To Wee or Not to Wee – That Is the Question

I talk about wee and all things weeing all the time whether it be at my studio, Chapel A Pilates, the Whole Body Pelvic Health membership or our monthly Pelvic Health cafe we always end up on the topic of wee.

We talk about when to wee, how long should a wee be, how to maintain continence on a long walk and how to not wee on the doorstep. I mean it. We really do talk all about seeing.

The Infamous “Just in Case Wee”

How often should you wee? Today I wanted to particularly talk about the infamous ‘just in case wee.’ I know you know what I’m talking about, the going on a long car journey wee, you are going out wee, you don’t know if there will be a loo where you are going wee, you probably even tell your kids or grandkids to go before you go too. Not to mention the before-bed, just in case wee.

These non-essential wees play havoc with your bladder and your pelvic floor because you are overriding your brain and body communication network.

Understanding Interoception

That all-important sense is called interoception and is your ability to feel hunger, tiredness, butterflies in your tummy and the need for a bladder or bowel movement.

When we override that sense, we can unwittingly create problems for ourselves. Your body is talking to you all the time, and you are listening and responding appropriately and importantly, knowing when you really do actually need a wee.

So Why Can We Sleep All Night Without Weeing?

Most of us can sleep for 7-8 hours through the night and not get up for a wee, so what is the difference during the day? Put simply, fuel consumption, movement, and you are aware/awake.

Sometimes we can become hyper aware of our bladder and our pelvic floor and that can cause us to go before we are truly ready, and often we end up so afraid of leaking or not making it to a loo that we do a just in case wee with the best intentions.

I get it, honestly I do, and I also know how scary it is to make the change, to trust how clever your body is.

Real-Life Examples

I recently had a client who was struggling to get home after the school run without having or almost having an accident on the doorstep. This was caused by the just in case wee she was having before she went on the school run.

When you have that short dribble of a wee, you confuse your bladder, pelvic floor and your brain. This confusion is what makes it more likely that you will then have a doorstep emergency.

Another example is a client who was doing the extra before bed just in case wee. I suggested, as I often do, that she should lie on her tummy and do some pelvic tilting before she goes for her normal necessary wee and then not do the second wee.

This worked wonders. Her bladder knew it was actually full and how much needed to be emptied, and it did fully empty before bed.

These small acts build trust in your body and confidence in your choices. Over time, they become second nature, just like brushing your teeth. Consistency truly is transformative.

You know I’m a real advocate for footwork, massaging, rolling and generally exercising, mobilising and strengthening your feet. But do you fit that into your day?

A Simple Tip for Daily Footwork

I thought I’d share this week a top tick to make it easy to fit in a little bit of footwork every day. As you know I have a diligent morning routine and one of the first things I do is massage my feet.

My suggestion is that you leave a massage tool on the floor by your bed so the first thing you do when you wake up is your footwork.

Every Sunday night, I lay out my ball for the week so I vary the feedback, and it’s not just the same ball all the time.

Here are my favourites: golf ball, tennis ball, bouncy ball, rolling pin. All of these are cheap or free things you’ll have at home.

Ready to start your ripple effect?
Start with just two minutes, twice a day. Your pelvic floor will thank you – and so will every part of your life it touches.

Try a method for improving your pelvic floor that does NOT risk making your symptoms worse. NO Kegals, NO Surgery and NO guessing…