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| Is It Normal To Urinate A Little When I Laugh Or Sneeze? |
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While an unfortunate temporary side effect, leaking a small amount of urine when laughing or sneezing is experienced by many women during their pregnancies. Also called stress incontinence, it is caused by the extra pressure that is placed on the bladder as the uterus grows. Pregnant women often experience it not only when laughing or sneezing but when coughing or exercising in their third trimester since their uterus grows the most during this time. |
| Can I Prevent Stress Incontinence? |
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Some experts believe that by doing Kegel exercises, pregnant and post-partum women can prevent stress incontinence. Kegel exercises are named after Dr. Arnold Kegel who advocated specific pelvic movements that help to strengthen the vaginal and anus muscles surrounding the urethra which carries urine out of the body. It is suggested that Kegel exercises should first be practiced when seated on the toilet to easily identify the muscles that need to be strengthened. (When seated on the toilet, a pregnant woman can practice squeezing her vaginal muscles to start and stop the urine flow.) Once the muscles have been identified, Kegel exercises can be practiced anywhere by squeezing the muscles for 10 seconds and then relaxing them. These exercises are most beneficial if repeated approximately 10-20 times consecutively, a few times a day. It is also thought that by practicing Kegel exercises, pregnant and post-partum women can decrease their chance of getting hemorrhoids (since the exercises increase the circulation in the anus), decrease their need for an episiotomy or large tear during labor (since the muscles have already learned to stretch), and increase sexual satisfaction (since the already strengthened muscles help a woman return to a normal sex life faster). |
| Is Stress Incontinence Something I Need To Notify My Doctor Or Midwife About? |
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Typically, the inability to prevent a little urination when laughing, sneezing, coughing or exercising is common and usually not an issue during pregnancy. However, a pregnant woman may still want to discuss it with her doctor or midwife as it could be a symptom of a urinary tract infection (UTI). A UTI is an infection that can affect the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and/or urethra. When left untreated, a UTI can cause serious kidney problems or even lead to preterm labor in severe cases. Additionally, if a pregnant woman is unable to perform Kegel exercises or does not feel the muscles are strengthening after repeated practice, she should discuss it with her doctor or midwife. They can offer tips and further suggestions on identifying and correctly isolating the proper muscles. Please Note - It is important to be aware of the smell of any fluid leaking from your vagina during pregnancy. If it has a faint smell of ammonia it is likely urine. However, if it is clear and odorless, it is possible that you are leaking amniotic fluid and you should contact your doctor or midwife immediately. |
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