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March 10, 2026

Aman

Bladder leaks are common after childbirth, but that doesn’t make them easy to live with. Whether you struggle to hold in your urine when you sneeze or find you leak when you run, the inconvenience of post-partum incontinence is something all mums would rather live without. That’s where we come in.

At Gynaedoctors, we help women take control of their bodies, including when it comes to bladder leaks. In this guide, we’ll explore what’s causing your urinary incontinence and how you can regain control of your bladder.

Is it Normal to Leak Urine After Pregnancy?

Leaking urine after pregnancy is incredibly common and entirely normal. Over 30% of women experience postpartum urinary incontinence (UI), and it can last anywhere from weeks to years.

When and how you experience bladder leaks will vary depending on the type of UI you have.

Stress incontinence

Stress incontinence is the most common type of postpartum UI, making up around half of all cases. It’s characterised by leaks when pressure is put on your bladder, such as when you:

• Exercise
• Laugh
• Sneeze or cough
• Lift heavy objects

Leaks can range from small to large, depending on the strength of the muscles around your bladder and how full your bladder is.

Urge incontinence

If you experience a sudden and urgent need to urinate after childbirth, you likely have postpartum urge incontinence. This is a little less common than stress UI, but it’s still a very normal part of the postpartum journey.  

You might hear urge UI grouped with a condition known as ‘overactive bladder syndrome’. While similar, these aren’t quite the same. Urge UI is a symptom of postpartum changes, while overactive bladder is a syndrome that entails a variety of symptoms. 

For many women, the trickiest part of urge UI is that there’s not much time between the first signal that you need to urinate and the release of urine. If you’re out and about, finding a toilet within this limited period can be a challenge.

Triggers for urge incontinence can vary widely, but can include changing position, the sound of running water, and sex. 

Mixed incontinence

If you relate to both stress and urge incontinence symptoms, you likely have mixed incontinence. This is a blend of both, where leaks can occur from pressure on the bladder as well as an intense urge to urinate. 

Overflow incontinence

A less common cause of bladder leaks after pregnancy is overflow incontinence. This occurs when your bladder doesn’t empty completely when you urinate, causing it to swell. You’ll then experience little urine leaks throughout the day, alongside the sensation that your bladder is never truly empty.

Overflow incontinence can cause discomfort in the lower abdomen, back, and vagina, and lead to painful urination. This isn’t always the case, though, so don’t rule out overflow incontinence just because you’re not experiencing any pain.

What Causes Bladder Leaks After Pregnancy?

Pregnancy and childbirth change your body in a plethora of ways, including when it comes to your pelvic floor (the group of muscles and tissues around your bladder, bowel, and uterus). 

During pregnancy, your pelvic floor takes a lot of the added weight from your baby. As your uterus presses upon the muscles, it strains and weakens them, making it possible to leak while you’re pregnant.

When you go into labour, these same muscles stretch as they make room for your baby to move through your vagina. While essential for childbirth, this doesn’t help your already overworked muscles, and your pelvic floor becomes weaker.

After childbirth, your muscles can struggle to properly support your bladder and control urine flow. The end result is a sharp increase in bladder leaks and the potential for both short-term and long-term UI.

What Makes Postpartum Bladder Leaks More Likely?

Why do some women experience bladder leaks and others don’t? This is often due to factors that can increase your chances of UI, including if you:

• Give birth to a larger baby
• Experience a long labour
• Have a large perineal tear
• Had an assisted delivery (such as with the use of forceps)
• Live with obesity
• Have experienced bladder problems and UI in the past

It’s also important to note that vaginal births are the most significant factor in whether or not you experience bladder leaks after birth. While caesarean sections (C-sections) can also cause UI, it’s less likely.

Will Postpartum Incontinence Go Away?

The length of postpartum incontinence varies. Some new mums only experience bladder leaks for a few days, while for others it can last anywhere from months to years. One study, for instance, found that of the women who reported urinary incontinence at 3 months postpartum, 76% still experienced it 12 years later. 

Who Can Help With Postpartum Bladder Leaks?

When your bladder leaks aren’t going away or are interfering with your day-to-day life, it’s time to speak to a professional.

GPs and midwives can offer guidance about coping with postpartum UI,  but your best bet is to consult with a gynaecologist. Gynaecologists are specialists in female reproductive health, giving them a depth of insight that’s incredibly useful for ongoing bladder leaks.

Our gynaecologists at Gynaedoctors, for instance, are experienced in treating postpartum bladder leaks. We can provide personalised advice based on your symptoms, medical history, and lifestyle, ensuring you receive care that’s tailored to you.

We also offer treatment options at our clinic (which we’ll look at in closer detail in the next section of this guide), making it a seamless journey from consultation to full bladder control.

How Can You Stop Bladder Leaks After Pregnancy?

The good news is that you don’t have to live with postpartum UI. There are treatments that can reduce bladder leaks and restore your confidence, giving you more control of when (and where!) you urinate.

We offer a non-surgical, minimally invasive treatment for stress incontinence. The procedure takes no more than 30 minutes and isn’t painful (no anaesthesia required), making it a quick fix to prevent potentially years of bladder issues. 

The treatment uses a laser to promote collagen and elastin fibre production within the vaginal mucosa, which is the lining of the vagina. This strengthens your vaginal wall and the surrounding tissues, providing more support for your bladder and reducing UI.

Over 100,000 women have seen positive outcomes from this treatment, and it doesn’t involve any extensive recovery time. It’s simple, straightforward, and exactly what you need to regain control of your postpartum bladder.

Tips for Dealing With Postpartum Bladder Leaks

As you wait for your postpartum UI treatment, there are a number of ways you can make bladder leaks a little less stressful. Here are some easy tips from our gynaecologists that are tried, tested, and trusted:

• Stock up on incontinence pads: We recommend buying a bulk load of incontinence pads before you’re due to give birth. These are specifically designed for bladder leaks so that you can go about your day with more confidence. Pack a few in your hospital bag and keep them by your side as you navigate the postpartum journey.
  
• Always bring a spare pair of knickers: Even with pads, you always need a backup pair of underwear just in case things go wrong. If you struggle with larger urine leaks, a second pair of trousers is also a great idea to keep you comfy throughout the day.
  
• Know where the toilets are: There are brilliant apps that show you where the nearest public toilets are, which is a lifesaver for both stress and urge incontinence. Try Where is Public Toilet or Flush Toilet Finder and make sure you always know where the nearest loo is.
  
• Keep your legs crossed: It might sound silly, but crossing your legs when you sneeze, cough, or laugh is a brilliant way to stop bladder leaks. Compared to standing, it reduces leakage from 12.3 grams to just 1.3g by putting pressure on your urethra, preventing the release of urine.
  
• Avoid high-impact exercises: Activities like running, jumping, or HIIT workouts can put extra pressure on your pelvic floor and worsen postpartum UI. Opt for low-impact movements instead, such as swimming and postnatal pilates, to stay active without risking leaks.
  
• Practice pelvic floor exercises: Gently tensing your bladder muscles and releasing them can strengthen your muscles over time, helping you regain control of your bladder. It’s a brilliant exercise to use alongside stress UI treatments.

Our last tip is to simply be kind to yourself! Urine leaks after pregnancy are completely normal and not something you need to be ashamed of. While our tips and treatments can help you feel more in control of your situation, it’s important to understand that these things happen, and they don’t define you or your body’s worth.

Healing takes time, progress isn’t always linear, and a little bit of self-compassion goes a long way.

Final Thoughts

Postpartum urinary incontinence is incredibly common after giving birth. If you’ve been struggling with leaks, we hope this article has given you plenty of insight into why it’s happening and what you can do to take back control of your bladder. 
Interested in our postpartum UI treatments? Speak to our team to learn more or book your initial consultation.

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