How Pregnancy Can Cause Incontinence

Why Does Pregnancy Cause Incontinence?

Your pelvic floor muscles take on a lot during pregnancy. As your baby grows, the extra weight puts significant pressure on your pelvic region. This can weaken the pelvic floor and make it harder to control your bladder, especially when coughing, sneezing or laughing. This is known as stress incontinence.

Even if you have a caesarean delivery, the weight and pressure from pregnancy can still stretch and fatigue the pelvic floor muscles before birth.

Learn more about stress incontinence and how to manage it

How Birth Affects Bladder Control

A vaginal birth often intensifies the strain. During delivery, the pelvic floor muscles, surrounding tissues, and nerves can be stretched or damaged. While much of this can improve naturally in the weeks following birth, some incontinence symptoms can persist without the right care.

Pelvic floor exercises (yes, those Kegels your midwife talks about) are key. Done consistently, they help rebuild muscle strength and improve bladder control.

Try our Pelvic Floor Exercise Guide

What If You've Had More Than One Pregnancy?

Each pregnancy can increase the likelihood of developing incontinence. When the pelvic floor has already been stretched or weakened, additional pregnancies can make bladder leaks more common.

That's why staying proactive with pelvic floor health between pregnancies is so important. Regular strengthening exercises can reduce the risk of ongoing incontinence and support recovery after birth.

The Good News

Incontinence during pregnancy and postpartum isn't something you have to simply put up with. There are solutions available, and support is out there.

Whether you're navigating your first pregnancy or managing symptoms after several births, it's never too late to take control. With the right routine, products and information, you can feel confident again.

Explore our range of products designed for bladder weakness