United Brachial Plexus Network, Inc.

I was playing in the yard today with Michael when suddenly I had to sneeze. It took me by surprise and I didn't have time to prepare myself. Needless to say I wet myself and had to run in and change my clothes.

When Michael was born I lost total control of my bladder for 6 months. It eventually came back but never 100%. I feel like I always have to go and need to know where all of the rest rooms are when I go out.
I always have to wear something because I feel like a leaky faucet. I know this sounds discusting, but it's something I have had to live with since Michael was born.

I was wondering if any of you have the same problem and how you handle it. I feel this is my injury for having a big baby and feel it can't just be me.

Patty
I was wondering if any of you have the same problem.

ok - here's my embarrassing moment..... I'm getting dressed and Maia sees me put a pad in my underwear and says "Mommy is that YOUR diaper, too?"

I think that MANY women have this problem -especially ones who had big babies but even ones that didn't. My first daughter was 6 lb 13 oz. and I had this problem after her as well.

I'm thinking about going to a continence nurse. I understand they do things with biofeedback, electrical stimulation and other kinds of exercise. I am going to talk to my primary doc about it.

The worst is when you get an upper respiratory thing and cough all the time! UGH.

Glad we can talk about this so matter of factly.

Wishing us all some healing in this matter!
-francine

This is a useful site....check out in particular the section on stress incontinence (which is what you are describing) and pelvic floor exercises. It does work!
http://www.2womenshealth.co.uk/Chapter29_bladder.htm

I had the same problem after having a hysterectomy last year. Here I was all excited that I would not have to wear pads anymore and ended up wearing a panty liner for another 3 months because I could not hold my urine! LOL Talk to your OB/GYN they have print outs with different excercises you can do. I found they work very well. Most of which you can do with out any one even knowing you are doing them. Plus, I found they help with the sex life also!

If you have any other question email me. I could be more "open" but don't think UBPN would let me! LOL

Joy

I still have problems with control. I was told it could take a year for me to heal after the birth of my daughter. Well it has been two this month. You may have ruptured your pelvis floor. That was one of the things wrong with me. This can take a long time to heal. I was also told I may need PT and excercise and perhaps surgery to correct. Talk to your OBGYN. Mine told me to wait until I was sure I was finished having children so I did not have to do it twice. Even if I am going to have a C-Section. Your are not alone.

you are NOT alone here ...Ive had 6 kids and even tho I worked in the birthing community I never did the kegal exercises, I peed whenever I coughed sneezed,laughed hard,,,and I told everyone else to do their kegals, never thought theyd have much of an impact, well last year I started doing regular exercising and kegals and walaaaa, well about 2 wweks and 6500 kegals later( I do atleast 35-50 a day) the situation improoved so much I couldnt believe it..I can sneeze safely now and I strongly suggest kegals, 35 to start with and work up to 70 a day for 3 weeks you have nothing to lose and everythingto gain, blessings,m

It's not disgusting at all, just life. I swear the things we women go through to give life (all worth it). I had a problem for the first few weeks after giving birth, it didn't happen with my first two kids (so it kind of freaked me out), but I also did go fullterm and they weren't as big as my third. Still to this day if I have to sneeze I have to think about it first, do I have to pee, is my bladder full, if I don't think I'm going to make it to the bathroom to pee first then I have to cross my legs and try and sneeze softly. It's a bummer but I know I'm in the company of alot of other women with the same problem. I know a woman who after dealing with it for almost twenty years finally had to have surgery and was fine after that. But kegals do help and you can do them anywhere,anytime:-).............