Why Am I Leaking After Having a Baby? (And What You Can Do About It)
- Dr. Jenny Chavez
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Let’s Start with the Pelvic Floor
Before we talk about leaking after having a baby, let’s talk about why it happens. Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles at the base of your pelvis that supports your bladder, uterus, and bowel. Think of it like a hammock that holds everything in place while also helping control when you pee, poop, and even supporting core stability.
During pregnancy and childbirth, this “hammock” goes through a lot—stretching, pressure, and sometimes trauma. And just like any other muscle in your body, it can become weak, tight, or uncoordinated.
You’re Not Alone (Even Though It Feels Like It)
If you’ve ever leaked when you laugh, sneeze, cough, or jump you are NOT alone.
1 in 3 women experience urinary leakage after childbirth
Up to 50% of postpartum women report some form of pelvic floor dysfunction
Many women deal with symptoms silently for years
But here’s the truth:Just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s normal.
Who Does This Affect?
Pelvic floor dysfunction and postpartum leaking can affect:
First-time moms and moms of multiple children
Women who had vaginal deliveries and C-sections
Active women returning to workouts or running
Moms months or even YEARS postpartum
This isn’t just a “new mom” issue. We see women 5, 10, even 15 years after having a baby still dealing with these symptoms.
Common Signs Your Pelvic Floor Needs Support
Leaking after having a baby is just one sign. You may also notice:
Leaking when you cough, sneeze, laugh, or exercise
Feeling like you can’t fully empty your bladder
Pelvic pressure or heaviness
Pain with intimacy
Low back, hip, or tailbone pain
Weak core or “mom pooch” that won’t go away
So… Why Am I Leaking After Having a Baby?
After pregnancy and delivery, your pelvic floor may:
Be weakened from stretching and pressure
Be overactive or tight, making coordination difficult
Have poor timing, meaning it doesn’t activate when it should (like during a sneeze or jump)
Be disconnected from your core and breathing system
Leaking (also called stress incontinence) happens when your pelvic floor can’t properly support your bladder during pressure.
So when you laugh, cough, or move quickly, your body doesn’t have the strength or coordination to keep everything contained.
Here’s the Part Most Women Aren’t Told…
Doing endless Kegels is NOT always the answer.
In fact, for many women:
The pelvic floor is already too tight
Or they’re doing Kegels incorrectly
Or they need coordination not just strength
This is why so many women try to “fix it themselves” and don’t see results.
What You Can Do About It
The good news?
This is treatable and you don’t have to live like this.
At Route 2 Recovery Physical Therapy, we take a full-body, personalized approach to pelvic floor health.
We don’t just look at your symptoms we look at:
Your breathing patterns
Core strength and coordination
Movement mechanics
Posture and daily habits
From there, we guide you through our proven process:
Restore → Retrain → Recover
So you can:
Stop leaking
Feel confident in your body again
Return to workouts, running, and daily life without fear
You Deserve Better Than “Just Deal With It”
Leaking after having a baby might be common…but it is absolutely something you can improve.
You deserve to:
Laugh without worrying
Move freely
Feel strong and confident in your body again
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