Even though I know I am no longer 25 or even 35, sometimes when I look in a mirror, I am still shocked at the person looking back. I don’t feel “older”, but that darn mirror doesn’t lie!
Boy oh boy, do I ever miss my 20’s and 30’s — these are the years when our bodies are the strongest, our senses are the keenest, and our minds are the sharpest.
Even though I don’t dwell on it, I do know gradual physical changes happen as we age. Our bones aren’t as strong as they once were, our hair thins out, we lose some muscle mass (I’m looking at you…jiggly arms!), we start to notice a few age spots and wrinkles and we even lose some height!
My beautiful daughter and I having dinner at a local inn.
Other physical changes I have noticed in myself and know happen to many people are Light Bladder Leakage (LBL) and/or Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI). These changes can occur for a variety of reasons, at any time in your life, but is more common as we age. This is because, as we get older changes in the bladder happen too —
- The elastic tissue becomes tough and the bladder becomes less stretchy resulting in the bladder not holding as much urine as before.
- The bladder muscles weaken.
- The urethra can become partially or completely blocked. In women, this can be due to weakened muscles that cause the bladder or vagina to fall out of position (prolapse). *1.)
I don’t want you to think aging is all doom and gloom because that is far from the truth. These changes are just a part of living and like every change in life, you can choose to dwell on the way things were or adapt to the way thing are, and get on with living. Getting on with living is what I choose to do.
Hiking a nearby trail…this moment was made possible by the good folks at Poise®
I made a conscious decision a long time ago that I was never going to ever allow possible bladder leakage to dictate what I can and cannot do in my life. I called it “Seizing My Poise® Moment”! It was the moment when I realized with the correct tools, which are products specifically made for bladder leakage (not periods), I did not have to miss out on anything. I could continue to take part in every fun adventure that the world has to offer such as swimming, hiking, travel, and dancing.
I really like the wide variety of products offered by Poise® . You can choose which of the products are right for you, ranging from liners to pads to Impressa® — I have used all of them at various times, depending on the circumstance.
I find the microliners, which are discreet and not at all bulky, perfect for feeling confident and protected when wearing shorts or tighter fitting skirts or pants. The ultra-thin pads are what I often wear at night, I just put one on and never have to worry about leaks. The Impressa® Bladder Support is perfect for swimming and long hikes. I just insert it, forget about it and know I am protected for up to 12-hours.
You will easily figure out what’s best for you too. Try all the Poise® products and see what works best for you and your specific situation.
Poise® Pads and Liners:
- Poise® pads are specifically designed for LBL and stay up to 3X drier than leading period-only maxis and provide 3-in-1 protection for dryness, comfort, and odour control.
Poise® Impressa®:
Both as a nurse and as a woman, I feel the Poise® Impressa® is a revolutionary product! It works by actually placing pressure on the urethra to help stop unexpected leaks.
Until recently, women had little choice but to absorb their leaks with pads, absorbent briefs or resort to invasive surgery.
With Impressa® all that has changed. It’s easy to insert and remove (just like a normal tampon), comfortable to wear and you can leave it in for up to 12 hours in any 24-hour period.
Now women can comfortably and discreetly stop leaks and regain their sense of freedom to live active, fulfilling lives.
So, even though I have experienced some physical changes related to aging, I’m still the same stubborn woman I have always been and I won’t allow leaks to get in the way of living my life to the fullest. A big part of why I continue to do all the fun things I did in my younger years is because Poise® products have given me that confidence.
Inukshuk are a symbol of the human spirit.
I love this quote by Betty Friedan, it just about sums up how I feel about life and living it to the fullest —
“Aging is not lost youth but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” Betty Friedan (1921-2006)
I am so grateful I discovered Poise® products and am an Ambassador for the brand. With Poise® and the confidence they give me I can continue living my life to the fullest. I want you to know you can do that too, which is exactly why I wanted to share this post with you!
If you would like to try Poise® products visit Poise.com to learn more about the Thin-Shape Light Absorbency pads and download a saving coupon should you want to pick up a Poise® Impressa® sizing kit of your own, so you too can seize your Poise® moment!
If you want to “Seize Your Poise Moment”, follow along with Poise® on their social media channels:
Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Instagram ~ #PoiseMoment
Do you or someone you know have any type of bladder leakage? If so, has worry about incontinence been dictating how you live?
1.) The bulleted information was obtained from — Aging changes in the kidneys and bladder: Medline Plus Medical Encyclopedia
Disclosure: This post is sponsored in partnership with Poise® Canada. As always, all opinions are our own.
Jeanette says
NO one ever told me that after having a baby this would happen! LOL I am glad to see that I am not the only one who suffers from this!
Monica Parlee says
You are definitely not alone, Jeanette!
GiGi Eats says
A situation/occurrence NO ONE likes to talk about but it’s important to talk about because there are ways to minimize embarrassment – as you have described!!
Monica Parlee says
I agree GiGi, it’s very important to talk about bladder leakage so people know they’re not alone!
Meg says
I wish I had this when I decided to jump in a Bouncy House at a friend’s kid party! I had no idea that PEE would come out of me like that!! haha!! #stupidage #babydamage
Monica Parlee says
hahaha…I’ve been there, Meg!
Tara Pittman says
I am thankful that there are products that are discreet. Having five kids will do this to one.
Monica Parlee says
I hear you Tara, so nice to know Poise products are out there!
gingermommy says
Poise has been a great help to me this year. I have been able to do things i normally may have shied away from. Love seeing how your seized the moment
Monica Parlee says
It’s so nice to be able to move forward with life Kim and be able to enjoy everything that you did before bladder leakage happened.
Christine says
I have several friends who have told me about needing to use poise for bladder issues. This is something people my mom’s age never really talked about. I am so glad that our generation is able to talk more openly about these situations and conditions. Great how you seized the moment.
Monica Parlee says
I know Christine, my mom probably had bladder leakage too, she just was too embarrassed to talk about it. So glad that times have changed!
Kim says
Okay, you look amazing! I honestly couldn’t even tell which one must be you and which one is your daughter. You both are gorgeous!
Monica Parlee says
Awwhhhh…you’re too sweet Kim, thank you,!
Soonjoo says
Great share. No one talks about it after having child but it’s great to know.
Jen Temcio says
It is nice for you to share your experiences so that I can be more comfortable and hopeful. I will check out Poise.
Mj says
More open discussion about certain topics like this will make the public more aware. Awareness is really important, people should understand about this so they can make necessary precautions sooner than regret I’m the end.
amelie redillas says
thank you for sharing this topic, it helps a lot to those people who are confused about their health and yet scared to consult to the doctors.
Hannah Marie says
I loved the quote that you added by Betty Friedan, it’s perfect for this! On the other hand, I don’t know anyone with any type of bladder leakage but it’s great that there are brands like Poise who are there to help!
Farrah Less G. says
Nothing to be shame for we all gonna get old. I definitely will keep this in mind. My mom has a gall bladder problem this could really help her alot.
Tiffany Haywood says
I love how open the discussion about bladder leakage has become. it is something many deal with and should feel free to discuss. Thanks for brands like Poise for opening it up a bit more.
Nancy at Whispered Inspirations says
I am so glad that the conversation about bladder leakage is becoming more open. It is important to understand that many deal with it on a daily basis.
Ruth I. says
Bladder leakage is real and some people suffer from it. I am glad that there products like this. It will surely help people who has a bladder problem.
Athena says
I don’t need to worry to the point of needing Poise YET – but seriously to ride my horse I need to go to the bathroom before I get him; then after walking the 300 acres – go to the bathroom before grooming him and tacking him up; then don’t dare get on him to ride him unless I hit the potty again first; THEN you know after all the bouncing while riding I hit the bathroom again before I even untack him… Totally worth it though.
Tiffany says
Thank you for sharing this topic. It is great that there are new and better products out for bladder leakage.
Laura says
I love how you share so openly, I wish more women would. Finding Poise has definitely helped me seize the moment as well.
Jennifer L says
Wow such great information on bladder and leakage, definitely important as we get older. I’m happy there is products like Poise that can help with those situations.
Fatima Torres says
I didn’t know it was impacted by age as well. I started to notice the change after having a VBAC. I honestly thought something moved out of place or something. Turns out it’s actually normal.
NJ Nowoselski says
This is good information. I find women don’t talk about it enough.
Bobbi says
This looks like a great product to help with those pesky leaks. Women should not be afraid to share and make sure others know what works.
Ada says
I haven’t had any experience with this yet but it’s something I’m now prepared for when the time comes.
Andrea says
I found that two pregnancies is a game changer in a lot of different ways, lol. It’s great to know there are products that are helpful in these situations!
Brandi says
It is good to know there is a product out there for something like this. This will help if I need this later on in life.