Here on The Chirp we talk a lot about the causes of bladder leaks (aka incontinence) for women in developed countries. But we love broadening our perspectives here at Lily Bird and understanding the experiences of all women. So, today our friends from Beyond Fistula will share a different a common cause of bladder leaks in developing countries: the fistula. Take it from here, Nell. _____________ What Is A Fistula? Ever heard of an obstetric fistula? If you haven’t, you’re not alone. A fistula is a hole in a woman’s reproductive tract that results from a prolonged, obstructed labor. A few different situations make a difficult labor way more likely.…
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What Foods Soothe The Bladder? Here Are 9
Let’s talk about happy bladders, shall we? The type of bladder that doesn’t spontaneously spritz when you sneeze or have you running to the toilet like a sprinter. Without a doubt, a happy bladder can make a world of difference in your everyday life. But it can also seem so foreign when you’re dealing with leaks. So, what should you do to keep your bladder happy and healthy? What foods soothe the bladder? What Foods Soothe The Bladder? I don’t know about everyone else, but my high school health class definitely never touched on maintaining a happy bladder. Or really on bladder health at all. But a little research has…
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Diastasis Recti: Less Scary Than It Sounds
The medical world has the tendency of assigning overly complicated words to conditions that are easily explained. For instance, diastasis recti. Doesn’t it just sound rare and terrifying? If you hear that word you’ll probably think there’s something terribly wrong going on. But my friend, that’s why we’re here. As always, I get you and I got you. I’ll explain what it is, what you can do about it, and how it’s connected to leaks. And it isn’t as scary as it sounds — I promise. What Is Diastasis Recti? In normal people language, diastasis recti is just a separation in your ab muscles. It’s very common and by common,…
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It’s World Continence Week 2019
In honor of World Continence Week 2019, we’re relieving some myths about who gets leaks and who doesn’t. World Continence Week (WCW) raises awareness about leaky laughs and dribble dilemmas. Now that’s something we can get behind. (And if you keep reading to the bottom, we have a special WCW treat in store for new customers!). Leaks And Loneliness: Am I Alone Here? Leaks. Spritz. Dribble. There are so many words to talk about bladder leaks, so why does it seem like no one is talking about it? Realizing you may be struggling with a broken sprinkler system can make you feel embarrassed. If you’ve found yourself hiding indoors or…
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When Breaking Up With Your Uterus Brings On Dribble Dilemmas
Hysterectomy. Ladies, we’ve all heard this word. Maybe you overheard an older woman talk about it in your youth or one of your friends has opened up to you about having one. It’s one of those things where someone mutters the word once and then it becomes… “you know, that one thing I was talking about.” Yep, a hysterectomy falls on the long list of taboo women’s health topics that are usually on the hush-hush. But you know how we are with those types of subjects. There’s no such thing as a taboo or TMI here at Lily Bird. So, keep reading to learn what a hysterectomy is, why they’re…
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5 Ways To Fight Bladder Leak Stigma
Stigma is defined as the disapproval of or discrimination against someone based on something about them. Do you ever feel stigmatized because of your unruly bladder? Do you maybe even stigmatize yourself? The stigma surrounding bladder leaks started a long time ago when our parents potty trained us. Our parents taught us that peeing on yourself was bad so since then, we’ve tried to avoid it like the plague. But life happens. Childbirth happens. Injuries happen and so…leaks may happen too. And they happen to the best of us. It can be difficult to think beyond a stigmatized condition, urinary incontinence being one. So how can we empower ourselves and…
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What The Mesh: Contemplating Bladder Sling Surgery
Let’s talk about sling. No, I’m not talking about Sling TV or a sling shot. I’m talking about bladder sling surgery. When the occasional spritz and drip has become too much to handle, sometimes doctors will suggest bladder sling surgery. But when is too much? And hasn’t there been a lot of controversy about this kind of surgery? I won’t leave you slinging (hanging, get it?), so keep reading to learn more. (A quick note before we dive in: the FDA banned the use of transvaginal mesh for repairing pelvic prolapse as of April 16, 2019. However, bladder sling surgery is a bit different and is the main focus of…
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Down In The Dumps: Depression & Incontinence
Here at Lily Bird we like to bring in the heavy hitters so you all get expertise and advice from the best of the best. That’s because telling your bladder who’s boss is better as a team sport. This week’s article is from our friends at the National Center for Continence. Thanks to Sarah for the collaboration. ______________ Depression & Incontinence Are Linked You know the feeling – you’re having an off day, you can’t get motivated, you’re feeling a bit down. We’ve all been there. But then imagine those feelings multiplied by 1,000. And imagine not being able to turn those feelings around. Depression is a real thing. It…
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Stress Incontinence: Everything You Need To Know
Do you know any moms who jump on their kids’ trampoline? I don’t. Most of us avoid it like the plague. If sneezing, coughing, laughing, or jumping brings on unexpected leaks, you’re in the right place. We’ve got everything you need to know about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for stress incontinence. What Is Stress Incontinence, You Say? If you’re wondering, “what is stress incontinence?” then you’re in the right place. Stress incontinence is one of several types of incontinence. It’s the kind where a little bit of pressure on the bladder from laughing or jumping on a trampoline can cause an unexpected spritz. It’s like a random person who…
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Spilling The Tea on Staying Social With Leaks
Isn’t it amazing how 25 to 45 percent of us women deal with bladder leaks but somehow we still feel alone? It’s because leaks are still considered a taboo topic that warrant side eyes, raised brows, and whispers. So we don’t tell anybody. We don’t tell our doctors, our family, or our friends, and we live in silence. And as a result, we stop doing the things that we enjoy. But do we really have to? Coping Strategies for Staying Social Your social life shouldn’t come to a stop because of a little spritz every now and again. But we know that’s way easier said than done. Let’s keep you…
