Embarrassing but Needs to Be Asked.....

Updated on June 10, 2009
L.V. asks from Ridgewood, NY
29 answers

This is my first pregnancy and I am 22 weeks along (with a boy!). I have been having "urine leakage" problems lately to the point where I have to wear a panty liner and change it about 3 times a day. Coughing, sneezing and laughing brings it on even more. It is embarrassing but I know its urine because its yellow and has the smell of urine. I am going to the doctor again next week and plan on asking if this is normal but I wanted to see if there are any other women out there who have experienced this! please help! thanks! L.

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J.H.

answers from Albany on

Very normal... I'm having my second and have even nicked name the second "Sneezy" at my job (I work part time at a pet store). Anytime I get into cleaning I finish with a nice round of achoo's that leave me with my knees locked together! I've given the baby other nicknames as well "Queezy," and most recently my husband has nicked named my belly Mount Abby and started calling her the "Pink Ninja" as she pounds away in there! :) Just keep those liners handy -J.

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F.U.

answers from Syracuse on

It's completely normal. It happened to me too. Embarrassingly enough, sometimes when I would be sleeping if my little one would get moving around too much, I'd end up having to run to the bathroom b/c he'd be pushing on my bladder. So don't fret, wear some sort of panty protection, it'll get better. Lot's of luck! Congrats!!!

M.H.

answers from New York on

Hi L.,

This is normal, it happened with my son. It was a few months for me when I had my son, for it to stop. Good Luck! :)

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N.H.

answers from New York on

L., As some of the other weomen said, many wonmen have this during their pregnancy. It is called Stree incontinence, which means loss of urine during activities such as cough, sneeze, jump, etc.. Start doing some Kegel exercises, especially practice one right before you cough, sneeze, get up from a chair. This will get the pelvic floor muscles used to working at that specific time again. Don't over due the Kegels bc during delivery you will want to be able to relax and use these muscles in the opposite way of a Kegel to deliver your boy! I am telling you this as a new mom and also as a physical therapists who specializes in women's health and pelvic floor muscle issues like this one!
Good Luck N.

2 moms found this helpful
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M.B.

answers from New York on

Do your kegels my dear! I never did and after my second baby I leak everyday! If I have to go it means if I am not in the bathroom 2 seconds later I have to change my pants! It is not fun. Each pg makes it worse! Good luck!

1 mom found this helpful
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A.S.

answers from New York on

As a Physical Therapist I want to chime in that while stress incontinence is common during pregnancy, it is NOT normal. Ask your doctor to refer you to a Physical Therapist who specializes in women's health so you can be fully evaluated and properly taught how to do exercises. If your doctor tells you this is "normal", still ask him for a referral to ease your mind.

I'm glad you are addressing this now, because it will only get worse as your pregnancy goes on!

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S.W.

answers from Buffalo on

You need to do your Kegel exercises.. Technically, yes, it is normal for this to happen. Only b/c it DOES happen. But by no means should you just wait this one out for it to go away and/or get better on it's own.Or you will regret it! Here is a link on the how to, what it is and so on.. (Google it.) I google everything. You probably already know what it is, but I'll give a link anyhow.. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/kegel-exercises/WO00119

Good Luck! Best Wishes on your first baby!! =c) Enjoy it, it really does go by so fast, and before you know it, you'll want another! Boys are so much fun.. but then again, I guess they all are, huh!

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R.M.

answers from Buffalo on

yes unfortunetly it is normal the baby pressing on your bladder extra weight i had the same problem

R.

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Y.B.

answers from New York on

Totally normal!! I had it too & was also so embarrassed and shyly asked my doctor who told me that it was totally normal.

Best of luck!

Y.

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M.S.

answers from New York on

Yes, it's very normal. It happened to me too. I wore maxipads during the night because I couldn't get from the bed to the toilet without an accident. I wore panty liners during the day too. You will regain control after you give birth or if the baby shifts positions.

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K.Z.

answers from New York on

I read in the baby book to do Kegal excercises and that should strengthen the muscles in your urinary tract and it can help prevent this. Good luck!

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J.D.

answers from New York on

L.,
Do not be embarrassed AT ALL!!! This is so normal, it is called incontinence and it happens to the majority of pregnant woman. The baby is just sitting on your bladder. I had it and it got a little worse toward the end of my pregnancy. Don't worry, you're completely normal.
Best of luck!

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T.I.

answers from New York on

I really believe it is normal because I had the same problem with my first son and now with my second so in my opinion it is normal. To me the reason is that the baby is getting bigger and pushes more on your insides. That is why my doctors suggested doing those kegel excercises they do work.

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K.J.

answers from New York on

Hi L.,
I see everyone has reasssured you, but I wanted to say Congratulations! And yes, it's normal :o) I'm now almost 30 weeks pregnant with my second son and it's happening to me too! I've actually run to the bathroom when I know I'm going to sneeze :o) It's actually more prevalent with my second than it was with my first. Good luck, and health and enjoy your son :o)

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K.S.

answers from New York on

Well rest assured, you're not the only one. I am 18 weeks with my 3rd (others are ages 12 and 2), and I have the same problem. I didnt have it before I was pregnant, and from what I remember, I had the same problem when I was pregnant with the other 2, but it went away after delivery and recovery. My only piece of advice is to use the bathroom frequently - even if you dont think you have to go...that might avoid an embarrassing situation if you need to cough or sneeze and are surrounded by people.

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R.W.

answers from Albany on

Its totally normal. I still have this problem when I'm sick and my girls are almost 3 and almost 7. Its just one of those little joys of pregnancy no one told you about. Does your belly itch yet? That's going to happen too. Good luck and congrats.!!!!

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A.J.

answers from Albany on

Yup! Totally normal and gets worse. Welcome to motherhood!

PS: There are kegel excercises you could do but you really need to keep up with them.

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R.H.

answers from New York on

Hi L.,
Kegel exercises almost always corrects it. If you don't know what a Kegel is; it is the muscle that controls the flow of your urine. How you do a Kegel exercise is simple and noone will know you are doing it. When urinating, stop yourself in midflow, that is your Kegel muscle. You can flex this about 30 times and repeat throughout the day. Keep doing it because as the baby gets bigger and pushes on your bladder more it gets worse if you don't.

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G.S.

answers from New York on

Hi L.! The first thing you'll soon learn is that there's nothing embarassing about questions btwn mothers! What you are having is very common - your doctor will probably give you a worksheet on these exercises that will help you. My cousin and I were just talking about this yesterday, with having 2 children we each found that this happens. It's something that really doesn't go away, but after giving birth it should let up a bit considering you won't have the weight on your bladder & being pregnant you seem to go to the bathroom at least a million times a day! I am lucky enough to say that I only have this when I laugh, but there have been many times I've had to book it to the bathroom because I was leaking! Good luck!

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N.D.

answers from New York on

Dont be embarrassed, it happened to most of us moms. Your wonderful son is pressing on your bladder. You could have a talk with him and ask him to move, but I doubt he will listen. 16 years from now you MUST remind him of what he put you through. I used to have to jump out of bed and rush to the bathroom before I coughed or sneezed in the AM. Kegel (sp) exercises can help a little, but Depends work well too.

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H.N.

answers from New York on

yes - totally normal! I didn't have such a problem with it myself but I recommend massive kegel exercises. I took a maternal fitness class where kegels were a big part of, and not only will it help with your problem but with labor in general and healing afterward - so it's a win-win. You just need to do them alot and everyday, it becomes routine after awhile.

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H.D.

answers from New York on

The same thing happened to me when I was pregnant with both of me children, a 2 1/2 yr old & 8 month old. I used bladder control pads which worked very well for me. After you have your baby, make sure to do your kegel exercizes which will help tighten the muscles. The baby is pushing on your surrounding organs and it is normal for this to happen. Good luck! H. D.

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C.B.

answers from New York on

HI,
I got this surprisingly early in my pregnancy, Kegels did the trick very quickly. Squeeze like holding in pee, hold for a count of, say five then increase to ten when you get stronger, do sets of ten, increasing the number of sets as you strengthen. If that doesn't work i would suggest talking to your OB/GYN

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

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F.A.

answers from New York on

Sorry to say but this is absolutely normal! Kegel (pelvic floor) exercises really do help and they will help you regain control after your baby is born, because stress incontinence can carry on after delivery. Just pull in the muscles you would use to stop yourself peeing, hold and release. You need to do a lot of regular repetitions for it to work. I find it helpful to have a trigger to remind me - mine is to do them whenever I am sitting at a red traffic light! No-one can tell so you can do a few anytime, and it really does help.

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J.B.

answers from Rochester on

Squeeze then sneeze :)

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J.D.

answers from New York on

Do alot of Kegel exercises.

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J.M.

answers from New York on

L.,
That is totally normal and probably won't go away until well after you have the baby. I just had my second 3 months ago and it's just stopping. The best thing you can do is practice you keegal (spelling?) exercises. That will also help with your delivery and recovery.
Good luck!
J.

D.D.

answers from New York on

Yes it's normal. Totally annoying but normal.

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R.P.

answers from New York on

Hi L.,
Don't worry!! This is totally normal! I had it too with ALL 3 of my pregnancies. I had to wear liners as well. It is that the baby is sitting on your bladder and everytime you sneeze, laugh, cough, etc. you urinate a little, b/c you have no control. My doctor told me that it is called incontinence. You can google it and find a lot on it. WELCOME TO MOTHERHOOD!! Good luck!

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