Healthy Living: Jumping for joy!

Eight years ago, while working with a personal training client (let’s call her Hanna), I suggested she integrate some running into her fitness plan. In a hushed voice, with eyes downcast, Hanna confided that since having her second child, she could no longer run, because her bladder was too weak.
She was only in her mid-30s. I was perplexed. Wasn’t that as a problem for older adults? At the time, I was 3 months pregnant with my first child and feared the possibility that I could be doomed to the same fate.
Despite the numerous prenatal doctor visits and books like “What to Expect When You’re Expecting,” there is very little postnatal care or readily available information about what to expect after the baby is out.
Fast forward to 2010, two natural childbirths later, and my fear became a reality. Unlike Hanna, however, I loved running too much to let it go so easily. I always carried a post-run change of clothes, and my car became a traveling locker room.
Every night, my sleep was interrupted by a trip to the bathroom. Jumping on the trampoline with my kids was out of the question. I thought of Hanna often — of how embarrassed she had seemed —and I understood completely.
But in the midst of darkness, I found light. While I chatted with an acquaintance, she mentioned that she had surgery a few years back to correct the very same problem, and it worked! I prefer to take the least invasive approach whenever possible, but in this case, my body was experiencing a mechanical failure, one that could not be cured by even a thousand Kegels per day.
I pursued the professional advice of an urologist who specialized in treating women. She diagnosed it as “stress incontinence” (caused by pelvic organ prolapse) and told me that we could correct it with a simple one-time, outpatient procedure, whereby she would surgically implant a mesh sling to support the urethra from downward motion.
I was astonished when she informed me that she frequently performed the surgery on young women, such as myself, or even younger girls who played high-impact sports. I set a date for my surgery and began counting down the days.
After learning that I was among millions of other women suffering from the same problem, I abandoned all shyness and began talking to everyone about it. I talked to moms on the playground, women at cocktail parties and holiday gatherings, and pretty much anyone who I thought might benefit from my newfound knowledge.
Maybe I went a little overboard, but I was on a mission to pull this topic out from under the rug. Why should so many women endure this condition when there is a solution? More often than not, the women I spoke with were eager to know more about the surgery and how it might help them. 
My doctor voiced this message: “About 50 percent of women who have had babies experience some incontinence. Do not accept this is as ‘normal’ or think that it’s something you can’t do anything about. Don’t keep it a secret.”
If this story speaks to you and you are considering corrective surgery, follow these guidelines: Discuss the risks and benefits with a urology specialist. Research your insurance coverage for preparatory procedures and surgery well in advance. Plan for a lot of support the first week post-surgery, especially if you have young children. Post-op restrictions advise not lifting anything heavier than 10 pounds for the first four weeks, so line up friends and family to help you with groceries and house chores. It is also important to note that this surgery is not advised for women who plan to have more children.
As I write this, I’m 8 weeks post-surgery, and I couldn’t be happier. I am sleeping through the night and running without any urgency or leakage — and, to my delight, I can enjoy jumping on the trampoline again. I am literally jumping for joy.
– Julia Blanton is a nutrition, fitness and wellness coach. An avid runner, she keeps a health blog at www.juliablanton.com.