Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Thursday, May 15, 2008 miamoo asks

Q: Since givin birth by c-section 1 yr ago,i feel the constant need to urinate.Was the birth the cause?

Im only 25 years old and some of my friends can go for hours without the need for the loo!!!

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Answers (2)
5/19/08 8:30pm

Being pregnant myself, I know all too well the increased need to urinate while pregnant. I believe this is due to increased fluids in the body, as well as the weight of the fetus on the bladder. Pregnancy alone can be enough to stretch out the pelvic floor muscles and lead to stress urinary incontinence (although it's important to note that women who've never been pregnant, as well as men, can also experience stress incontinence). However, it sounds like what you're experience is more of an urgency to urinate, or an overactive bladder, rather than incontinence due to weakened pelvic floor muscles. I wrote a sharepost a while ago about overactive bladder that you might want to read.

 

I personally haven't learned of pregnancy or childbirth playing a role or being a factor in overactive bladder or urge incontinence. I would see a urogynecologist about this problem so that they can diagnose you properly and help you find some relief.

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5/15/08 9:54pm

Miamoo,

 

See this article:

 

C-Section or Not? Choosing a Caesarean Section Delivery to Avoid Incontinence

http://www.healthcentral.com/incontinence/c/52/19010/section-avoid

 

In particular, note where Dr. Sobol writes:

 

"Having a c-section does not guarantee that you will not have incontinence and having a vaginal delivery will not doom you either. I have many patients that I see for stress incontinence because of pelvic floor relaxation and urethral hypermobility that have only had c-sections, or have never been pregnant. On the flip side, not everyone who has a vaginal delivery will have stress urinary incontinence."

 

I hope this information is helpful to you.

 

Best,

Maria

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