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Leaking Urine After Having a Baby: What Can You Do?

Answer:

Leaking after birth can come as a real shock. No one may have told you it could happen, and it can affect how you feel about your body, going out, exercising and sex.

You’re not alone. Around 1 in 3 women leak some urine in the first year after birth. There are simple things you can start doing today to manage it and feel more in control, and for many women it improves with the right support.

What it can feel like

Leaking can show up in different ways, and it can change from day to day.

You might leak a little when you cough, sneeze, laugh, lift your baby or jump. This is called stress incontinence, and it’s the most common type after birth.

You might also get a sudden, strong urge to go and find you can’t make it to the toilet in time. Or you might need to go more often than before, or notice a small dribble after you’ve finished.

Some women have a mix of these. Knowing what’s happening for you can help you and a health professional work out what will help most.

Leaking is something many women keep to themselves. It can feel embarrassing to talk about, even with your partner, friends or doctor.

For generations, women weren’t given the space to talk about leaking, or the information that help was available. Many older women have lived with it for years because no one ever asked. Even now, with more conversations happening online, younger women can still feel they need to keep it hidden.

You may also have been told it’s just part of having babies, or seen it turned into a joke. When something is treated as normal, it’s easy to think nothing can be done.

Leaking often isn’t raised at postnatal checks, so many women are never offered support. It’s a health issue, not something to be ashamed of, and you deserve the same care as for any other part of your recovery.

Talking about leaking can feel hard, but you don’t need to know the right words. A simple sentence is enough to start the conversation.

You can talk to:

  • Your GP. They can check for things like an infection and refer you on for more support.

 

  • Your maternal and child health nurse. Their focus is your baby, but they can point you in the right direction.

 

  • The National Continence Helpline: 1800 33 00 66. Free, confidential advice from a nurse continence specialist. You don’t need a referral.

 

  • A women’s health physiotherapist. You can book privately without a referral, though there is a cost. You can also be referred to a women’s health physio through the public system, but there is usually a wait.

 

Not sure what to say? You could try:

  • “Since having my baby, I’ve been leaking when I cough or sneeze.”

 

  • “I’m struggling to make it to the toilet in time.”

 

  • “I’ve noticed some changes with my bladder and I’d like some help.”

While you’re getting support, or waiting for an appointment, there are some small things that can help you feel more prepared. They won’t suit everyone, so take what works for you.

  • Squeeze before you sneeze. When you feel a sneeze, cough or laugh coming, try squeezing your pelvic floor and holding it until it passes. This can take some practice.
  • Cross your legs. Crossing your legs as you sneeze or cough can give your pelvic floor some extra support.
  • Use your hand at home. When you’re at home, placing your hand between your legs, over your clothes, and pressing gently upwards can support your pelvic floor when you sneeze, cough or laugh.
  • Squeeze before you lift. Gently squeeze your pelvic floor and breathe out as you lift your baby, the pram or the shopping.
  • Know where the toilets are. The free National Public Toilet Map website and app can show you the nearest public toilet wherever you are, which can ease some of the worry.  

National Public Toilet Map – Continence Health Australia

  • Pack a spare. A spare pad and a pair of undies in your bag can help you feel more prepared. You could also print a free Toilet Help card from Continence Health Australia. It explains that you need a toilet urgently, so you can show it to staff in a shop or café to ask to use theirs.

https://www.continence.org.au/resource/helpline-toilet-help-business-card

The right product can help you feel more comfortable and confident while you work out what’s causing your leaking and get the right support.

  • Continence pads, not period pads. Period pads are made for blood, not urine. Continence pads soak up urine faster, hold more and help control odour. You’ll find them in the supermarket, often next to period products.
  • Leakproof or period undies. These look like normal undies but have a built-in absorbent layer. They cost more upfront, but you can wash and reuse them. Check the label, as some are made for light leaks only.
  • Start small. Pads and undies come in different absorbency levels. Choose one that suits how much you leak, so you’re not wearing something bulkier than you need.

Pads or undies is a personal choice. Use what works best for you, your body and your budget.

Leaking can irritate your skin and cause a rash, especially if you have bruising, stitches or a tear. Change your pad or undies often, and a barrier cream from the pharmacy can help protect your skin.

When you’re leaking, it’s natural to want to drink less. It can make things worse. Less fluid makes your urine more concentrated, which can irritate your bladder and leave you needing to go more often and more urgently.

Try to keep drinking regularly through the day. A good guide is urine that’s pale yellow. If you’re breastfeeding, you may notice you’re thirstier than usual, so keep a drink nearby when you feed.

A few other habits can help:

  • Try not to go “just in case.” Going to the toilet before you really need to can train your bladder to hold less over time.
  • Take your time on the toilet. Sit down fully, rather than hovering, and lean forward slightly with your feet flat. This helps your bladder empty properly.
  • Notice what irritates your bladder. Coffee, tea, fizzy drinks and alcohol can make some women need to go more often or more urgently.
  • Look after your bowels. Constipation puts extra pressure on your bladder and pelvic floor. We’ll cover this in our constipation article.
  •  

Leaking can have different causes, and your pelvic floor is often part of the picture.

For some women, the pelvic floor needs strengthening. For others, it’s holding too much tension and needs to learn to relax. Some women need a bit of both. A health professional can help you work out what’s happening for you.

Continence Health Australia. (n.d.). Helpline and toilet help business card. https://www.continence.org.au/resource/helpline-toilet-help-business-card

Continence Health Australia. (n.d.). National Public Toilet Map. https://www.continence.org.au/help-and-support/national-public-toilet-map/

Moossdorff-Steinhauser, H.F.A., Berghmans, B.C.M., Spaanderman, M.E.A., & Bols, E.M.J. (2021). Prevalence, incidence and bothersomeness of urinary incontinence between 6 weeks and 1 year post-partum: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Urogynecology Journal, 32(7), 1675-1693.

Pregnancy, Birth and Baby. (n.d.). Bladder weakness (incontinence) after birth. https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/bladder-weakness-after-birth

Woodley, S.J., Lawrenson, P., Boyle, R., Cody, J.D., Morkved, S., Kernohan, A., & Hay-Smith, E.J.C. (2020). Pelvic floor muscle training for preventing and treating urinary and faecal incontinence in antenatal and postnatal women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Issue 5, CD007471.

 

Developed by the WHEN Clinical Team

Clinically reviewed by the WHEN Clinical Governance Committee

Last reviewed: 04/10/2026
With clinical input from Peta Titter, RN, Advanced Diploma of Pilates, continence nurse specialist. Honours research in diastasis recti. PhD candidate, University of Tasmania. Founder and CEO, WHEN.

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