Incontinence: Ask the Expert

This is the story. On a long ride and know that won't be able to make a pitstop - problem.  attemps to hold it fail, a little bit gets away. 

This started after the birth of second child.

How to stop this?

If your symptoms occur at any other times besides long car rides, then you should discuss them with your regular primary care provider and/or gynecologist and be evaluated.  If they occur only with long rides, some suggestions. 

First, why aren’t you able to make a pitstop?  With normal fluid intake, it’s normal to need to void every 3 hours or so – it’s nothing to be embarrassed about. 

Second, I am assuming you have already tried avoiding caffeinated beverages and alcohol before these rides, and using the bathroom right before you go…but if you haven’t, try these changes. 

Third, make sure you are trying to “hold it” correctly.  If you are trying to squeeze your pelvic floor muscles, make sure you are not contracting your abdomen, buttocks, or thighs, or bearing down.   Other urgency suppression techniques include distracting yourself, not focusing on the increasing need to go but instead on calming your bladder.  This technique and the pelvic floor contractions will not work if your bladder is full and you don’t have access to a toilet to empty your bladder even once it’s “calmed down.”