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Bláthnaid: We need to talk about incontinence

A study from Trinity College found that urinary incontinence was a common problem during – and after – pregnancy.

TV PRESENTER BLÁTHNAID Ní Coffaigh has spoken candidly about her personal battle with adult incontinence in a radio interview.

It follows recent comments on the subject by Kate Winslet.

The actress, speaking to Graham Norton, said she frequently wet herself – saying it was part and parcel of having children.

“I suffered terribly from it and I just got it sorted last April,” Ní Coffaigh told Sean Moncrieff on Newstalk yesterday.

“It took 10 years off my life. I didn’t realise the impact it had on my life until I got it sorted.

She explained:

“I had to do all my exercise in the morning. I couldn’t do anything after lunch especially if I had a coffee or a glass of water.

“When I exercised in the morning I had to wear a pad.”

A 2013 study from Trinity College found that urinary incontinence was a common problem during – and after – pregnancy.

After childbirth, around 50% of women said they were still leaking some amount of urine. Even after six months, one in five women said they still leaked urine once a month or more frequently.

Read: A mime getting a job in a takeway is ‘a bad idea’ … but it isn’t racist

Read: Ireland has bid to host the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup

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40 Comments
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    Mute Anthony Kielthy
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    Dec 1st 2015, 8:47 AM

    Oh gawd ! I thought she was full of something else !

    200
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Dec 1st 2015, 8:51 AM

    No we don’t. That’s what your doctor’s office is for.

    187
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    Mute Stephen
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    Dec 1st 2015, 9:03 AM

    I think we should talk about ……. Jam!, when I was eating jam sangages last week for lunch the jam dripped onto my hand, It was sticky and very annoying . Why not start a debate about that!??
    Gimme a jasus break!!!!

    156
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    Mute Joe Conlon
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    Dec 1st 2015, 11:05 AM

    @Stephen, It’s really depends on the brand of jam that you use and of course the flavour of jam, chivers strawberry jam is notorious for its dripping qualities, some people will think that I’m a jam racist after that!

    30
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    Mute tomeenoldstock
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    Dec 1st 2015, 11:46 AM

    There’s a song about it..http://youtu.be/oFRbZJXjWIA

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    Mute Kal Ipers
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    Dec 1st 2015, 9:40 AM

    She suddenly feels a need to talk about it AFTER somebody else brought up the topic publically.

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    Mute Donna Moss
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    Dec 1st 2015, 9:11 AM

    why do we need talk about it? it’s a personal medical issue get it sorted and save us having to know about it.

    132
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    Mute Vladimir Vasyectomy
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    Dec 1st 2015, 9:54 AM

    When a woman like Bláthnaid says, “we need to talk about it.” it usually means ‘shut up and listen…or else.’
    I don’t see the need to talk about it, – maybe she means ‘women need to be educated about it…??

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    Mute Eoin Fleming
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    Dec 1st 2015, 8:57 AM

    Kate Winslet said it was” part and parcel” of child birth so if that’s the case, why feel the need to talk about it?

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    Mute Cosmo Kramer
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    Dec 1st 2015, 8:57 AM

    As a taxi driver I can fully vouch for what she’s saying.. It’s actually unbelievable the amount of Women that will leave a stain in the seat when they get out..

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    Mute Rasputin
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:33 PM

    Ah, that’s different though… And sure any woman would be the same around such a smooth talker….

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    Mute Sean Johnston
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    Dec 1st 2015, 9:54 AM

    Is this a piss take?

    70
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    Mute Paul Roche
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:52 AM

    Definitely talking the piss.

    29
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    Mute Sean Johnston
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    Dec 1st 2015, 11:11 AM

    Indeed. No justice in the world when a poor innocent dog gets his mouth duct taped shut and this bag of piss gets to open hers all too freely.

    54
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    Mute Dermot Collins
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    Dec 1st 2015, 9:21 AM

    The New world intercontence champion

    70
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    Mute Aaron Brogan
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    Dec 1st 2015, 9:41 AM

    Literally pissin myself here!

    50
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    Mute LesBehan
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    Dec 1st 2015, 9:55 AM

    Billy Connolly had been talking about incontinence for years
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCysEz4nFDc

    38
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    Mute Chauncey Gardiner
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    Dec 1st 2015, 11:45 AM

    Really enjoyed the interview Blathnáid gave to Moncrieff yesterday. This wasn’t the only topic she talked about, she also talked about going to college for the first time at forty five, the pressures placed on a woman’s appearance in the media and life in general.
    She had keyhole surgery recently to sort out her incontinence problem and is enjoying a better quality of life. Seems like she had a difficult fifteen years with it, and if she chooses to talk about something that affected her personally good for her.

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    Mute Eamon Mac Gowan
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:40 PM

    @Chauncey Gardiner,
    Yeah but she’s doing a nonsense degree, Women’s Studies.

    23
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    Mute Chauncey Gardiner
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:07 PM

    Gender Studies actually. Why worry about it, what Blanáid does or discusses has no consequence on your life.

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    Mute Del Haven
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    Dec 1st 2015, 9:54 AM

    We need to talk about crop dusting

    31
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    Mute Ken Pepper
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:20 AM

    Is that the less successful follow up to ”We need to talk about Kevin” ?

    30
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    Mute Dan Broderick
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:16 AM

    Never tell a pregnant woman a secret so

    28
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    Mute Cal Cryton
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    Dec 1st 2015, 11:15 AM

    Or how about not talking about it. Just put up with it, or treat it, or whatever the doctor recommends. But definitely, definitely, don’t talk about it. That would work better for all concerned.

    27
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    Mute Gash
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    Dec 1st 2015, 9:38 AM

    Echo island surround by water, makes ya think

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    Mute Ronan Gallagher
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    Dec 1st 2015, 11:46 AM

    No we dont

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    Mute Marc Power
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:29 AM

    My mates in England were more interested in how on earth to pronounce her name

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    Mute Gerry Ryan deG
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:02 PM

    Flatulence needs a discussion as well and smelly feet could do with a bit of understanding

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    Mute brian martin
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    Dec 1st 2015, 10:37 AM

    Ah she’s just talking shit

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    Mute Shane Fearon
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    Dec 1st 2015, 9:53 AM

    Sorry, it’s gone outa me head.

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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:27 PM

    Does she file her taxes in her English name, married name, maiden name , Irish maiden name, Irish married name —- what is her name in English ?? If Irish people want English translated into Irish it should work both ways and her name should appear in English also.

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    Mute Maggie
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    Dec 1st 2015, 1:06 PM

    Thank god for c sections!

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    Mute Ken Pepper
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    Dec 1st 2015, 2:08 PM

    PMSL

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 1st 2015, 5:39 PM

    Worse if it was peed others while laughing lol.

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    Mute Gash
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    Dec 1st 2015, 5:41 PM

    Flaps

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    Mute Suzanne Bell
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    Dec 1st 2015, 7:29 PM

    Her name in english is flower coffey

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    Mute Michael Sands
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    Dec 1st 2015, 5:38 PM

    Awful thing but Billy Connolly had a great parody about it…

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