How to Manage Overactive Bladder During Pregnancy

Make Overactive Bladder One Less Thing to Worry About

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Pregnancy is hard enough, why not alleviate the symptoms of your Overactive Bladder? There are tons of simple ways to manage your Overactive Bladder during pregnancy. These 5 tips are among the most common, and effective treatments.

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1. Sip Water (Fluids) Throughout the Day

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Many people with Overactive Bladder believe that dehydration will lessen their symptoms. This is not true. Dehydration with Overactive Bladder can worsen you symptoms, and lead to even more frequent urination. Initially you may experience less leakage, but very soon your dehydration will work against you. Urine becomes more concentrated without fluid to break it up. Water and fluids clean out your system through urine. Your body needs to be detoxed, and urination is a major form of getting rid of bacteria. So when you dehydrate yourself, your urine will be more concentrated and it will irritate your bladder. Your bladder will then contract more and react to this irritation, causing frequent urination and increasing your overactive bladder symptoms. So drink up! The trick is to drink the recommended amount of fluid, 2 liters of water, but take sips instead of chugging it all at once.

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If you sip throughout the day, you will not have the sudden urge to go to the bathroom. You will go to the bathroom more often than the average person due to your Overactive Bladder, but sipping on water throughout the day won’t make you go more. Remember to stay hydrated. Water consumption is great for alleviating many other symptoms that come with pregnancy as well like constipation and acne.

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2. Kegel it Up

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I’ll say it time and time again, kegels are key in battling Overactive Bladder. Many men and women have reported significant improvement in their Overactive Bladder symptoms after doing kegel exercises. And you have to do them consistently. The good thing is that they are easy and discreet. Kegels are specific exercises that strengthen your pelvic floor muscles. They involve the contraction of your urinary and or anal sphincters. Pretend you need to pass gas or pretend you have to go pee, then squeeze! This strengthens the exact muscles you need to focus on to strengthen bladder control. Pregnancy is notorious for weakening the pelvic floor muscles. It is incredibly common for women to experience bladder control issues because the enlarged uterus puts so much pressure on bladder muscles. By doing kegels you strengthen these muscles so you can manage your Overactive Bladder and may prevent bladder leakage after birth. Don’t be afraid to do kegels, they’re a great way to take your life back from Overactive bladder, and it’s a discreet exercise. You could serve dinner or give a presentation while battling Overactive Bladder, and no one would even notice.

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3. Make a Schedule

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Once you know what your day is going to be like, make a mental (or written) schedule of your bathroom breaks. If you have to go to a dinner party, and do not want to keep getting up to go to the bathroom, don’t drink any fluids an hour beforehand. I know I said before that dehydration is bad, but that’s only if it’s for an extended period of time. Once the dinner is starting to wind down, sip on your water and take a bathroom break afterward.

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Schedules are not only good for planning around social activities, but your daily activities as well. It will help you manage your Overactive Bladder at work, or when you are supposed to drive and sit in traffic, or if you have to go pick up the kids from school. Planning your bathroom breaks will alleviate stress. You won’t have to worry about that urgent need to go when the time is not right.

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4. Watch your Weight Gain

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This one may be a toughie, because you are eating for two. That constant hunger or strange cravings make it hard to avoid weight gain. But I’m not saying you can’t gain ANY weight. You just have to keep an eye on the scale. Your enlarged uterus is already putting excess pressure on your bladder. With extra fat on top of that pressure, you will worsen your Overactive Bladder symptoms. More bladder leakage will occur, and it may remain after you give birth. Being overweight or obese is one cause for Urinary Incontinence and Overactive bladder, even when you are not pregnant.

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Studies have shown that if you document your food intake, you are less likely to overeat. By documenting your food intake, you can also observe which foods increase your urge to go. Some foods and drinks make you need to urinate more than others, so documentation will help realize what your triggers are. You will then manage your weight and your Overactive Bladder. As long as you stay active and eat healthy, your Overactive Bladder symptoms will improve. A healthy lifestyle will benefit you and your baby.

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Many pregnant women find their Overactive Bladder symptoms to be relatively light, so they use liners or absorbent pads. The brand Poise is incredibly popular among pregnant and post-pregnant woman. But there are plenty of other trustable brands too like Tena, and Prevail. You might be familiar with the Prevail brand, they are also carrier of Kotex. If your Overactive Bladder is more severe, these brands also carry very discreet adult briefs that allow you to live an active lifestyle without worry of leakage. Thanks to modern technology there are plenty of adult briefs that so discreet, they are similar to underwear. They can be worn underneath your clothes and prevent leakage at the same time. Again, don’t let your Overactive Bladder control your pregnant life. By owning extra absorbency you are taking control of Overactive Bladder and easing your pregnancy.

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These five tips will definitely help you deal with your Overactive Bladder during pregnancy. With some diet changes and a little more activity, you can alleviate your Overactive Bladder even more.