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

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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

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Urinary incontinence wasn’t too bad until I fell pregnant with my second baby. I have ‘urgency’ which means when I need the loo I have to rush there and nearly always leak a bit. Now at 23 weeks pregnant I leak when I cough and sneeze. Advice from doctor has been to do pelvic floor exercises again, which I find quite painful but seems to only recommendation. I’m two years postpartum and still not recovered from forceps and episiotomy and am obviously under a lot of strain now I am pregnant again. Dread the state I’ll be after this baby.

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 was told about pelvic floor weakness, but it was spoken about as something to avoid 'down the road' - like, do your Kegels so you don't leak when you hit the menopause. I wasn't warned about it in the immediate aftermath of giving birth. I had forceps and an episiotomy after a five hour second stage, and I couldn't feel a thing for a fortnight. I had to go to the loo every two hours because I had no idea if I needed to pee or not. Two years postpartum, I still don't always feel the need to pee, especially when I'm sitting down - so when I stand up, after a minute or so I can end up VERY urgently needing the loo.

That's about the only impact it's had for me, apart from a bit of stress incontinence if I do high-impact exercise (the first time I did starjumps were a bit of a revelation, and not in a fun way). I do go running now and don't generally have a problem; if I do, a pantyliner is enough. I actually do Kegels as I run, which I find quite helpful, but I also make sure I empty my bladder before I go. Short bursts of running are okay, as well, so I am able to run around after my toddler and not worry about embarrassing wet patches.

It's really just another thing that women are expected to just deal with. I think it's important to destigmatise it, definitely, but I think it's also important NOT to normalise it. We shouldn't HAVE to live with this. It shouldn't be okay that so many women live with this after pregnancy and labour. As a society, we need to be less concerned with laughing behind our hands at someone with a wet crotch and more concerned with dealing with something that affects a huge proportion of the population.

I had no problems after first baby only incontinence issues only started when second baby was 3, which I now suspect is a prolapsed bladder. My pelvic floor muscles seems fine, I can stop and start my wee! What I can't do is run, jump, dance, sneeze or laugh, so exercise is pretty much out (and I hate swimming). I have to wear Tena Lady pads daily, if I don't I am soaked through after a dog walk for example. Its got worse recently and I have bought an internal electrical stimulation machine, but barely have 5 minutes to myself let alone an hour and a half every day to lie there while it does its thing... My mum had the mesh TVT when it was first around and has been crippled with constant cystitis and pain due to it in the last 7 years and has had 8 ops to laser off bits of mesh that have adhered to her bladder, so that's not an option for me. I'm at a loss now....

I thought I was ok until DD was 1 and I decided to go back to running again. Never been so upset as I was halfway round the run when I realised how badly I was leaking. It seems to have improved with exercise and time but I definitely have to go to the loo right before joining the children on the trampoline.

Yes, I had a very long pushing stage and was left with a slight prolapse. I never received medical help. In fact at the 6 week check when the GP asked about water works I started to say something and he said ‘I meant the baby not you’

At first it was more desperately needing the toilet but obviously not completely emptying my bladder as I would almost need to double right back to the bathroom. Not always but sometimes I get what I think is urge incontinence but as I am almost at the toilet.

I certainly can’t stop mid flow like I used to be able to and can’t bounce on a trampoline without worrying.

I notice rectal incontinence hasn't been mentioned... that's what I have. My bladder is fine.
Physio says I have a good pelvic floor but if my number twos are even slightly loose, I leak due to sphincter damage. I remember the exact point in my third labour when it happened; baby was back to back and I felt an excruciating pain as his head passed my rectum. I now take immodium everyday.

For a couple of weeks pp I felt I had urge incontinence I was lucky that practicing pelvic floor exercises really helped me. It makes me so cross that other women are given such terrible incontinence care

@jenniferjane21 I'm so glad you've mentioned the bowels!

I have this as well ,same as you ,even slightly loose and it's a problem .I also have what I believe is termed "incomplete emptying" .I suspect a prolapse/rectocele or something .

I'm constantly looking for suitable pads ,my latest idea ( with which I'm very pleased ) is to place panty liners horizontallyacross the back of my knickers .I use 2 next to each other .

I also had a long labour with baby back to back .

I had both. After birth of 10lb son I leaked when I ran after him. I had a TVT sling which fixed it. Got fed up of wearing pads and not being able to exercise. 10 years post birth I had the Halo op to fix my behind as that was causing a few issues.

It was definitely something I didn’t expect. In hindsight, two large babies, one by forceps - it was bound to happen but I wasn’t prepared to live with it for the rest of my life. I didn’t talk to friends a great deal about it at the time, but now I’m quite open about it. I believe it’s pelvic floor related and that mild prolapse is common. Why women aren’t told about this beforehand is a mystery to me. Honestly I probably should have had caesarean births, and it may have cost the NHS less than the two further operations I have had! But saying that, my son was born naturally and I’ll never forget the feeling of him coming into the world, I think despite everything, I probably wouldn’t have swapped that for perfect nether regions!

Pelvic floor exercises are key, and I did try an electronic pulse device and vaginal weights after too, which helped.

I can indentify if you with so many of these women, I also have bladder weakness, ever since having my first child. I was fortunate to have had a natural delivery with both of my sons, but still suffer from bladder weakness.

Furthermore, I have suffered lots of UTI’s, possibly caused by not emptying my bladder completely.

I have seen been seen by urology as I also have Multiple Sclerosis, bowel & bladder conditions are common with MS. First urologist was very dismissive and said you need to catheterise, no way. Second was a bit better and performed a few tests. But the weakness is just the same. I wear pads everyday, sneezing, laughing, coughing, always ends up with leakage.

I know my weakness started after childbirth and long before my MS diagnosis. I would be interested to find out more about whether innovo could help me and whether it has proved successful in MS patients.

No I definitely wasnt expecting it or been warned about it! After having 3 it has been worse each time and embarrassing as I am still early 30s! All i get from gp is just do more pelvic floor exercises and unfortunately it is to be expected!

All i get from gp is just do more pelvic floor exercises and unfortunately it is to be expected

this is so WRONG ! Ask to be referred to hospital for a full assessment .
I can't think of the correct term for the consultant/department ..can someone help?

I was referred ,had lots of tests ,programme of pelvic floor exercises ,they check if you're doing them correctly and then they retested to see how much improvement .As there wasn't much and I wasn't planning more children I had TVT as above .

My male GP really poor regarding this postpartum, basically said its one of those things. I don't think it should be and his response should be it can be improved. I've also suffered a cystocele Prolapse after my second child, which literally popped out when working out by lifting weights. My bladder popped through and whatever happened, ugh it felt so out of place, it took 2 weeks to improve even a tiny bit and then I went to see the doctor. He just said pelvic floor exercises. It's much better now, but have to see about every 90 minutes so o certainly have weakness. No mention of women's physio.

I think a leaflet should be given to you about pelvic floor excises and the hormones still in your body that affect your tissues a long time after birth. Really mums shouldn't be overdoing it and hitting the gym ASAP. We have it all wrong here

I thought maybe I suffered with it because I was an older mum. It's not been too difficult until recently - used to just be I wouldn't run or jump and had to be careful if I sneezed. Now though, post-menopause, I need a pad to go for a walk.
GP helpful and sent me to physio. I did all the exercises and physio said I was doing them right, but it didn't help at all.
I was told other things could be done and to return to GP but Covid happened so I haven't. I'm not sure exactly what can be done. My mother suffered with bladder leakage terribly and it caused a lot of distress to her so I must find out what more can be offered. I recall my mum took tablets.

I had no idea about post partum incontinence.

My DC are 18 and 21 and it's still not right.

I was referred to a specialist physio group. Unfortunately the exercises tended to trigger cystitis for me which was worse.

I only leak occasionally under normal circumstances but obviously can't run and my trampolining days are behind me! I have to contort myself if I feel a sneeze coming on.

I used to wear Tena extra light but hated the landfill so nowI wear M&S confidence pants if I'm going out for any length of time.

The plus is that it's not as bad as it was 10 years ago.... or maybe I've adapted and just don't do as much.

@ILovesPeanuts - I had a simple day op where I had TVT ( sounds awful something about tape ) but it worked v well .

Thank you @peridito that's good to know. I've just looked that up. My Mum had gynae surgery and it left her worse but this sounds different (better). Not keen on general anaesthetic as I get terribly sick but small price to pay. I really must go back to GP. I will.

Things are much better these days ( although of course I don't know when you last had a GA ! ) they can administer stuff to combat sickness .If you are having a GA at some point ,remember to stress that you get v v sick .

@peridito when you had this surgery did it all go well? There wasn't any bad things that came out of it, side effects?
How long did it take you to recover from the surgery?

Yes purple it was fine ,no side effects .It was a long time ago ..about 20 years so recovery is hard to recall .But I don't remember anything significant ,a couple of weeks I think .

I did have a hysterectomy first ,vaginal .The protocol at that time was to do that first to avoid the possibility of needing one ( for whatever reason) at a later date which apparently would be more tricky to carry out once the TVT done .

Seems a bit odd ,though I accepted it at the time .Maybe that might be different now ?

I know there have been concerns about

sorry ,concerns about mesh and tape ,but for me there have been no problems .

I'll be honest, I didn't know it was common until I saw this thread. I gave birth three years ago and still leak a small amount urine every day. I don't feel it. If I have a busy day and don't have time to change liners regularly then it smells awful by the end of the day. It makes me feel unclean. I do kegels but am not sure they do much. Maybe it would be even worse if I didn't do them though.

I am only in my mid thirties and dread the thought of this for the rest of my life, especially as I want to have another baby so it may get even worse. I thought I was unusual and it is a bittersweet feeling to see I'm not alone.

I had nerve damage after a twisty forceps delivery, constantly leaked, and as a previous poster said the urine just fell out of me every time I stood up. No control at all. I was referred to a specialist physio but nothing helped until the nerve(s) recovered about 7 weeks after the birth. Very sudden recovery. Woke up one day with bladder control back. Now it's generally fine, I can trampoline etc but I can be caught out by a cough sometimes and every now and then get sudden urgency.

I was totally unprepared and it hit me hard. Period pants have helped for small leakages and I'm starting physio in a fortnight which I hope will help but I'm just desperate to get it sorted.