Hi,
I’m a 41 year old female and with a 1 year old little girl. Since having my first child I’ve suffered with bladder leakages, I thought over time it would improve but 1 year on and it seems to be getting worse. I’m too embarrassed to talk to anyone about it even my partner and its making me paranoid every day. Is this normal? Can I do anything to help with this? The pads I’m wearing don’t seem to be helping.
Hi,
Incontinence after childbirth is a common problem for women, and there are many ways you can make it easier to manage. Although many cases resolve in the first year after birth, one-third to one-half of women report some degree of leakage up to five years after delivery. It is therefore not a huge worry that you are experiencing this. It is vital, however, that you do talk to a Doctor to ensure there are no other underlying issues. Although initially embarrassing, Doctors deal with this issue on almost a daily basis so you should not fear being judged. They can also recommend methods of surgery if required.
Are your leakages light or heavy? It may be that your pads are the wrong absorbency, or it may be wise to switch to a more absorbent style of product such as pull up pants or an all-in-one. What are the pads called that you are currently wearing? I can recommend a product for you if you include these details.
Have you tried doing any exercises to help combat the problem? You can read about how to do pelvic floor muscle exercises here.
In what situations do you find you experience leakages? I can provide you with tips for managing incontinence while running and additional lifestyle tips if you wish.
I think your right i should contact the doctor to make sure. Majority of the time its fairly light but when i’m doing any sort of activity’s it can be quiet a large leakage which is when the pad fails. what product would you recommend? I would like to start back running and back at the gym but i’m too scared of leakages. what lifestyle changes would you suggest?
Do you currently smoke or have an unhealthy lifestyle? Quitting smoking, losing excess weight or treating a chronic cough are all ways you can improve your symptoms.
Practising methods such as bladder training and kegel exercises can be invaluable. You can find out how to do these in our blog.
I would recommend a pull-up pant as they are more absorbent than pads, however, allow you to stay active. You can shop pull up pants online here.
Let me know if you would like a recommendation of a specific product.
Doing exercises over time will be beneficial in strengthening your pelvic floor muscles, so you should definitely keep these up.
For a pull-up product, I would recommend the Depend Active Fit For Women. They are specially designed for women with an active lifestyle, so will perfect for you while you are running. They are discreet and feel just like ordinary underwear, so you don’t have to be scared of them showing. With moderate absorbency, they should be perfect for you whilst exercising.
You can purchase the Depend Active Fit online here. Do you think they’re a product you’d be willing to try?
Hi,
I had a similar problem when I was younger. Aged 23 I had a urethaplasty and have been fine ever since. I’m now 71 in a few days time.
From Jan