Why do lactating women experience urinary incontinence?

Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
Updated on December 07, 2024
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Under normal circumstances, postpartum women might experience mild urinary incontinence due to incomplete recovery of pelvic floor muscle function, which is within the normal physiological range. If urinary incontinence persists throughout the entire breastfeeding period, it is considered that there may be an abnormal illness.

Due to the stimulating effect on the pelvic muscles during childbirth, it is easy for the pelvic floor muscles to become relaxed. If not properly repaired after childbirth, this can lead to urinary incontinence. Persistent urinary incontinence may affect normal life and work, requiring timely medical consultation and examination. If there are no other ways to improve, surgical repair treatment might be necessary.

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Written by Du Rui Xia
Obstetrics
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Can postpartum urinary incontinence be recovered?

Most cases of urinary incontinence postpartum in women are treatable. To manage postpartum urinary incontinence, it is essential to develop good urination habits. Patients with postpartum urinary incontinence should urinate every two to three hours. This practice can help train the bladder control muscles and enhance the new mother’s awareness of urination. Each time you urinate, try to empty the bladder completely to train the pelvic floor muscles. Regularly performing exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles can increase their contraction and control abilities, alleviating cases of urinary incontinence. Most conditions can improve; however, more severe cases may require further treatment.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
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What should be noted for fecal incontinence?

Patients with fecal incontinence should first pay attention to the cleanliness and hygiene of the anal area. Due to fecal incontinence, there will be fecal residue around the anus, so it is important to clean up promptly when there is fecal residue. Since feces contain certain irritating substances, these can irritate the skin around the anus, causing pain, eczema, or even provoking bedsores. Therefore, patients with fecal incontinence must frequently change positions, clean regularly, and further carry out local treatment. The most common cause of fecal incontinence is relaxation of the anal sphincter. If it is confirmed that it is due to the aforementioned reason, an anal constriction surgery can be chosen to tighten the local sphincter, thereby preventing the feces from being expelled abnormally from the anus. It could also be due to the patient being elderly and frail, with a nervous system disorder, and the primary disease needs to be actively treated.

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Written by Zhao Li Li
Obstetrics
52sec home-news-image

Why do lactating women experience urinary incontinence?

Under normal circumstances, postpartum women might experience mild urinary incontinence due to incomplete recovery of pelvic floor muscle function, which is within the normal physiological range. If urinary incontinence persists throughout the entire breastfeeding period, it is considered that there may be an abnormal illness. Due to the stimulating effect on the pelvic muscles during childbirth, it is easy for the pelvic floor muscles to become relaxed. If not properly repaired after childbirth, this can lead to urinary incontinence. Persistent urinary incontinence may affect normal life and work, requiring timely medical consultation and examination. If there are no other ways to improve, surgical repair treatment might be necessary.

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Written by Chen Feng
Urology
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Can you wear diapers for urinary incontinence?

Urinary incontinence generally requires the use of diapers, as the condition is primarily caused by various pathological changes, leading to the involuntary discharge of urine from the urethra. Due to the easy infiltration of the perineum and around the urethral opening by urine, there might be occurrences of eczema or perineal infections. Wearing diapers can timely absorb the leaked urine, thereby reducing the chances of developing eczema and perineal infections. It is also necessary to actively seek the underlying cause of urinary incontinence and treat it accordingly. Common types of urinary incontinence include persistent, stress-related, overflow, and urge incontinence. By conducting thorough examinations, the specific type of urinary incontinence can be identified, followed by targeted treatment.

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Written by Chen Tian Jing
Colorectal Surgery
1min 10sec home-news-image

What department should I go to for fecal incontinence?

"Fecal incontinence requires registration at a colorectal surgery department for consultation. The causes of fecal incontinence mainly include neurogenic and local organic lesions of the anus. If it is due to neurogenic reasons, then it is necessary to coordinate with a neurology department to examine whether the local contraction function of the anus has deteriorated, leading to relaxation of the anal sphincter or incontinence during defecation. If there is an organic lesion in the anal sphincter, especially when the tightness of the sphincter increases leading to excessive relaxation of the anal sphincter, this can also cause fecal incontinence. To treat fecal incontinence, one can opt for local surgery to tighten the relaxed anal sphincter, thereby preventing feces from involuntarily leaking out of the anus."