A leaking bladder can be one of the most embarrassing things that happens to a woman! When pregnant, the baby putting pressure on your bladder can cause you to wet yourself when you laugh or cough. What are some things a pregnant woman can do to minimize this problem? Read on to find what you can do to strengthen your bladder.

Personal Story

When I was pregnant, I occasionally had problems with a leaky bladder. It was so embarrassing! If I had another pregnancy, I would seek out help for reducing this problem by strengthening my pelvic floor.

Tips for Strengthening Bladder Function

One thing you can do to reduce the likelihood of an accident is to train your bladder to have more in it than usual. A baby sitting on your bladder makes that very hard to do!  Train your bladder by moving slowly to the bathroom instead of rushing. Slow down and breathe slowly to relax your nervous system, so you can be dry when you arrive at the bathroom. Bladder training by limiting frequency can benefit pelvic floor muscles by toning them.

Dehydration and certain types of food irritate the bladder. Drink plenty of water so you stay hydrated with plenty of pure water. Avoid any drinks that cause your bladder problems. Limiting your caffeine intake could keep the muscles in your pelvic region stronger. Alcohol, citrus drinks, spicy foods, junk food, and smoking all tend to irritate the bladder.

Another thing you can do is to avoid high heels that cause your posture to tip forward and put pressure on your bladder. You might also wear a pregnancy belt to help support your baby belly.

Pregnant women can do Kegel exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles and stay fit. It is best to learn these exercises from a qualified trainer. A woman needs to use proper breathing techniques to benefit the most from these exercises.

Two types of exercises that also help are walking and swimming. Most health professionals recommend these to pregnant women.

Types of exercises to avoid include weightlifting and running. These exercises affect the way the pelvic floor works.

Constipation can be another problem that contributes to pelvic floor dysfunction and the need to urinate frequently. You can try to eat foods that have a lot of natural fiber to help reduce constipation issues. Seek medical introduction to get rid of constipation that prevents the pelvic floor from being in the best shape it can be in.

Action

Even if you aren’t pregnant at the present time, some of these tips can help you if you struggle with occasional leaking bladder. If you have had children in the past, you probably need to strengthen your pelvic floor, which will also strengthen your bladder function.

May God bless your healthful endeavors!

Joni

P.S. What experience do you have with needing to strengthen your bladder?