Does Childbirth Cause Urinary Incontinence?

Childbirth does not cause urinary incontinence. However, damage to the pelvic floor muscles and structures surrounding the urethra (the tube carrying urine from the bladder) can make women more likely to experience it.

Incontinence after childbirth is very common because it weakens the pelvic floor muscles (the muscles of the floor of the pelvis) which support the urethra.

Damage may be caused by pushing for long periods during labor, having a very fast delivery, or giving birth to large babies (macrosomia). These factors increase the risk that women will need to have an instrumental delivery (ventouse or forceps), which can cause damage to the pelvic floor muscles.

Some women just have naturally weak pelvic floor muscles, which might make them more likely to experience incontinence after childbirth even if they don’t give birth.

Women with this type of incontinence are often advised to tighten their pelvic floor muscles without giving birth first, using vaginal weights or other devices. This is called pelvic floor muscle training (Kegel exercises).

It is important to remember that incontinence after childbirth is very common.

In most cases, it will get better within one year of birth, and the majority of women do not need surgery.

How long does urinary incontinence last after childbirth?

For most women, postpartum urinary incontinence lasts only a few months. The vast majority of cases go away after a year. However, between 10% and 20% of women still have concerns five years after childbirth.

Urinary incontinence is more common if forceps or ventouse are required during delivery. This type of instrumental birth increases the risk of damage to the bladder or urethra, which can lead to long-term urinary leakage after childbirth.

About one in four women who give birth vaginally have some degree of postpartum urinary incontinence.

What are the risk factors for urinary incontinence?

The risk factors include:

Having a vaginal delivery, especially if forceps or ventouse are used. These forms of assisted delivery can cause injury to the bladder or urethra in around one-third of women.

Age. Older women are more likely to experience incontinence because they are more likely to have conditions that affect bladder control.

The number of children you have. Women with a longer reproductive history are more at risk. This is because you might have previously damaged your pelvic floor muscles and they haven’t recovered fully, or because the tissues supporting the urethra have been weakened by carrying a baby in your womb.

Obesity. Being overweight also increases your risk of incontinence because it puts extra pressure on the bladder.

Having other health conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, or neurological conditions (for example Parkinson’s disease).

Smoking and drinking alcohol can make urinary incontinence worse by leading to further damage to the pelvic floor muscles.