaking. I wore a support belt to help relieve the pressure, this may help you. The drs said it would clear up after the birth.
The birth itself wasn't great he got stuck and I had forceps which caused a 3rd degree tear he was a large baby at 9lb 15 1/2 oz. I have problems now in that when I need to go for a wee I have to go and it aches very quickly but I have never wet myslf and are in control of my waterworks again. I thought this was never going to happen! I do have other problems but that was from the forceps.

If I were to have a 3rd baby (ds 1 was 9lb 1oz and ventouse) I would definately have a c-section even if that meant going private as I really don't think my bladder/pelvic floor/girlie bits could do another natural birth.

I would be wary of growth scans as, although mine were correct in predicting a large baby, some of my firends have been told they were expecting large babies and had 6/7/8lb babies.

Ds 1 was 9lb 1oz
Ds 2 was 9lb 15 1/2oz

Dont know if this will be of any help, but I have leaking when I have thrush.

All urine tests came back normal, but now with using thrush cream twice a day, I dont leak now.

It worked within a few days as well. Worth a try?

also if you are leaking wee like this, it will make you feel better down there, as its very soothing.

If your placenta is low lying, that will almost certainly put extra pressure on your bladder and your pelvic floor and all sphincters!

I also had a low lying placenta...
but it did right itself by my 28th week scan

Thank you all for your advice.

Muppetgirl, I'm sorry you had this problem too and thanks for sharing your story with me. It's not something I feel I can talk to real-life friends and family about so it has left me feeling like I am alone in this and just very ashamed about the whole thing. DH has been very understanding but it is so distressing. I will try the support belt you recommended - do you mean the elasticated band or a girdle? I'm continuing with pelvic floor exercises but they don't seem to have any effect.

Divvy, when I went to hospital to have this checked out they took a swab, which came back clear so I don't have an infection. Wish i did - it would be easier to sort out! Thanks for your suggestion though.

Thankyouandgoodnight, I'm not sure the placenta is the problem. I mentioned it only because I have to be scanned again at 35 weeks and because it is low-lying there is the possibility I might be advised to have a caesarean anyway. It is just another risk factor for me to have a normal delivery.

I do really want to breastfeed because I have had eczema all my life and want to do everything I can to reduce the chances of my baby developing it. I know a vaginal delivery would be better for establishing breastfeeding. However, the thought of this incontinence continuing and worsening after birth is just too depressing for words. It's a hard decision to make.