Urinary incontinence is common among new moms, new research shows The condition is also linked to depression and anxiety symptoms Higher BMI and more previous births increased the risk of the condition MONDAY, July 8, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- Urinary incontinence is a common aftereffect of a baby, but it can have a devastating effect on new moms, a new study warns. These bladder leaks are significantly associated with anxiety and depression in new mothers, researchers discovered. “If you have bad enough incontinence, you might feel isolated and embarrassed and have difficulty connecting socially,” said co-lead researcher , a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Texas-Southwestern.
“It’s not hard to imagine how urinary incontinence might lead to mental health struggles,” For the study, researchers followed 419 new mothers participating in a new post-pregnancy care program in Dallas County. About 1 in 3 women developed stress urinary incontinence, a condition where leakage occurs due to sudden movements like coughing, sneezing or jumping, results show. Further, 1 in 6 women had urgency urinary incontinence, or leakage after experiencing a sudden and intense need to urinate, even if the bladder isn’t full.
And 1 in 9 women had overall bothersome urinary symptoms, researchers found. Neither stress nor urgency incontinence was linked to traditional risk factors like large babies or complicated births, researchers said. Instead, stress incontinenc.
