Frances Lucraft, chief executive of Grace & Green, writes that mothers are dehydrating themselves to avoid bladder leaks.
Returning to work is hard enough after maternity leave, but new research has found that the fear of one postpartum symptom in particular is adding significantly to an already stressful situation.
Despite how common incontinence is after childbirth, even lasting months or years after, no one is speaking about it. Bladder leaks are stigmatised in the home and the doctor’s office, and now, new research shows that this extends to the workplace, impacting physical and mental health during the return to work.
A staggering 40% of employees returning from maternity leave have cited that there were no measures in place at work to manage incontinence and other postpartum health issues.
Without flexible working, a dedicated space for nursing or pumping, period or bladder products, or line manager support, it’s no surprise that 9% of respondents actually delayed or stopped their return to work plans as a direct result of their fear of bladder leaks, with a further 5% avoiding Keep in Touch (KIT) days during their maternity leave for the same reason.
Support needed
The research, carried out by Grace & Green in partnership with Censuswide, surveyed 2,000 mothers in the fourth trimester (the first three months after giving birth) also proved that this isn’t a niche issue. More than three-quarters (78%) of people who have given birth suffer from bladder leaks at work, and one-third of those have experienced noticeable leaks that are impacting either their comfort or their ability to work.
It also highlighted that so many workplaces are severely lacking in proper postpartum support for new mums coming back to work – whether that’s peer support, dedicated rooms for pumping milk or optional additional breaks.
Simply providing bladder and period products in bathrooms so people don’t have to walk in holding their own makes a huge difference. Supporting postpartum health helps reduce absenteeism and improve retention, so it makes business sense as well.
To set this in the context of daily life, postpartum, only 39% of those affected by bladder leaks have spoken to their GP, even fewer (35% ) have discussed it with their partner, and almost one in five admit they haven’t spoken to anyone about it.
At a time in their lives when their bodies most need care and refuelling, the research shows that 45% of new mothers actually deprive themselves of hydration before activity or before going out, due to being worried about the risk of bladder leaks. Also, almost 40% avoid wearing certain colours or clothing that might show leaks more clearly.
The research also indicates postpartum bladder leaks can directly impact mental health, with a quarter of mums having stopped sex and physical intimacy, 13% stopping exercising and hobbies, and a further 13% feeling unable to play with their children due to fear of leaking.
Ongoing problem
For many, the issue doesn’t quickly resolve, with 43% of people saying bladder leaks remain an ongoing problem, with a significant impact on their quality of life. Any employer should be aware that this could be an issue for someone coming back to work.
We sweat when we train, we cry when we feel, and we leak when we’ve grown and delivered a brand new human. This shouldn’t be something we hide in shame.
As an organisation, we have worked with a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist, Tiffany Sequeira, for her insight on the research. She didn’t find the results surprising and actually said that avoiding hydration and activity can actually worsen bladder symptoms and delay healing.
Leaks should never be a source of suffering, and don’t have to stop you from living your best new-mum life. By sharing stories, we can show there is no shame in leaking. This is a time when we should be in awe of what our bodies have done – not questioning them. Leaks aren’t a sign of failure; they’re a sign of what your body has achieved.
