How To Prevent Incontinence Brief Leakage
Posted by Jeanne Lowry on Aug 22nd 2022
Incontinence isn’t a topic many people like discussing due to social stigmas. However, if no one ever talks about it, it’s hard to know when you’re doing something wrong; this is one of the main reasons why people who use incontinence briefs still have leakage issues. Fortunately, there are many ways to fix this problem. By the end of this list, we’re positive you’ll find a solution that’ll work for you.
Make Sure It’s on Properly
The first thing you need to check if you’re having leakage issues is whether you’ve fitted the incontinence brief correctly. Depending on the type or brand, securing the brief might be a little more difficult than expected. That doesn’t mean it’s not worth using; it just means you need to be more careful when putting it on. If you’ve verified that you put it on the right way, then it’s time to move on to our next step.
Try a Different Size, Style, or Brand
If an incontinence brief isn’t fitting you properly, you’re likely using the wrong type. First, make sure you have the correct size. If it’s too large, there will be gaps that you won’t be able to seal up. However, briefs that are too small are bad for circulation and general comfort. You want to find a size that fits you snugly without feeling constricting.
If you can’t find the perfect fit, you might need to try a different style of briefs. Many different styles exist on the market; they all claim to help with various problems, making it difficult to decide which ones to test out. Fortunately, many brands create a variety of styles and designs to make the process of trial and error much easier.
Speaking of brands, sometimes that is the factor you need to change. Two brands might make a similar style of incontinence brief, but the way they make them can be fairly different. This change might be just what you need to find the perfect fit, so don’t be afraid to try out a new brand, even if you’ve never heard of them before.
Look Into Gender-Specific Versions
Sometimes, the cause of a leak could come down to simple biology. Men and women don’t have the same parts, meaning some people can have leakage issues due to the location it’s coming from. While unisex briefs will typically cover all areas, having more coverage in one spot as opposed to another can be beneficial.
Buy an Overnight Set of Briefs
Many people experience incontinence in their sleep, which is impossible to control, especially for normal briefs. Therefore, the solution might come down to buying a set of briefs specifically for night use. These briefs account for the fact that you’ll be lying down most of the time, as this flattened position is typically what causes leaks in the first place. Overnight incontinence briefs are designed with extra padding and seals to accommodate this.
Add Some Booster Pads
If you’ve already gone through the hassle of trying out a bunch of different sizes, styles, and brands with little to no success, the source of the issue might simply come down to insufficient absorbency. No matter how “super-absorbent” brands might claim to be, they can only do so much within the constraints of an incontinence brief.
If this is the case, the best course of action might be to add booster pads to your brief—these are additional inserts that help boost the overall absorbency levels. Not only do they assist with absorbency, but you can also strategically position them to better line up with where the leaks are, ultimately increasing their effectiveness.
Change Up Your Diet
While all of these options are excellent choices, there are times when it’s best to try fixing the problem internally. This starts with changing your diet. Even though liquids are vital for your health, it’s acceptable to limit your intake, especially before bed. If done correctly, you’ll find yourself having to go less often.
As far as food goes, avoiding products that are spicy, citrusy, or full of artificial sweeteners is a good idea. Also, anything that falls under the dairy category could increase the frequency of having to go. You don’t necessarily have to avoid these foods altogether, but reducing your overall intake of certain products should help you out.
Work Out Your Pelvic Muscles
Just like any other health practice, diet goes hand in hand with exercise. For incontinence, you’ll want to focus on muscles in the pelvic region. Plenty of routines work this area, but you should talk to your doctor for a professional opinion on which exercises will be best for you. Just be sure to keep up with them on a regular basis.
Another way to assist pelvic muscles in a way that doesn’t involve direct exercise is to elevate your legs while sleeping or lying down. This will relieve a lot of pressure on your muscles and your bladder, reducing the sudden need to relieve yourself.
Use a Mattress Cover
If none of these suggestions for preventing incontinence leakage seem to improve your condition, the best course of action will be to protect your bed from the occasional accident. Any of the aforementioned methods should help reduce the frequency of leakage, but if the possibility is still present, you should add a second layer of protection.
This second layer comes in the form of a mattress cover or underpad; it is a waterproof sheet that keeps any incontinence brief leaks from seeping into your bed. While this might not directly fix your problem, it’ll ease your mind knowing that your mattress is protected.
Now that you know all the possible solutions, it’s time to take action. Whether you want to try out some new incontinence briefs or protect your bed with a mattress cover, My Care Supplies has all the adult health products you could ever need. We pride ourselves on our wide array of options to help those who need it. Plus, we send everything in discrete packaging so you don’t have to worry about anyone finding out what you ordered. We do everything we can to keep our customers happy and healthy.