What's the Link Between Urinary Incontinence and Postpartum Depression?

Postpartum Depression is a medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act.

It typically arises due to a combination of hormonal changes, psychological adjustment to motherhood, and fatigue. Postpartum depression is said to affect between 5-20% of mothers depending on variable socioeconomic factors. Many people associate urinary incontinence as a common postpartum symptom. Prevalence of postpartum urinary incontinence figures vary due to diverse study formats, however it is predicted that bladder leakage is experienced in a quarter to half of all postpartum women.

In recent years, studies have concluded there is a strong link between both postpartum depression and urinary incontinence postpartum.

Kasia Gondek, PT, DPT, CLT, CSCS

Doctor of Physical Therapy, Certified Lymphedema Specialist, and Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist

Kasia (she/ her/ hers) earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Mount Saint Mary’s University, and her Bachelor of Arts from University of California, Santa Cruz. She has established herself as a compassionate, effective, and respected clinician treating pelvic floor and women's health, orthopedic, neurological, and sports-related injuries and conditions.

Kasia utilizes a whole-body, whole-person treatment approach that is unique to each patient and is focused not only on improving pain and difficulty with activities, but also getting them back to doing what they love. She empowers her patients to become an integral part of their recovery and healing process through providing education, self-care, meaningful goal setting, and incorporating activities that they love into their treatment plan.

Learn about low intensity shockwave therapy for painful intercourse (dyspareunia)

Our team at Femina Physical Therapy is committed to providing the highest level of evidence-based care. That is why we are conducting a research study to determine the effectiveness of low intensity shockwave therapy for painful intercourse, or dyspareunia as it is known clinically. We are searching for volunteers to participate in this high quality study. Those who qualify to participate will receive a reduced rate on all visits related to the study!

My last appointment with Heather was over 6 years ago but I still think of her every day. I don’t take for granted that I can easily get out of bed, care for my two active and busy young boys, run, play tennis, clean my house, or sit at a desk for several hours at a time. None of these tasks were easy for me before meeting Heather. Eight years ago my car was struck from behind by a tractor trailer that was estimated to have been speeding. I spent 3 years working with different PTs and Drs trying to heal and move on with my life. When I became pregnant and the hormone relaxin that “relaxes” all the joints of the body and the additional weight gain erased all my progress and I was suddenly in a lot of pain again. My OB sent me to Heather for one last try.