Still incontinent when running 8 months PP

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Just wanting some advice on whether this is normal? I had a difficult, long labour which ended in episiotomy and forceps in theatre.

I've recently started running again and tonight went to my local running club which I used to go to before having my little girl! I put on period pants and a pad as I've been leaking a bit on other runs but tonight I did 5k which was the furthest I've run PP. I leaked through both the pad and the pants and was absolutely drenched in wee by the end 😳 absolutely mortifying. I went to the toilet before I started running and didn't feel I needed to go.

Is this normal/anyone got any experiences they can share? Do I need to go to the doctors??

It was mortifying and I was convinced everyone could tell even though I wore dark leggings.

Urgh that's horrible for you 😞 I'd go to the GP and ask for a referral to pelvic health physio who should be able to help x

Pelvic health physio have been brilliant for me. Really recommend them.

I think it's common but no it isn't normal and needs treating. I had a c section and don't leak when I run.

Very common but not ‘normal’. It would be a good idea to see a women’s health/ pelvic physio x

I still have some mild issues years later although starting CrossFit has helped as my core is so much stronger - it’s not just the “squeezing muscles of the pelvic floor” that impact.
as people said a specialist physio would help. It’s possible you have a mild prolapse if your pelvic floor is weak which gynae could help with.
in the meantime, what period pants are you wearing? I’ve got modibodi 24 hour ones (they are big and I wear sweaty betty leggings over the top so you can’t see them! Both pricey options but I have a couple and keep on top of washing as I got to gym or run 6days a week) I once slipped with a really full bladder on a run and fell on my bottom with a bump. Completely emptied my bladder with the shock. Stood up thinking I would be drenched but the pants held everything!

Thanks so much all 🩷 I appreciate the advice so much! I will get on the phone to the GP in the morning 🩷

I wrote a very similar post last night but only 11 weeks post birth. We have very similar births by the sound of things. I also had forceps in surgery with epitosmy and 4th degree tear. I am seeing the physio next week about it. I am not going to run untoll then as had some advice from people on here not too. I will let you know if she gives any info at physio that could be useful for you x

Very common as I think it can take a lot longer than 3 months to heal (which is when they say you can start high impact exercise again). Would definitely recommend pelvic floor physio - I went privately (costs around £60 a session) - search for a mummy MOT near you and they tested my pelvic floor function and gave me specific pelvic floor exercises to do - before this I was using the generic settings on the nhs Squeezy app but they gave me some more tailored exercises. I am 5 months pp and the physio advised me against starting running again until my pelvic floor has improved :)

I'm in the same position, 8 months pp and leak when running, other activities are ok. I saw a private physio and tried doing the exercises she recommended but found they took a long time and I wasn't able to keep it up with a baby. I tried running again a couple of weeks ago and still leaking, so the GP had referred me to the hospital.

Oh it’s just grim. I have had this. Go to Drs and get referred for physiotherapy. Do pelvic floors religiously - get the Squeezy app. Watch what you drink before a run - no drinking for a couple of hours before. Limit caffeine. Wearing a tampon helps. I don’t always do these things and get caught out. At my running club I had sat down after and stood up and there was a damp patch. I’m sure another woman saw. So embarrassing. Above all do not stop running!!

If you can afford it, find a Mummy MOT physio practitioner. I had one prior to return to run after an episiotomy, which she combined with a return to run assessment and it was invaluable.

Out of interest, what does a Mummy MOT physio practitioner do?

A Mummy MOT is a specialist postnatal examination, which differs slightly depending on it had vaginal or C-section delivery and if you had any complications. They look at how your posture, pelvic floor muscles and stomach muscles are recovering. I had to fill out a detailed survey before. She did a very robust assessment of where my functional core strength, and how I could progress it. There is a voluntary internal examination which you don't have to have but if you think is possible prolapse etc then would likely want to do this.

I had two babies close together in my 40s and I'm peri menopausal now. I have a forceps/espiotomy birth for one of the babies. I'm overweight (dieting successfully but slowly) and 2 years post birth on the second baby. I've tried accessing support for ongoing leaking issues via the GP who said I definitely don't have a prolapse, and that they'll refer to a women's physio, but it may take 9 months. I'm having to live in pads and period pants day to day.

The GP told me to do pelvic floor exercises in the meantime, but I was already doing these a d they made no difference. Do you think this is worth a try for me? Money is very tight even though we're working so I'm hesitant to book private appointments unless it's likely to help? Does anyone know what type of qualifications I should be looking for in a practitioner?

Sorry for delay, I don't look here every day. If you're 2 years postpartum I'm not sure it's exactly what you need, but a women's physio is, and in particular, someone who can make sure that you are doing the pelvic floor exercises correctly. It might be worth contacting a practitioner and seeing what they can offer and how much it would cost. A Mummy MOT is about £80 which is more expensive than a normal physio first appointment in my experience. However, if you looked for someone who had the Mummy MOT training, even if you booked it as a first appointment for women's health rather than an MOT, that might be a good starting point to find a practitioner.

Separately, I did antenatal and am still doing postnatal pilates, and they've both really helped me gain/maintain/regain pelvic floor strength. It may be worth you having a look for a postnatal pilates class, contacting the practitioner who runs the class to see if they think it would still be beneficial for you.