Went for a run today and I leaked

[traceyturnblatt]

I'm beyond embarrassed. I am trying to get fit again and before I had my two DS I could run half marathons. My littlest DS is going to turn 2 shortly so decided to go for a run first thing.

Next thing I know I was leaking and I didn't know what to do. Ended up coming home and crying

I don't have any problems sneezing or coughing but suspect it might have something to do with having two kids so close together.

Does anyone have any suggestions or has this happened to anyone else?

I want to run again, it did wonders for my mental health and don't want to be defeated at the first hurdle

I was exactly the same when I did any strenuous exercise. Don't be disheartened! I would wear a sanitary towel and empty your bladder right before leaving. The more you run and naturally hold the muscles down there to not leak, they will start to tighten up!

I got a massive shock when I went to a Zumba class and had to run out mid workout. So I completely understand how upsetting it is. But exercise will improve it.

Keep up the pelvic floor exercises (that you were probably given during pregnancy). Once you can do the short contractions and release, move to squeezing for longer and alternate short and long.

It really does work!

The leaking is embarrassing, but don't let it put you off. It can get better. Maybe wear a pad and carry on running in the meantime.

Don’t let it put you off. I’m ok running but use a liner for a class I do.

It has got better over time.

Similar issues here with running. I wear a Tena pad.

My feeling was the same, that it was too good for my mental health to not to give up.

Keep going with the pelvic floor exercises and perhaps a visit to your GP if you're concerned to check there isn't anything else going on. A UTI made things much worse in my case.

It will get better.

I had this when I started Couch to 5k but it really did improve - I think as a pp said, you kind of naturally tense the right muscles as you run. I wear a liner just in case, but it's been OK for a while now. Keep going and good luck (and well done with the half marathons - I can only dream of that distance!)

Thanks for all the replies, good to know I'm not alone in this!

Odd questions but do liners not chafe when you're running? And is it Tena you buy or sanitary towels?

I’m going to go against the grain and say don’t keep running. It’s a sign of pelvic floor dysfunction and you need to get on top of it. Running will make it worse.

Find an exercise that is low impact. Cycling? Kettlebell based videos? Or even a pre and post natal qualified PT. Frame do online post natal workouts.

Important for your future health not to ignore this. Eg GP can refer to a gynae physio.

I found Mutu system very good for postnatal exercise: the focus is on diastasis recti, but also good more generally.

Yeah, I've had that. Had DC close together too.

Gussie will hopefully be along to advise shortly

Mutu advice was that if you experience this kind of thing to focus on healing and gentler/ strengthening exercises, with low impact workouts, walking or swimming for cardio.

Ill have a look at Frame and Mutu, thanks for the advice.

I don't want to give up running altogether, alongside other chronic conditions, my mental health has taken a huge dip since I had to stop running during my last pregnancy and I don't want to let this defeat me.

I am doing the NHS Squeezy app and do cycle on a stationary bike but there's nothing like a good run so even if I could alternate jog/walking that would be enough for me at present.

I'm worried that my GP will be quite dismissive of it all, it's also quite embarrassing-I'm only in my early 30s!

Dont be embarassed, You need a pelvic floor muscle check to see if there is any prolapse

GPs are often v good with this kind of thing - a friend who is a GP mentioned that lots of older women have gynae/urology issues that she wishes they’d sought help for decades earlier, she was attending a training event with lots of other GPs about it.

Anyway, what a doctor thinks is much less important than your health.

Oh god I'm the same!!!! I leaked so badly it felt like it wet myself and then I felt all shivery and cold for the rest of the run. I couldn't just go home because I was 10 miles in!! Tenna lady are your friends

I totally totally get the mental health thing with running. If you absolutely have to run can you keep them shorter (

I started running after a 3rd degree tear and SPD that continued postnatally. DS was 6m when I started and I was attracted by the flexibility and efficiency of running around baby's needs. Not surprisingly I leaked early on.

5 years on and my pelvic floor is much better than it was in the early days. Caffeine makes me leak and need lots of little wees. Most runs that I do at a gentle pace are fine, but higher impact from sprinting particularly if charging downhill is more than I can take along with skipping, trampolines and star jumps. I tend to wear a washable pad as backup. I wear tena for races as I am likely to run harder and I can then dispose of the pad afterwards.

Squeezy app is a good idea.

I've had post Menopause leaking and running isn't good for it.

Also were a proper pad, own brand supermarket will do. They block odour and won't leak.

Try putting in a tampon when you run. The bigger the better, so try ones for a heavy flow. They put pressure on the urethra and can help stop the leakage when you run. Keep doing the pelvic floor exercises though and go and see your gp if the exercises don’t seem to help, they will take it seriously, I had a tvt eventually to solve my problem.

Your gp won't be dismissive and there's nothing to be ashamed of!

Get a referral to a fanny physio - it doesn't have to be this way

Thanks again for all the advice, I will try using a tampon and also get some Tena too. In a way I'm glad it's only a leak not a full wee because I guess that means my pelvic floor is still there but maybe needs some work to get back to pre-babies.

I will speak to my GP and ask for a referral too and will keep my runs down to less than three miles.

I hope all this works, I love running- I don't get a buzz from any other exercise and where I live is so quiet and peaceful, it's so calm to just be out without kids hanging off me or having to worry about anything else.

I did some googling and feel a bit sad that so many women seem to have this! Do we not have enough to deal with after having kids?

You are young, do what you can to sort this out now. I use Tena lady when running to catch any drips; there are also various brands of knickers that soak up a bit of wee - Giggleknickers are one, Modibody another. Pee before you run.

This is what carrying an alien inside you then pushing it out of the hole nearest where your bladder empties will do to you, sadly.

Warning - do not replace running with trampolining without some protection. Just saying...

@PurpleWithRed rest assured there will be no trampolining here! I'm a calamity on solid ground (how I can run is a miracle!) and don't want to add leaking everywhere!

I feel your pain!
I use to run all the time before my having my little one.

Then I started to leak when I went for a brisk walk - let alone when I ran.

Tena is great as a tempory fix - but I didnt want to wear pads for the rest of my life. I felt incredibly insecure and unsexy.

MUTU System really helped me - turns out the leaking was because my pelvic floor was in bad shape.
I noticed a difference only 2 weeks in to this 12 week program.
I wish I hadn't waited so long to do something about.

They are offering 25% off MUTU System today too - perfect timing :)
mutusystem.com/program

Try Modibodi period pants for running.

Very normal: I had this problem when I started walking seriously a few years ago, just doesn’t happen any more because I’m much fitter all round I guess.

If you decide to use pads for the time being, avoid any with wings which rub like hell when you’re moving quickly.