Nerves , ligaments and  and pelvic floor muscles work together to support the bladder  and keep the urethra closed so that it doesnt leak. Overstretching or injuring these during pregnancy or childbirth  may cause urine leakage. This type of urinary incontinence is also known as stress incontinence.

Who is likely to have urinary incontinence after childbirth ?

People who are at risk of  urinary incontinence after childbirth include the following :

• obese women
• women who had moderate to stress incontinence during pregnancy
• women who gave birth vaginally (However   some moms who have a scheduled c-section and avoid labor altogether continue to have stress incontinence after childbirth.)

You also have a greater risk of this condition if you had  the following:

• gestational diabetes
• assisted vaginal delivery
• prolonged pushing stage or a large baby
• many previous children especially if they were delivered vaginally
• smoking

How long  will urinary incontinence last ?

The leaking stops or becomes much less frequent within a few weeks after childbirth for some moms. In others however it can persist for months or even more.

What can i do about it ?

Talk to your health care provider about this. She may do a physical examination to rule out urinary tract infection especially if you have symptoms such as burning and pain during urination.

She may also recommend that you do  Kegel exercises regularly. When done correctly, Kegel exercises strengthen the pelvic floor muscles  and give you better muscle control.

If you were obese when you got pregnant or gained to much weight during pregnancy , your provider will recommend losing  the excess weight though diet and exercises.

You may also want to do the following :

• Wear sanitary pads to protect your clothing from urine leaks
• Crossing your legs and tightening your pelvic muscles when you feel you are about to sneeze or cough
• Try and prevent constipation because straining to have a bowel movement may worsen the problem