'I have leakage when I sneeze': Shropshire mum speaks out on condition affecting millions

We had an exclusive chat with the mum-of-three who's got a weak bladder

Author: Megan JonesPublished 19th Sep 2019

A Shropshire mum's speaking to us exclusively about living with a weak bladder.

35.year-old Anna Williams says she started suffering with the condition after having her first child.

New research has shown millions of women - of all ages - are affected by the condition.

A survey of women aged over 40 showed many of them are feeling embarrassed and depressed as a direct result.

Three in five are also keeping the condition a secret from their partners or haven't been completely open with them about the extent of their suffering.

Anna told us her story:

"My problem isn't as bad as many other people I know and I hadn't really given it much thought until a conversation with friends.

"I suddenly thought actually yeah, there is a problem there.

"Sometimes I have leakage when I sneeze, sometimes if I go for a long run.

"There are things like going on a trampoline, I wouldn't go on one.

"My kids have got one in the garden, they love it and they often say 'come on Mummy' and I just think no, no I wouldn't do that.

"There are things that it has an impact on.

"I remember the midwife coming in, an hour after I'd had my first baby and giving me pamphlets about the importance of pelvic floor exercises.

"I've done them on and off but not with any degree of regularity and I'm suffering for it now.

"The fact that so many women are basically walking around wetting themselves, is not something that we discuss."

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