DHA Twitter Clinic: Urinary issue with pregnant women

Do you visit the bathroom more than usual? Or worse, do you not make it on time to the bathroom because your bladder is out of control? This is nothing to be ashamed of, and can be solved if addressed properly.

Urinary incontinence is a common problem resulting in the loss of bladder control. The severity ranges from occasionally leaking urine when you cough or sneeze to having an urge to urinate that is so sudden and strong you do not get to a toilet in time.

The Dubai Health Authority (DHA) discussed the ailment in its weekly Twitter clinic this week.

“If urinary incontinence affects your daily activities, then the person must visit the doctor. The earlier rehabilitation techniques are started, the lesser the complications and the better the results,” said Faiza Badawi Mahgoub, consultant obstetrician and gynecologist at Latifa Hospital.

There are different reasons for urinary incontinence but the main reason for women is pregnancy and child birth, explained Mahgoub.

“Pregnancy puts pressure on the bladder and the urethra and normal delivery further weakens the muscles needed for bladder control. Women who have had a C-section are less prone to face this problem but in many cases pregnancy itself can affect the muscles which causes urinary incontinence post-delivery.”

Worldwide 25 per cent of women above 40 years and 40 per cent of women above 65 years have urinary incontinence.

“Latifa Hospital has 6000 to 7000 deliveries per year. A high percentage of these women are prone to urinary incontinence due to multiple pregnancies and child-birth. However, despite providing them with educational leaflets during their pregnancy and carrying other awareness activities, not everyone with the problem approaches us.”

The problem is more common in women that give birth to babies that weigh 3.8 kg or more and in patients that have a complicated or prolonged labour.

“Our advice to all women is that they should carry out post-natal exercises which are important to tighten these muscles. Exercises such as kegels are now getting popular and more women are aware of it.”

Other reasons include ageing and menopause, obesity, neurological causes, the doctor explained. “After menopause women are more prone to incontinence as there is loss of estrogen hormone which has a direct effect on the bladder and the muscles supporting it.”

Treatment

One form of treatment is lifestyle modification. “Certain drinks and foods act as diuretics, these include alcohol, coffee, decaffeinated tea and coffee, carbonated drinks, artificial sweeteners, foods high in spice or sugar. We ask women to reduce the intake of these foods and drinks.

“Diabetic patients are asked to keep their sugar in control, and obese patients are put on a diet.”

Physiotherapy is another method to manage the disease. Bladder training and  pelvic floor exercises such as kegels are taught to patients to be performed at home on a daily basis.”

In some causes electrical stimulation is performed, said the doctor. “Gentle electrical stimulation can be effective in some types of incontinence and one may need multiple sessions over a period of few months, in addition to exercises.”

The Urogynecology clinic  is operative every Sunday from 7:30 am to 2:30 pm and those interested can contact the hospital on 04- 2193871.

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