Way before we had even thought about having kids, we would hear mums joke about wetting themselves.

Sneeze, jump or run. Nothing was safe anymore.

So, honestly, after birth, we expected that leaking was just something we’d have to deal with.

But it’s not!

Yes, it’s normal for women to experience stress incontinence after birth and to have a weakened pelvic floor. But it doesn’t mean that this is something we have to put up with and ignore forever. And we shouldn’t!

Both pregnancy and birth put a strain on our pelvic floor, and other factors like birth trauma can affect it.

According to research found by Leading Women’s Health Specilalist, Emma Brockwell, it takes over seven years for women to seek help with pelvic floor issues.

As mums, it is easy to place ourselves last on the priority list, but it’s so important to look after our health.

Fine, if you’ve just had a baby and you’re finding your feet (you’ve got a lot on!). But if you’ve been experiencing leaks for a while and have been practising your pelvic floor exercises, it might be time to think about getting some help.

*Remember our pelvic floor weakens with age, and factors like menopause also create a significant impact. So, a few leaks might seem trivial right now, but if these symptoms worsen, they can seriously affect your life.

Need some free advice? Give Emma Brockwell a follow and listen to her podcast for tons of tips and advice on looking after your pelvic health.

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Firstly, go and see a women’s health physio. They will do an internal examination, and they will be able to tell you how strong or weak your muscles are. They’ll also be able to find out if you have any other damage and give you personal advice on how to recover. Most people will be sent away with the message to do pelvic floor exercises (Kegels) as much as possible, but others may be given extra guidance and essential advice.

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Your midwife will almost definitely advise you to start doing them as soon as you feel ready. And sooner is better than later, as you do a lot of sitting down to feed in the first few weeks after your baby is born, giving you the perfect opportunity to reconnect with your body and breathing and strengthen your muscles.

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Ahh, those dastardly hormones are at it again. Our period and cycle can play a part in the severity of how much we leak throughout the month.

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There are professional treatments, such as Emsella, which uses electronic pulses to train your pelvic floor, and this can be helpful if your problem is extremely severe. There are also devices like the Elvie Trainer. But the best thing you can do is free and is the natural exercise of squeezing and releasing. Undoubtedly, the best way to look after your pelvic health is to go and see a women’s health physio, who will advise you on what is right for you.

Pelvic organ prolapse is when one or more of the organs in the pelvis slip down from their normal position and bulge into the vagina.

The feeling is like something is coming down into your vagina – it may feel like sitting on a small ball. You may feel or see a bulge or lump in or coming out of your vagina, and it causes discomfort. If you have any worries about experiencing this, talk to your doctor or a women’s health physiotherapist.

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If you’re experiencing leaks and find wearing pads uncomfortable and cumbersome. Look into pessaries and speak to a women’s health specialist about options. There are also devices like efemia which the NHS recommends.

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