If you’re pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant, you’ll soon find out about split abdominal walls, navel popping and the incredible sensation of having your baby kick you in the bladder, creating a severe “need-a-toilet-now” urgency. Another ‘enjoyable’ consequence of pregnancy is the movement that takes place when your organs scoot over to make room for your growing bundle of joy.
Not many people know this, but there are other elements that affect the mother’s bladder during pregnancy. When you’re expecting a child, your body undergoes hormonal changes that weaken your muscles and affect the tone of your perineum. This is why, even in the early stages of the pregnancy when the foetus is too small to kick the bladder, many women need to go to the toilet more often.
The growing uterus puts pressure on the bladder which causes frequent toilet visits, but also there is an increased blood flow during pregnancy, the kidneys work more efficiently and therefore also produces more urine which also means more frequent toilet visits.
Hormone levels go back to normal after childbirth. However, the muscles surrounding your bladder have endured extra pressure from the baby and if you want to recover as smoothly as possible, you have a lot to gain by doing pelvic floor exercises during your pregnancy. Another thing that can do wonders for your well-being is talking about the little leaks with your friends. The old saying “a problem shared is a problem halved” is very apt when it comes to a topic like this. And chances are many of your friends will be able to relate too.