Leaking urine

Pregnancy, labor and a vaginal delivery can stretch or hurt your pelvic floor muscles. These muscles support the uterus, bladder and rectum. As a result, some urine might leak when you sneeze, laugh or cough. The leaking usually gets better within a week. But it might go on longer. Leaking urine also is called incontinence.

Until the leaking stops, wear sanitary pads. Do pelvic floor muscle training, also called Kegels, to tone your pelvic floor muscles and help control your bladder.

To do Kegels, think of sitting on a marble. Tighten your pelvic muscles as if you're lifting the marble. Try it for three seconds at a time, then relax for a count of three. Work up to doing the exercise 10 to 15 times in a row, at least three times a day. To make sure you're doing Kegels right, it might help to see a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor exercises.