Urinary Incontinence After C Section: How To Treat This Condition

The truth is when you have a baby your body changes. Sometimes not in the ways you expected.

Mothers who have had C-sections may experience urinary incontinence after childbirth, and here’s why: 

1. The pelvic muscles are weakened or separated after childbirth, this can lead to leakage when you sneeze, cough, laugh, or when you climb stairs.

2. When a baby is born it tears the muscles that support the bladder which can cause damage to the sphincter muscle resulting in stress incontinence. This may be caused by long difficult labour which can cause the muscle to stretch and become damaged.

3. The compression of blood vessels at the site of a C-section incision may lead to some degree of decreased bladder sensation. This means you have less feeling in your bladder so even if it is full you don’t feel it as much as you did before. This decreases your ability to know when you need to go to the toilet.

There are several other things that can contribute such as the fact that women who have had a C-section may have been catheterized while in labour or surgery, which can also contribute. The good news is there are treatments for this and it can be resolved with pelvic floor muscles exercises, medications, and in some cases surgery.

Pelvic floor muscles exercises

Lay on your back with both legs raised and knees bent so feet are flat on the floor.

Squeeze to tighten the muscles in your vagina, anus, and urethra (pee-hole). Hold for 5 seconds then relax for 5 seconds. Do this 10 times until you feel very slight fatigue.

or

Sit comfortably in a chair and tighten the muscles around your vagina, anus, and urethra (pee-hole). Hold for 5 seconds then relax for 5 seconds. Do this 10 times until you feel very slight fatigue.

When going to the bathroom, stop just before urinating or having a bowel movement and tighten the muscles in your vagina, anus, and urethra (pee-hole). Hold them tight for 2 seconds then relax for 4 seconds. Do this 10 times each time you use the bathroom until you feel slight fatigue. If holding is difficult, try contracting the muscles in short pulses of 1 second each.

Females who have had vaginal deliveries have a higher incidence of urinary incontinence.

The most common cause for this is damage to the pelvic floor muscles during childbirth, but recent research suggests that damage to the nerves leading to the bladder is frequently overlooked as a possible cause.

Pelvic floor exercises are very successful in controlling stress incontinence after vaginal delivery.

Another way of controlling urinary incontinence after vaginal delivery is to use a pessary, a device that is inserted into the vagina. It acts as a support for the bladder, which means it reduces stress incontinence and enables the muscles in the pelvic floor to work better.

There are a few treatments available such as medications and in rare cases surgery.

If the cause of urinary incontinence is a weak bladder, medication may help strengthen it.

Your doctor will prescribe you a medicine to take daily that will make your bladder contract when it’s time to urinate. This treatment does not cure incontinence but can reduce the urge to go and decrease bulk urine loss.

Surgery is usually the last resort but can be effective if other treatments do not work. Surgery involves supporting the urethra with mesh or stitching the bladder neck to the pubic bone to increase closure pressure.

Can C sections cause bladder problems?

Yes, C-section surgeries can cause stress urinary incontinence.

The urethra is cut or moved which increases the risk of leakage during physical activity such as coughing, sneezing, exercising, etc.

Women who have undergone a cesarean section are much more likely to suffer from bladder problems later in life compared to women who have not undergone any such surgeries.

Cesarean section increases the risk of urethral sphincter dysfunction and stresses urinary incontinence, both of which can be treated effectively with pelvic floor exercises as well as medications such as estrogen.

Estrogen replacement therapy is given to women after menopause because it reduces the risk of urethral sphincter dysfunction. Estrogen replacement therapy increases collagen formation in the urethra and makes it stronger, which reduces the risk of urinary incontinence.

It is important to discuss any bladder problems with your doctor as soon as possible to determine what treatment options are best for you.

How long does incontinence last after C-section?

In some women, incontinence happens immediately after the surgery but usually goes away within a couple of weeks as your body recovers from childbirth.

In rare cases, incontinence can last up to six months or years to fully recover. In these instances, you should see your doctor as soon as possible to find out why incontinence persists and how it can be corrected.

Is vaginal or C-section safer for a baby?

Women are often concerned with whether vaginal delivery or C-section is safer for the baby.

Research suggests that C-sections are not necessarily safer for babies, but they do come with more risks for mothers.

The main difference between the two procedures is that vaginal deliveries have a risk of tears, which can be evidence of pelvic floor problems like stress urinary incontinence.

C-sections do not carry these risks, but they increase the risk of bleeding, blood clots in the legs or lungs, and longer recovery time for mothers.

Doctors recommend that women who are at high risk of damage to pelvic floor muscles due to pregnancy consider elective C-sections before labor starts.

Women who have had a C-section previously may also want to consider having an elective C section as there is research that suggests women who have vaginal deliveries after previous cesareans are at risk for more serious pelvic floor problems, such as stress urinary incontinence.

In some cases, C-section is safer for you or your baby, but consider discussing options with your doctor before making a decision.

Is vaginal or cesarean delivery safer on the pelvic floor?

It is difficult to tell which type of delivery is safe on the pelvic floor because there are so many factors involved in each individual case. It is important to discuss your options thoroughly with your doctor.