There are a few things we normally don’t discuss in polite public. What’s in our underwear being one of them. Unless you’re a pre-schooler. Then, anything is fair game!

I’ll get straight to the point. We’re talking about LBL, or Light Bladder Leakage, and it’s an issue that impacts the daily lives of those affected. As I’ve shared before in a previous post, it’s nothing to sneeze at! With the help of Poise® I’ve learned more about light bladder leakage and its impact.

What is LBL?

Light Bladder Leakage (LBL) is simply small leaks of urine. It can be caused by one or more of the following: pregnancy, childbirth, weak pelvic floor muscles, and even weight gain.

I’m potty training my youngest right now and it’s funny how I remind her to “stay dry” when it can actually be tough for some adults to do! LBL can be triggered by coughing, laughing, sneezing, and exercise. You might leak a little from a laugh or a sneeze or find yourself with a sudden urge to go.

What causes LBL?

Uninvited leaks can be caused by any (or a combination) of the following:

• Physical changes from childbirth, pregnancy, hysterectomy or menopause
• Being overweight
• Complications from surgery, stroke, or chronic diseases like diabetes, multiple sclerosis (MS) or Parkinson’s disease
• Bladder or urinary tract infections
• Bladder irritants (certain foods and beverages)

How can I best manage my LBL?

The first line of defense is a quality pad or liner, ideally one that is designed especially for LBL. Women sometimes buy (or use leftover) period pads to manage their condition. There’s no need for the bulky discomfort or using materials made for something else. Poise® pads and liners are specifically designed for Light Bladder Leakage (LBL). They are the easy choice for the 1 in 3 women who experience LBL.

Now, I’m replacing my old pads with new Poise Thin-Shape pads. They feature Super Absorbent Material (SAM) and a Thin-Flex design. This allows them to deliver superior protection and are 3x drier than period pads†.

What will I do with the massive pad collection I happen to have in my closet? Recycle them, of course! Poise® recently inspired me to create a craft from the leftovers for their #RecycleYourPeriodPad campaign!

Out of my “pad hoard” shown above, I chose these ginormous pads leftover from my last maternity stay for my project today. They illustrate just how ridiculous pad sizes can be. And even though I am still knee-deep in potty training and would love to use any tools at my disposal, they’re even too big to use as liners for my little one!

I’m no Martha Stewart so my house isn’t pristine. But I do like to be as organized as possible. One area of the house I’ve been struggling with has been my shoe area in my closet. I don’t want to ruin the surface of the shelves with wet or damp shoes, so I end up putting them on the floor instead of neatly away each use.

One of my newer pairs of flip flops became victim to a random piece of gum. Not something I want on my clean, white shelves!

Leftover mega pads to the rescue! As you can see, they are actually larger than my own size 8.5 to 9 feet. Perfect to line the shelves and save them from any runoff or gum residue! I’ve got enough handy to rotate them out when they get dirty and the adhesive on the bottom of the pads gently sticks them to the shelf surface. (If you try this at home, do a test first!)

Want to see more creative ways to recycle unused pads? Visit the Poise website to see more #RecycleYourPeriodPad ideas and request free Poise® samples!

Many thanks to Poise for sponsoring today’s story and encouraging me to try Poise®, not period pads, for LBL!