Pelvic Health | Better Births Lincs

Did You Know?

Pregnancy and birth can affect your pelvic floor — the muscles that support your bladder, bowel, and womb.

Here’s what many women experience:

1 in 3 women leak urine (wee), especially in late pregnancy and after birth
1 in 10 women leak wind or poo
1 in 12 women feel a bulge or heaviness — this could be pelvic organ prolapse
1 in 4 women may have trouble controlling wind or poo (called anal incontinence)
These issues can start during pregnancy and continue after birth

The Good News? Support is available for you.

There are ways to protect your pelvic floor and feel more confident.

Having a healthy bladder and bowel can help you avoid pelvic floor problems.

Try and drink 6-8 glasses of water a day. This helps you to pass your poo more easily.

Avoid caffeine. It can increase the urgency and number of times that you need to wee.

Don't rush! When weeing give your bladder time to empty.

Try and cut out 'just in case wees'. Aiming for going every 2 - 3 hours. This will help keep your bladder able to 'hold' for longer periods of time.

Don't strain when you poo, this can weaken the pelvic floor. If you're having difficulty passing poo, speak to a healthcare professional.