Why doesn't the NHS do something about it?
Post-natal care is very child-focussed and the NHS does not have an effective, proactive, post-natal pelvic floor rehabilitation programme. This means that around 5000 new mothers every week are at risk of long-term stress incontinence and will join a population of 5 - 7 million women suffering from stress incontinence in the UK alone.
A recent discussion thread on Mumsnet highlighted that few women are aware of the problems, causes and cures. Most are too embarrassed to discuss the matter with their GP and few health professionals are pro-active in raising the subject.
Unfortunately much of the media still treat the subject as a taboo or of little consequence so there is little longterm education and information targetted at the women who need it.
Janey Lee Grace, broadcaster and author of many books on natural health, is a great advocate of natural solutions.