Other Problems of the Urine System 371
Treatment:
After the birth, if you are leaking urine or stool, talk with
a health worker as soon as possible to find out if she or he
knows of a hospital where the fistula can be repaired. You
should go to the hospital as soon as possible. If you are leaking
urine and cannot get to the hospital quickly, the health worker
may know how to put in a plastic or rubber tube (catheter)
through the urine hole into the bladder (see page 373). This
tube will drain the urine and may help the fistula heal. But you
must still go to the hospital. When you get there, the doctor
will examine you to see if you need an operation to repair
the fistula.
Do not despair. The problem can often be made better.
IMPORTANT To help prevent infection while the tube is in, drink
a lot of fluid (at least 10 to 12 cups a day). This will make you pass
urine often and flush out germs.
Prevention:
• Avoid marriage and pregnancy until a girl is 18 years old.
• All women should deliver their babies with a trained
midwife or health worker, and in a hospital if possible.
• Do not have babies too close together, so that your muscles
can get strong again in between births (see page 197).
➤ If you have
leaking urine or
stool after giving
birth, seek medical
help right away.
72
pregnancy
The squeezing exercise
This exercise can help strengthen weak muscles that cause you to pass urine
often or to leak urine. First practice while you are passing urine. As the urine
comes out, stop it by tightly squeezing the muscles in your vagina. Count to 10,
then relax the muscles to let the urine come out. Repeat this several times
whenever you urinate. Once you
know how, practice the squeezing
exercise at other times during the day.
No one will know. Try to practice at
least 4 times a day, squeezing your
I’m doing my
squeezing exercise
and Amana doesn’t
even know.
muscles 5 to 10 times each time.
Some women may need surgery
to help control leaking urine. If your
urine leaks a lot and this exercise
does not help, get advice from a
health worker trained in women’s
health. The squeezing exercise is
good for all women to do every day.
It helps keep muscles strong and can
prevent problems later in life.
Where Women Have No Doctor 2012