There are often times in life when it’s very difficult to keep everything in. I’m talking about the embarrassing problem of urine leakage.
I had this problem when I was pregnant with Star. Although I already had two children it had been sixteen years since the last was born. It was like the first time all over again and so many things had changed. Not only that but I was much older! Towards the end of the pregnancy my baby was pressing against my bladder all the time and causing me to leak. I used sanitary pads to make sure I was kept dry. The problem is that sanitary towels are not meant for daily use, they are only supposed to be used one week a month or so for your cycle. They can cause irritation and do not really help with incontinence.
I had just a few weeks to go until my baby was due and the leakage was getting heavier. I mentioned it to my midwife and she said it could be my amniotic fluid leaking which could be dangerous for my baby. She told me a good way of telling if it was my amniotic fluid was by smell, it smelled sweet and much nicer than urine. So, I smelt my sanitary towel that I’d been using and was greeted with a lovely sweet smell. I rushed off to triage and told them my worries about my amniotic fluid leaking and they had me in for testing. Then came the embarrassing bit, my amniotic fluid was not leaking, I had used a fragranced sanitary towel. I’ll never forget that day, I just consoled myself that my baby was safe and never used a sanitary towel for incontinence again.
Please feel free to share any of your embarrassing moments in the comments, go on , I dare you!
Star is now eleven years old and things have changed a lot since then too. Getting protection for leakage is a lot easier. Hartmann Direct offer a whole range of products for whatever your problem is. They have a really good Product Selector which is easy to use and can tell you which product you should be using. I had a go myself and I was given the option of MoliMed Comfort which come in packs of 28 for £5.10.
Since I got sick in January this year I experienced a lot of paralysis. I could not use my bladder or bowel at first but I was lucky that some feeling came back. The problem is I only know that I need to go when I really, really need to go. Then I have mobility problems which mean getting to the toilet on time is difficult. I don’t have many accidents but I do leak occasionally so I wear protection every day.
I tried out the MoliMed comfort and although they are a little bigger than my usual brand they were a lot softer. They did not curl up while in use and the sticky strip worked really well in keeping them in place. I would definitely recommend them for every day use. They are more comfortable and slightly larger than the brand I normally use and that reflects in the price. I do feel more safer using them. If I chose the smaller ones which are equivalent to the brand I normally use they would actually be cheaper.
I think Hartmann Direct offer a really good service which not only ensures you get the right product for your needs, they are also reasonably priced. I was really happy with the product I received and would buy them again.
Disclosure: I was given a sample product to review for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I'm 45 soon, and have had 5 babies. I really struggled when I was recovering from my tummy surgery, and when I had my broken leg. I was stiff and sore and very slow-moving, I was on painkillers that also slowed me down, and with my leg I was determined not to pee on my leg brace! 😀
It's stunning just how far away the toilet is when you can't get there quickly. I'm glad your problems have eased, but I honestly think these are great and I'm sure it'll be moments before they're in my trolley!
This is something I have started to suffer with on and off over the last few months. My GP said mine is caused by hormones. Yet another thing to add to the list lol
I had two sections and thankfully didn't suffer any stress incontinence, but now, when I need to go, I need to go. I think ti is great that we talk openly about these things.
I think it's great that we can talk about these things more and more. If you need help with something like this, it's good to be able to get advice and learn from the experience of others.
I think its good to talk freely as it might encourage others to do the same and not find uncomfortable getting help 🙂 x
I have really struggled when running after the birth of my third baby. I actually resorted to not hydrating myself properly because it was so uncomfortable and embarrassing. Finding a good pad that stays secure is difficult.