Laughing Stress Incontinence

Updated on March 16, 2014
J.J. asks from Lancaster, NY
12 answers

Sorry if this is TMI, but my dd is a happy go lucky kid (10), loves to laugh and usually a big belly laugh. The problem is she pees a little and it sometimes shows in her clothes (this is more bladder leak than a full pee). She's never had any problems with this except when she laughs - she has no problems at night and I'm certain there are no medical issues.
I keep telling her to go to the bathroom frequently at school because if her bladder is empty, she wouldn't have a problem - she says she goes, but sometimes the hall pass is taken. She says it's hard to control because people make her laugh and before she know it, a little comes out. I've resorted to having her wear black pants a lot....Does anyone have a solution to this?

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J.C.

answers from Philadelphia on

This sounds like a medical issue to me. I don't think this is normal for a 10 yo. Talk to her pediatrician.

2 moms found this helpful

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G.♣.

answers from Springfield on

I don't know for sure, but I do not think this is normal ... at least not in a 10 year old. I would definitely talk to her ped.

I have this issue, and I simply wear panty liners almost all the time. When you tell her to use the rest room, and she says she does, believe her. I could have just emptied my bladder, and if someone gets me laughing, I could still pee my pants. It really can happen literally on the way out of the restroom.

Your body produces urine on a constant basis. (My son has urology issues, so I'm getting this from his urologist.) This is one of the challenges in potty training. Your bodies produces urine all the time, so babies and toddlers are used to just peeing as it comes. As adults we've forgotten that and have learned to wait until we are uncomfortable. It takes kids time to learn this, hence the reason there are often so many accidents when potty training.

I would give her some panty liners to wear for now and call the ped in the morning. Maybe I'm completely wrong and this isn't all that uncommon. But won't you feel a lot better if you ask?

3 moms found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

J., I'm sorry - this is NOT normal. Your daughter needs to be seen by a pediatric urologist. You say you are "CERTAIN" there are no medical issues...so you have taken her to the doctor for this? And they have ruled out:

A bladder infection?
Consumption of caffeine?
Any type of genital deformity?

Sorry - but there's no way a 10 year old should leak when she laughs. This is not something to "give her black pants". YOU, as her parent, need to advocate for her and get to the bottom of this.

I would give her a pad to wear - yes, she's 10 - but having her wear black pants isn't going to change the fact that she's wet with urine and will smell and can get infections and chafing from being wet.

I will say again - THIS IS NOT NORMAL. Get her to a pediatric urologist to find out why her bladder and urethra are NOT holding in urine....this is something that happens in women who have had multiple babies and their bladders are dropping.

I cannot stress enough...get her to a pediatric urologist and find out what's going on.

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X.Y.

answers from Chicago on

How can you be certain there are no medical issues?

this isn't 'normal' for a 10 yr old

3 moms found this helpful
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M.S.

answers from Seattle on

I know you said you're sure there aren't any medical issues, but have you talked to her pediatrician about this? He/she may have some ideas about what to do.

Also, perhaps having a chat with her teacher, just as a heads-up, to see if your daughter can go to the bathroom more frequently while at school might help.

I also like the ides of panty liners.

Good luck in finding a solution.

2 moms found this helpful

S.A.

answers from Chicago on

Bummer! I have that problem, but I'm a 38 yr old who has had three kids! I feel bad for your dd. I agree that you should ask the pediatrician about it and/or try to teach her how to do Kegels.

2 moms found this helpful

S.T.

answers from Washington DC on

if you're really certain there's no underlying medical issue (and how are you so certain??) then i don't see what else you can do other than have her practice kegels, use panty liners and have clean clothes in her locker.
but i'd be talking to her pediatrician for sure. doesn't sound to me as if there's really NOT an underlying medical issue.
khairete
S.

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A.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Is she even a bit overweight? Even a small weight loss can help.

1 mom found this helpful

J.S.

answers from Richland on

If this was one of my kids my first action would be to call the school. Generally they give these kids more than enough potty breaks but some girls, my girls, like to talk. I could see them not really needing to go so they talked instead during the break. Then get back to their seat and realize they have to go. Then you either hold it or admit to the teacher that you talked through the potty break....

So start by calling the teacher, see what is really going on with the potty schedule. See if maybe she doesn't want to ask for the pass. Talk to your daughter about the importance of trying to pee every scheduled break whether she feels like it or not.

Like everyone else said, this isn't normal, there is a reason but you are the only one who can get to the bottom of it.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Sacramento on

I agree with the others about teaching her Kegel exercises and talking to the Pediatrician. And please make the teacher aware. Maybe she and your daughter can develop a signal when she needs to go, regardless of who has the hall pass. I would also let the school office know and maybe see if you can keep a change of underwear and ziploc baggies in the health room for her. That way she can change and you can pick up her dirty laundry after school.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.P.

answers from Houston on

Kegel exercises will strengthen the pelvic floor muscle. Seems that
stress incontinence does not get better as you age. Only more
problematic. Good luck

1 mom found this helpful
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A.N.

answers from New York on

Man, you are getting beaten up here. Everyone is saying it is not normal, feeling the need to reiterate this by putting their answers in all caps. Yikes. I had this a problem when I was exactly her age. No medical issue, and it only happened when I laughed. Very embarrassing but My issue was that I didn't remember to go to the bathroom throughout the day. No biggie. I outgrew it maybe a year later. Maybe my bladder grew or Maybe I was more diligent about going potty, but that was the end of it and I never had a single problem since. Have her bring a change of clothes in case it happens and make her remember to go more. And hey, I think it's great to know she is laughing so hard!

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