Mums ‘Deliberately Dehydrating Themselves’ To Avoid Bladder Leaks

I stopped in my tracks today when I read that almost half (45%) of mothers are deliberately dehydrating themselves before doing an activity or going out post-birth because of the risk of bladder leaks.

The finding is from a survey of 2,000 birthing parents by ethical period and bladder care brand Grace & Green, which also found that almost 40% of respondents avoid wearing certain colours or clothing because of fears over leaks, and one-quarter of mums stopped having sex in the fourth trimester because of it.

Just over one in 10 (13%) said they stopped exercising or doing hobbies, and a further 13% felt unable to play with their children.

These stats are certainly something I can relate to – and I’m sure many reading this will, too. After having my first baby, I swiftly realised my pelvic floor was not working as it should. A simple sneeze could result in disaster.

Yet, other than being told to do pelvic floor exercises (which was pretty vague – and I had no idea if I was doing them correctly until I went for a Mummy MOT years later), there was very little support in getting that part of my body back up to speed. Much of the focus was on how my baby was doing.

Hydration is crucial in those first three months after giving birth – not only does drinking plenty of water help to support breast milk production, but it helps with healing, and supports digestive health (post-birth constipation is no joke).

Tiffany Sequeira, a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist, noted that “avoiding hydration and activity can actually worsen bladder symptoms and delay healing”.

“Incontinence after birth is common, but shouldn’t be a source of suffering, and women should be supported to access the help and treatment they deserve,” she added.

Roughly one in three women experience urinary incontinence three months after pregnancy, around one in seven experience anal incontinence six months after birth, and one in 12 women report symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse (where the pelvic organs sag into the vagina).

Grace & Green’s survey revealed for 43% of respondents, bladder leaks remain an ongoing problem, with a significant impact on their quality of life.

Despite this, many push their needs to the side. Only around two in five (39%) of those affected have spoken to their GP or a medical professional about it, while even fewer (36%) have discussed it with their partner.

Almost one in five (18%) haven’t told a soul.

If you’re struggling with leaks, pelvic floor exercises can (and do) help strengthen your muscles after birth (there’s a run-down of how to do them on the NHS website). You can also try investing in a pelvic floor trainer.

However, if you’re finding you’re still struggling with leaks, speak to your GP and ask for a referral to a physiotherapist.

If the wait list is long, it might be worth seeing which private services are available near you (find a professional here), or booking in for a Mummy MOT.