You Ain’t Cool Unless You Pee Your Pants
When I was 20 or so weeks pregnant I caught a nasty, nasty cold. I was congested, coughing, sneezing… it was the worst.
I found myself blowing my nose all the time and suffering through coughing fits. I don’t usually medicate myself when I am sick, but if I weren’t pregnant at the time I would have taken SOMETHING. Anything!
Alas, I was knocked up, and left to natural remedies like a humidifier, vitamins, teas, neti pot, etc.
ANYWAYS, like I said, when this nasty, nasty cold infected me I was having these crazy coughing fits… which made me pee my pants! It was hilarious (at least to me).
When I had a coughing fit, coupled with the pressure of a banana sized baby on my bladder, I had absolutely no control over myself.
Pregnancy Incontinence Stories #1
In fact, I remember one morning I woke up and went to the refrigerator to get some food (what every pregnant person should do first thing in the morning). I started coughing and coughing… and I started peeing. I don’t think I had pants on. Matt, my husband, was also in the kitchen and he watched in horror as I peed on the kitchen floor.
I hope you’re laughing at me right now and not disgusted with me. I’m just being honest!
Pregnancy Incontinence Stories #2
Another time I was leaving a restaurant with my mother. For some reason, I decided not to go to the bathroom before we left and walked to the car. We start walking to the car (it would be about a five minute walk to get to our car) and I had to stop on the sidewalk because I was about to pee all over myself.
Every time I tried to walk I almost peed.
So my mom did what any mother would do whose daughter was dealing with pregnancy incontinence… she walked to the car and came and picked me up. And then she drove me to the bathroom. She rocks.
Pregnancy Incontinence is Normal
The reason I share these stories is to normalize pregnancy incontinence. I mean, I think you have to have an iron bladder in order to NOT pee on yourself at least once during the 9 month ordeal.
Bradley childbirth teachers are probably screaming “KEGELS!” at the screen right now.
I’m just sayin. Everybody pees on themselves every now and then. In fact, you ain’t cool unless you pee your pants!
Happy Trails,
Lindsey
Lindsey (Mother Rising)
Wednesday 27th of October 2010
Well said, Erinn!
Erinn
Wednesday 27th of October 2010
"A kegel attempts to strengthen the PF, but it really only continues to pull the sacrum inward promoting even more weakness, and more PF gripping. The muscles that balance out the anterior pull on the sacrum are the glutes. A lack of glutes (having no butt) is what makes this group so much more susceptible to PFD. Zero lumbar curvature (missing the little curve at the small of the back) is the most telling sign that the PF is beginning to weaken. Deep, regular squats (pictured in hunter-gathering mama) create the posterior pull on the sacrum. Peeing like this in the shower is a great daily practice, as is relaxing the PF muscles to make sure that you're not squeezing the bathroom muscle closers too tight. Just close them enough...An easier way to say this is: Weak glutes + too many Kegels = PFD."
http://mamasweat.blogspot.com/2010/05/pelvic-floor-party-kegels-are-not.html
Maureen
Wednesday 27th of October 2010
Hahaha... I was a pee-er too!
Lindsey (Mother Rising)
Wednesday 27th of October 2010
Glad I'm not alone! :)
Kristen
Wednesday 27th of October 2010
Well count me as being cool I guess! Every time I sneeze with a non-empty bladder. I don't remember this happening the first time, I thought it was because I am a second time mom.