Women's Bladder Weakness & Incontinence

Bladder weakness is common during and after pregnancy.

Your bladder sits above your pelvic bones and is supported by your pelvic floor; throughout the day it relaxes and fills with urine throughout the day and the sphincter keeps it closed until you can use the toilet.

During your pregnancy and childbirth, your pelvic floor muscles will be strained, resulting in bladder weakness.

Urinary incontinence is a common problem and occurs when you pass urine without meaning to.

There are different types of incontinence, including stress incontinence when your bladder leaks when it's under pressure, like when you cough or laugh; urge incontinence is when there is a sudden leaking of urine, followed by an intense urge to empty your bladder.

Overflow incontinence is when you can’t fully empty your bladder, resulting in leaking, while total incontinence is when you can’t store any urine at all, causing you to frequently use the toilet or experiencing leaking.

It's also possible to have a mixture of different types.

One of the best and most popular products used for incontinence are absorbent pads that are worn inside of the underwear to absorb leaked urine.

They have the same material as babies’ nappies, so your skin stays dry.

There are different types of incontinence pads, ones for mild to moderate leakage, and ones if you suffer from severe leakage.

You can also get incontinence bedding and washable bed pads that are placed on top of the mattress to soak up any leaked urine - they’re also useful for any trips away from home.

You may be able to get incontinence pads and other equipment to help manage your symptoms depending on the severity of your bladder incontinence.

You should book an appointment with your GP or other healthcare professional so they can assess you and see if you’re eligible for a free NHS prescription.