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

Insight T&Cs apply

I have always exercised before during and after having children and followed the advice of doing my pelvic floor but it still didn’t stop me from leaking and I was getting embarrassed of doing exercise classes because of it so I ended up having a non surgical vaginal rejuvenation and am happy to say it worked for me as well as keeping up the pelvic floor exercises I have no more leakage and have resumed my classes and I feel confident.and happy since having it.

I 💯 was not prepared for postpartum bladder weakness! I have to actively reduced my liquid consumption if I know I won’t be able to access a toilet quickly. I’ve also had to get over my fear of peeing outdoors 🙈

I suffered with stress incontinence after my first and rememher an awful time running for a bus with a full bladder. I had a couple of sessions with NHS womens health physio who was nice but it was very generic. After my second I saw a brilliant private womens health physio and have seen much greater improvemnets, I now tell everyone I know whos having a baby to add this to essential list...

I thought I'd escaped. Three children and a very desultory approach to my pelvic floor exercises, even though 4 hours after giving birth the first time I was hustled to a hospital exercise class run by a very determined midwife who drummed into us how important it was to keep up to them. I've only suffered leaks in the last four years or so, and my eldest is now in her forties. I just need a light pad and sometimes not even that, but haven't got the confidence now to risk setting off without one. I've started the exercises again and just hope it doesn't get worse over time.

It was a total surprise and uncomfortable as I really have no control. It comes in waves. It's awful for a week or two then goes away.

I've found running has really helped!

How does running help this??!!!

Had problems for the first year after second baby. Still can’t go out and not no where the toilet is as I know I need it at least once and hour if drinking normally. Wish it was talked of more, it’s a completely taboo subject.

I still have bladder leaks 9 years after having my daughter despite doing pelvic floor exercises every day.
I always carry a pantyliner and spare pair of knickers in my hand bag as I never know if there's a toilet nearby

I cannot go a day without changing due to not getting to the loo in time so I tend to stay indoors now where it isn't so embarrassing. I have tried water tablets but they don't seem to work. I feel incontinence pads can be seen and are a sign that I am losing control of my life. I know this is silly but I would rather stay in and change than go out with a pad that I don't trust to keep me 'secure' and risk the humiliation that would cause.

I'm usually ok, but the occasional stifled sneeze will do it!
Also I had a bit of a shock when I tried out a trampoline at a party!

I agree with pps that if men had to go through these issues, something would have been done by now.

oh christina lovely that is an awful situation,I'm so sorry .

Dont you feel that in avoiding going out the leaking is controling your lifr ,not the other way round ?

The pads are good and though I guess they might show with some clothing like spray on skinnies ,they are not obvious .

Please go to the GP for a referral .

Thank you for your kind words. I did go to the gp in the past and they started the water tablets which didn't help. I appreciate what you are saying about the situation controlling my life and not me but it's just the way I feel. Silly I know xxx

It's no way to live ,is it ? If whatever medication the GP prescribed didn't help you need to go back .You really ,really shouldn't have to stay in because of this .There will be other treatments .

I will go back to the gp xxx

my 2nd child was 11 lbs so 3rd degree tear. then in later years got weak bladder and now when I get hayfever and sneeze then I virtually wet myself, not funny as my daughter thinks it is and laughs, so wear an always pad most days when out and about these days but its something that you get used to put in the basket in boots the chemist or the supermarket trolley, maybe I have also got a prolapse which decided to leave but a friend of mine had hers repaired and it was key hole surgery but not sure if that on its own makes you "leak" as that may be a separate issue for others as well.

Same here - no warning of what to expect, no interest at the 6 week check up with a GP. Finally referred to mat physio several years later, but I was assigned to one specific person who would never have appointments during school hours and when I requested that I have appointments before 3pm I was told this would never be possible, the person I was assigned to only did this specific appointment from 3-5pm. Oh and this is a major city hospital.

I could say so much more on this subject but bit worried to go into too much detail here
But I do believe if I'd been referred to an incontinence nurse post birth I wouldn't be this bad now

Have recently bought some period pants and I'm hoping physio referral will help.

Laughing too hard, sneezing and jumping around at my exercise class are all a bit tricky since having two babies!

Thanks everyone who has shared their experiences on this thread so far. If you would like to find out more about postpartum incontinence or bladder weakness, you can leave your question on the INNOVO Q&A by clicking here where two of their experts will be answering a selection of user questions on the 12th July

It's awful as not something I like to discuss with people and find embarassing although I do joke that I can't wait like I used to and need to go and find the loo.

I was referred to a specialist but seemed to fizzle out after a few appointments as if nothing could be done for me, so pads it is. Horrible thing is that as the years go by I need thicker and thicker ones.

Please go back to your GP Like . I had minor surgery to cure my incontinence . This was 20 years ago and they did want me to have a hysterectomy first,which I did ,just vaginal .Then day surgery for the bladder .It did work .I couldn't have carried on with the incontinence .

@peridito

Which surgery did you have for your incontinence?

I had TVT @CharleyC0956

www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/gynaecology/having-a-tension-free-vaginal-tape-TVT-operation-for-stress-urinary-incontinence.pdf