This is a common problem among women who have been pregnant. It is especially common among women who have had more than one baby. There is a group of muscles and ligaments that forms a sling inside the body to hold the bladder in its proper place. These muscles are called the pelvic floor muscles. When extra pressure is placed on the pelvic floor muscles from obesity or pregnancy, the sling drops down, stretches out, and no longer holds the bladder up. When this happens, there can be leaking of urine, a condition called urinary incontinence.
Urinary incontinence can start after the birth of a child. Leakage may go away in time, once the body regains its former shape and the hormones that control muscle tone return to normal. How soon this happens depends on whether the woman is breastfeeding, if there was damage to the nerves controlling the pelvic floor muscles, and how much muscle tone is normally present for that person. Most often, exercises to strengthen the muscles holding the bladder are recommended.
You should discuss this with your doctor. He or she can refer you to a nurse or physical therapist. After examining you, a specific program of exercises can be prescribed.