No Leak November: Understanding and Overcoming Urinary Leakage After Childbirth
By seeking help, building strength and practicing good habits, you can gain control of bladder leakage and improve your quality of life.
November is here, and we’re dedicating it to raising awareness about an issue that affects countless women: urinary leakage associated with childbirth. Common yet rarely discussed, urinary incontinence after childbirth can impact a woman's daily life, self-confidence and overall wellness. That’s why we’re celebrating No Leak November—to open the conversation, share helpful information and empower women to take steps toward a leak-free life.
Why Does Urinary Leakage Happen Post-Childbirth?
Pregnancy and childbirth bring incredible changes to a woman’s body. The pelvic floor, a group of muscles that supports the bladder, uterus, and rectum, undergoes significant stress and stretching during pregnancy and delivery. This can lead to stress urinary incontinence (SUI), where physical activities like sneezing, laughing, or lifting cause accidental leakage. For some, leakage can also stem from an overactive bladder, or urge incontinence.
After childbirth, it’s completely normal to experience some level of leakage, but it’s important to understand that leakage is not something you have to live with indefinitely. Pelvic physical therapy can be highly effective for restoring strength, coordination, and function to the pelvic floor.
“Leakage is NOT something you have to live with indefinitely.”
Myths vs. Facts
Myth: Urinary leakage is just “part of being a mom.”
Fact: Leakage is common but treatable! Pelvic physical therapy, specialized exercises, and lifestyle adjustments can lead to a significant improvement—and in many cases, complete resolution.
Myth: Surgery is the only option for severe cases.
Fact: In many cases, non-surgical interventions like pelvic floor physical therapy can be highly effective. Surgery is only one of several options and is generally considered if other approaches don’t bring relief.
Myth: Doing Kegels will fix the issue.
Fact: Most people have what is called pelvic tension or tightness. This means when they try to strengthen pelvic muscles by performing Kegels, their symptoms may become worse. Strengthening is actually the last step in the process of gaining leakage control!
How Pelvic Physical Therapy Can Help
Pelvic physical therapy focuses on lengthening the muscles, coordinating the muscles, and then strengthening the pelvic floor muscles in a functional pattern. Our specialized physical therapists work one-on-one with patients to:
1. Assess Pelvic Floor Health - Our team will evaluate the strength, endurance and flexibility of your pelvic muscles.
2. Create a Personalized Treatment Plan - Every patient is unique. Your therapist will develop a tailored program that may include exercises, breathing techniques and lifestyle adjustments to help manage and reduce leakage.
3. Guide You in Exercises That Target the Pelvic Floor - From breathing exercises to more advanced coordination work, pelvic physical therapy empowers you with the tools to strengthen the muscles that support bladder control.
4. Provide Support and Empowerment - Pelvic health can be an intimate topic, and our team is here to provide a supportive, judgment-free space where you feel heard, respected and encouraged.
Tips to Reduce Leakage at Home
While pelvic physical therapy is incredibly effective, here are a few habits to start practicing at home as part of No Leak November:
Stay Hydrated- Drinking enough water may sound counterintuitive, but concentrated urine can irritate the bladder and make symptoms worse.
Practice Good Bladder Habits - Avoid “just in case” trips to the bathroom, as these can actually train your bladder to signal urgency more often than necessary.
Be Mindful of Lifting Techniques - When lifting heavy objects (or little ones!), exhale and engage your pelvic floor muscles to provide additional support.
Seek Help and Take Control
Urinary leakage may be common after childbirth, but it isn’t inevitable. This No Leak November, we’re here to support you every step of the way. By seeking help, building strength and practicing good habits, you can regain control and improve your quality of life.
If you or someone you know is experiencing postpartum urinary incontinence, reach out to us today to learn more about our pelvic physical therapy services. Let’s make this November a time to break the silence, share solutions and start living leak-free!
