A sneeze. A cough. A belly laugh. All things you never thought twice about. But, after childbirth, they’re a whole other story. If you’ve experienced inconvenient and annoying leaks post baby, you are not alone. Incontinence after childbirth is extremely common––it’s experienced by 1 in 3 women. Postpartum can be a challenging time, and dealing with leaks is hard. But, it doesn’t have to be.  Women experiencing urinary incontinence can go about their everyday lives worry free thanks to Proof Leak Proof® Period Underwear. Your body gave the ultimate gift, life. Now, return the favor with a little kindness as  it continues to be your power house through babyhood. So, how long does urinary incontinence last after childbirth? New moms, we’ve got you covered. Read on to find out and learn everything you need to know about incontinence and how to deal with it.

What is postpartum urinary incontinence? 

The stage after childbirth is known as postpartum. During postpartum your body and mind can go through some not so fun changes, such as urinary incontinence. If you’re noticing leaking urine especially after laughing, sneezing, coughing, or exercising, you’re likely experiencing incontinence. Urinary incontinence is the result of hormones and stretched muscles (pelvic floor) that control your bladder.

Why does urinary incontinence occur after childbirth?

As your body naturally prepares for childbirth, your pelvic floor will stretch and stay this way after delivery. Your stretched pelvic floor combined with hormones can weaken bladder control. The likelihood of urinary incontinence can be increased by genetics and lifestyle factors such as smoking. 

How long does urinary incontinence last after childbirth?

In most cases, urinary incontinence should resolve itself within a year after childbirth. However, a small percentage of women (between 10%-20%) continue to experience issues five years after giving birth. While there are ways to manage urinary incontinence, there’s no overnight cure. Appreciate what your body has done and feel grateful to deal with the aftermath. 

Tips to manage postpartum urinary incontinence

First line treatments such as bladder training, strengthening exercises, pelvic floor stimulation, and more can be used to help treat urinary incontinence. In some cases, surgery can be used to treat incontinence, but before taking this step you should try to treat and manage incontinence naturally. Here are some tips for managing postpartum urinary incontinence. 

• Leak proof underwear: Proof Leak Proof® Underwear will help protect women from any embarrassing leaks while keeping their full attention on their newborn baby. Our Leak Proof® undies are classic, cute, and super absorbent. With total protection and comfort you can be the best mom you can as you recover from giving birth. 
• Kegel exercises: Kegel exercises can strengthen the pelvic floor, thus encouraging a faster recovery. To practice kegel exercises you’ll need to be on the toilet. Start urinating and then stop the flow and hold tightly for five seconds, release and keep urinating. You should practice kegel exercises several times per day for the most benefit. 
• Changes in lifestyle: Simple day-to-day changes can improve urinary incontinence. Examples include reducing or giving up caffeine, carbonated drinks, alcohol, and spicy food, losing some weight, stop smoking (if applicable), and wear incontinence undies or pads. 
• Train your bladder: Bladder training can effectively treat urinary incontinence. Bladder training is simple. The main goal is to increase the amount of time in between urinating and work on increasing how much fluid your bladder can hold. To practice safely, wear your leak proof underwear. 
• Drink plenty of fluids: While you may be trying to urinate less, this will not help treat incontinence. Concentrated urine is the result of dehydration and can irritate the bladder. Drinking 4-8 8oz cups of water per day can help incontinence. Just avoid drinking much of anything a few hours before bed.

Does postpartum incontinence go away?

Postpartum incontinence should go away as your body recovers from childbirth. Let your doctor know you’re experiencing incontinence so that you can proactively aid your body in recovery. If incontinence is ignored, it can linger. 

When to seek professional help 

Urinary incontinence is normal after childbirth. Women who have had bladder or bowel problems before having a child may be more prone to incontinence. Long labor can also cause urinary incontinence. Incontinence should fade away after a few weeks following childbirth. In some cases though it can take months. As stretched muscles and tissues recover, incontinence should improve or disappear. You should let your doctor know if you’re experiencing urine leakage as it can become a life-long problem. There’s probably no reason to make a special appointment specifically to address the issue as it’s very common but you should keep your trusted doctor in the know. 

Giving birth takes a toll on the body, and while your life may be forever changed for the better, you’ll need to adapt to life postpartum. Urinary incontinence can be embarrassing and frustrating as you’ll need patience as your body recovers. While you should actively work to help your body recover, and our helpful tips above can help you do so, leak proof undies can help you go on about everyday life. With leak proof underwear you can get back to exercising, care for your baby, and go about your day without worrying about leaks down there. 

Shop Leak Proof Underwear

When you think about leak proof underwear, you might think about granny panties, but that is far from reality when you shop Proof®. Proof makes butter soft, cute and ultra absorbent Leak Proof® undies for women struggling with urinary incontinence. With a variety of styles, absorbency levels, and colors available you can build your ideal collection so you never have to go unprotected. Our postpartum Leak Proof® underwear collection features the following. 

Proof underwear are machine washable and reusable too so you are sure to get your money’s worth. You can even use them for period protection and postpartum bleeding and discharge. Say goodbye to bulky disposable pads and mesh underwear. Reality check – your baby should be the only one leaving the hospital in a diaper!

Relief is here. Shop Proof postpartum Leak Proof® underwear now!