Incontinence during pregnancy. Prevalence and opportunities for continence promotion.

A cross-sectional study using a structure interview was conducted with 304 women in the postnatal ward of a large NSW teaching hospital. Women were asked about any incontinence experienced in the last month of pregnancy, and about advice and interventions for bladder control or incontinence they had received during pregnancy. Sixty four per cent of women reported incontinence during pregnancy. Compared to women with no prior deliveries, those with a previous forceps delivery were 10 times more likely to experience incontinence, and with prior vaginal deliveries 4 times more likely to experience incontinence. Women who reported experiencing bouts of coughing on a regular basis during pregnancy were 4 times more likely to experience incontinence than those who did not. While 68% of the women reported being examined vaginally at least once during pregnancy, only 6% of the sample reported having their pelvic floor muscles tested during routine vaginal examination. Twenty three per cent of women reported having spoken with a healthcare professional regarding loss of bladder control. The results indicate that opportunities for continence promotion are not being utilized.