Have you suffered from postpartum incontinence or bladder weakness? Share your experiences with INNOVO - £200 voucher to be won

[BellaMumsnet]

This sponsored discussion is now closed

Incontinence is a common problem for women after giving birth, but very few people talk about it and simply suffer in silence. Living with bladder weakness can feel overwhelming both physically and mentally, affecting everyday tasks. With this in mind, INNOVO would like you to share your own experiences of bladder weakness, to help destigmatise the issue and raise awareness of it, so that others know that they are not suffering alone.

Here’s what INNOVO has to say: “Often thought of as a temporary issue, activities once enjoyed are curtailed or abandoned, and leaks just managed with pads …daily…Forever. I’ve always viewed urinary leakage as an invisible ball and chain for a woman. I see women every single day in my practice and I would encourage you to seek help from your GP, a specialist physiotherapist, talk to the people in your inner circle - you’d be surprised how many people could be suffering too. Try pelvic floor exercises, aka Kegels, but if you struggle to get them right, or still experience leaks, INNOVO can help take the effort and complexity out and help you along the way” Dr Ruth Maher PT, PhD, DPT, MISCP & Co-Inventor of INNOVO.

Were you prepared for the possibility of postpartum incontinence or was it a total surprise? Did you speak to friends about it or seek professional help? Maybe you have tips for managing it, or you found a specific exercise really helped to speed up your recovery? If you’re suffering from bladder weakness currently, are you worried about adapting to normal life and managing leaks while you’re out and about now that lockdown restrictions are easing?

All who post on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one lucky MNer will win a £200 voucher for a store of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck with the prize draw!

MNHQ

Insight T&Cs apply

I seem to be fine during the day, but seem to leak at night, and I hate the not being in control, the smell and laundry - it's not a lot of leak, but does depress me, I have tried the pelvic floor exercises and as previous MN's my GP seem to think that exercises will cure my issue, I wear light pads now and that seems to really help with my sleep and anxiety over this issue

I smugly thought I'd escaped this injustice because despite having diastatis recti and other structural issues with my post partum body, I didn't appear to have any leakage issues... until I took my son to a trampoline park when he was about 30 months old. I was wearing pale grey skinny jeans. I bounced and I bounced and then WHOOSH. Dark grey crotch on those lovely jeans. I was given some exercises (basically a variety of kegel type exercises) from my GP and things improved fairly quickly and are now fine (although I have not been back to the trampoline park to test this out definitively!)

I didn’t really appreciate how much PP bladder weakness affects your confidence in so many areas.
I have to change my Tena pad twice a day and when I don’t wear one I notice the leaks and feel wet and embarrassed. I hate coughing because I know I will leak urine. I hate exercising because any bouncing action causes more leaks.
I feel like I have lost part of myself.

My first delivery was a nightmare - during the night with poor midwifery - a large tear, repair by surgery afterwards, then leaking.
I do not drink with 2 hours of going to bed, and wear incontinence knickers - the nice ones when I am going out for the day, so I don't smell
I have just started Kegel exercises - my OH asks me to see my GP - but I will see how the exercises go first

I've suffered from incontinence after the birth of my 2 children and a recent mmc has made it worse. I've been lucky to have a great GP who referred me for pelvic floor physiotherapy which had helped me. It definitely has affected my confidence and made me feel less sexy for my husband.

Tends to be worse when I have a cough or when I sneeze unexpectedly without having an empty bladder. It's not go bad enough yet to warrant going to the doctor. I wish I could remember to do pelvic floor exercises more often - they are definitely helpful to do but so easy to overlook doing them. Also thinking of it like the shape of an octopus squeezing in rather than two slices of bread squeezing together helped me do my pelvic floor exercises better. Dread long journeys and always have to plan in loo breaks and have just invested in a pop up tent and a bog in a bag for if we have long days out in the countryside or at the beach for example.

My incontinence got worse with each of my children. 3 10lb babies plus diabetes are not an ideal combination. I saw the gp who referred me to the hospital I had a handful of appointments I was given exercises to do and told the next and only step was vaginal mesh which I was not sure about, and refused. The exercises helped a little but I wouldn't leave the house without a pad, I like to make sure I always know where there is a public toilet. I dread getting a cold as sneezing and coughing make me leak more than usual.
I feel unclean a lot of the time, I can't run, jump or skip with my children and there is noway I could get on a trampoline. I feel brushed aside im only in my 40s and don't want to face another 40 years of the same.

Forceps birth left me with a mild cystocele. Took nine months of physio after the birth for me to even feel remotely normal. Ended up having surgery privately to repair the worst of it but I doubt I’ll ever be 100%. I can sometimes leak when carrying slightly heavy things like shopping.

I feel so alone with this problem cos I don't know anyone with stress Incontinence and it's not something you can talk about every day.
I'm waiting for referral to the hospital physiotherapist (I think that's the right person?) But I'm worried about if they won't be able to do a lot or even if it gets to surgery, I'm scared of surgery

@purpleme12 it is horrid isn't it ?But you're really not alone .

When I had my repair it was as a day patient ,please try not to think about it .If you have it done ,you will cope .And you will feel SO much better afterwards .

Were you prepared for the possibility of postpartum incontinence or was it a total surprise? Did you speak to friends about it or seek professional help? Maybe you have tips for managing it, or you found a specific exercise really helped to speed up your recovery? If you’re suffering from bladder weakness currently, are you worried about adapting to normal life and managing leaks while you’re out and about now that lockdown restrictions are easing?

I found it an issue in pregnancy and expected it to disappear but unfortunately it did not. I wear a panty liner each day which assists the comfort but I feel anxious in areas with no bathroom facilities. I find pilates has helped me firm up muscles so practice this every day.

Total surprise .

I didn't exactly seek help but when completing a pre employment form for a support role in primary education I disclosed that I suffered from/was incontinent(! ) and was referred from there .

Never spoke to friends .Disposing of massive pads and keeping clean was very trying .Couldn't wear swimming costume on beach for example .Summer holidays were horrid .

[quote peridito]@purpleme12 it is horrid isn't it ?But you're really not alone .

When I had my repair it was as a day patient ,please try not to think about it .If you have it done ,you will cope .And you will feel SO much better afterwards .

[/quote]
Thank you xx

I found locally you can self refer to an nhs women's physio. So knowledgeable and helpful. I'd definitely recommend if you have this service in your area.

It was so bad with my first and came as a huge surprise. With my second, I was expecting it. I can't say I had any help so they were horrible times.

My GP has no interest, I'm mostly ok unless I laugh a lot or cough, I'm used to using pads now

I had no issues at all after my first child, but my second, very large baby was hauled into the world with 2 sets of forceps after a lot if pushing. 4 years on, I have to stand and cross my legs to cough or sneeze. I can't break wind without leaking urine. Worst if all, after passing a stool I seem to get "leakage" for hours afterwards. It's horrendous.

nobody told me. i had ds1 when i was 22,barely grew a bump.ended up with healthy babe-50 stitches . dramatic to say least.
ds2 i was 37.second i thought i'm pregnant i grew (8st 3 to 10 1/2 stone)birth was so much easier.
always did/continue kegals.
hes 11 nearly. I cant raise my voice,run,or sneeze.its seriously getting me down.havent been gp about it/spoze thought im just a bit freaky.
guess i'll make appointment-

When I was pregnant I was told by a colleague to 'Make sure you do your pelvic floor exercises' - not one professional mentioned it. I was still unprepared. It doesn't seem to be something that is discussed though it obviously affects a lot of people.
Both my births were straight forward but I do have problems in this area. I tend to wear pads most days but have leaked several times. It is so embarrassing and I'm very conscious about it. It affects my life a lot now I think about- exercise I do, what I play with the kids, what I wear, my confidence...
I do try to do pelvic floor exercises but I wish something more was readily & easily available to help.

This looks good www.win-health.com/contiform-pessary.html

It’s the unspoken side of motherhood. I was horrified by the state of things down below and the pain but also the numbness. After a humiliating first walk outside with the pram I realised I needed pads. A lot of pelvic floor exercises and specialist physio things are better but not normal. It’s an area of medicine that seems so neglected and so hidden

I was aware of incontinence as an issue. When told in labour that I needed forceps, I asked for a C-section. This was refused and I reluctantly agreed. I was left being unable to tell if my bladder was full. I had no sensation.
I had physio and things improved a little but I relied on regular toilet trips, avoiding anything that would trigger leaks/floods and had to wear pads. I would also sometimes fill the pads and require a change of underwear.
I was told nothing further would be done until I'd finished having babies. I knew I wanted another baby so I just put up with it.
Baby number 2 was an easier birth so no further damage. I immediately requested physio. I have improved a bit but still suffer leaks. This time my physio has introduced me to the contiform pessary which is an absolute game changer for me. It means I can run and jump without leaking.
I plan on using this until I stop breastfeeding and then will ask for a referral to see if anything else can be done.

I have lived with urge and (to a lesser extent) stress incontinence for as long as I can remember and certainly made much worse by four pregnancies in relatively quick succession. I'm pretty fed up with it, but fear I have normalised it and am a bit embarrassed to seek help. I did go for physio after my second pregnancy which did help, but basically it feels that no end of pelvic floor exrcises will make much difference.
I'd love to know about an affordable solution to all this. I'm heading to the menopause and don't want this to be the reality.

I suffered after number 1 birth. Git worse after second. I did realise that part of it was me rushing to get back to children, as I felt I had no time to do my stuff, wait for it all to be done. However I did also start doing Kegel exercised. Still done when I remember and it is very much better now.