Returning to work after having a baby is a milestone that carries a unique mix of excitement and anxiety — and for many new mothers, postpartum incontinence remains one of the most under-discussed challenges of returning to work across Australia. The Continence Foundation of Australia identifies bladder leakage following childbirth as one of the most common forms of urinary incontinence in women of reproductive age, yet most mums manage it quietly and alone, without telling a single colleague. We spoke with five Australian women who shared their honest stories — and the practical strategies that helped them feel genuinely confident back at the office.
1. Sarah, Sydney — "I kept a spare pair in my desk drawer"
Sarah returned to her marketing role in inner-city Sydney when her daughter was four months old. She describes her first week back as "nerve-wracking on every level," but the physical anxiety of not knowing when a sneeze or a laugh might cause a leak sat firmly at the top of her list. "I was still leaking quite a bit from the birth," she says. "It wasn't huge amounts, but it was enough to be mortifying if I wasn't prepared."
Her approach was methodical: she identified the bathroom nearest to her desk, packed two changes of underwear each morning, and quietly reorganised her schedule to allow bathroom breaks between meetings. "I built buffer time before and after every call. My manager probably thought I was really enthusiastic about punctuality," she laughs.
What made the biggest difference for Sarah was switching from disposable pads — which she found bulky and uncomfortable under tailored work trousers — to washable absorbent underwear. She now wears the women's high-waisted washable incontinence pants from Orykas, which she says feel like ordinary underwear under her workwear. "Nobody knows. That was the main thing for me — I just needed to feel normal again."
2. Priya, Melbourne — "Pelvic floor physio changed everything for me"
Priya, a secondary school teacher in Melbourne's eastern suburbs, had a difficult second birth that left her with significant stress urinary incontinence. "Every time I raised my voice to address the class, I'd leak," she says. "Standing up and teaching all day was exhausting physically and emotionally. Managing postpartum leaks at work felt impossible at first."
Her turning point came when her obstetrician referred her to a pelvic floor physiotherapist. Priya had heard of pelvic floor exercises but had never been formally assessed. "She found I was actually holding tension, not weakness — my muscles were too tight, not too loose. Without that assessment I would have kept doing the wrong exercises and making things worse."
Within three months of targeted physiotherapy, Priya saw a marked improvement. She still experiences occasional leaks on long teaching days, but she no longer dreads going to work. She encourages every postpartum woman to ask for a referral: "Your GP can refer you to a pelvic floor physio and Medicare may cover part of the cost under a Chronic Disease Management plan. Don't just accept leaking as something you have to live with."
What to ask your GP about postpartum incontinence
A bulk-billing GP is often the most accessible first step. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) recommends that postnatal care include a discussion of continence, yet many women feel too embarrassed to raise it themselves. You can ask specifically about:
- A referral to a women's health or pelvic floor physiotherapist
- Whether a Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan applies to your situation, which may attract Medicare rebates for allied health sessions
- The Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS) through Services Australia, which provides an annual payment to help cover the cost of continence products
- Whether a continence nurse practitioner or specialist urogynaecologist is appropriate for your level of symptoms
- Non-surgical management options before considering any procedures
3. Kate, Brisbane — "Choosing the right underwear was a game-changer"
Kate works in finance in Brisbane's CBD and returned from maternity leave when her son was five months old. For her, managing postpartum urinary incontinence at work came down almost entirely to what she was wearing. "I tried disposable pads and liners, but they shifted around, they smelled by lunchtime, and they made a rustling noise when I walked," she says bluntly.
A friend recommended washable incontinence underwear, and Kate took time researching before choosing a style that suited her workwear. She settled on the women's lace-waistband washable incontinence pants, which she says look and feel like the regular underwear she wore before pregnancy. "They're pretty. That sounds like a strange thing to care about, but when your body has just been through something enormous, feeling like yourself matters enormously."
Kate's other essential is a discreet bag for used pairs. She carries a small waterproof carry pouch in her handbag, which seals away any used underwear without odour or leakage. "It fits beside my wallet. Nobody on the train would ever know — it just looks like a cosmetics bag." Small practical solutions like this, she says, are what make postpartum incontinence manageable in a professional environment.
4. Mel, Perth — "I finally talked to my GP — and I'm glad I did"
Mel works in retail management in Perth and was back on her feet for nine-hour shifts just six months after her third child. Leaking during shifts had become so normalised that she had almost stopped noticing — until a particularly difficult day made her realise she was spending a significant portion of her wage on disposable products every week.
"I sat down and worked out I was spending roughly sixty dollars a month on pads," she says. "And they still weren't reliable. I was doing entire closing shifts in damp underwear and just getting on with it — which is insane, looking back." When Mel finally raised the issue with her bulk-billing GP, she was surprised by the response. "She didn't flinch. She gave me a referral straight away and told me about the Continence Aids Payment Scheme. I had no idea that even existed."
The CAPS scheme, administered through Services Australia, provides an annual payment to eligible Australians with permanent and severe incontinence to help offset the cost of continence products. Combined with switching to reusable underwear, this significantly reduced Mel's out-of-pocket expenses. "It's not a huge amount, but it helps — and the fact that the government recognises this as a genuine healthcare need made me feel less alone in it."
For anyone unsure where to start, the National Continence Helpline is available on 1800 33 00 66. It's staffed by continence nurse advisors who can answer questions confidentially and connect callers with local services across Australia, including in regional and remote areas.
5. Jess, Regional Victoria — "Building a routine around managing leaks"
Jess lives outside Ballarat and commutes into a regional town for work three days a week. Access to specialist services is limited where she lives, which meant she needed to be more resourceful than her city counterparts. "I couldn't just pop to a pelvic floor physio every fortnight," she says. "I had to think about what I could realistically do and actually stick to."
Jess found a telehealth pelvic floor physiotherapist through an RACGP-referred service, completing her initial assessment and several follow-up sessions by video call. "It felt slightly awkward at first, but honestly it was so convenient — and the exercises she gave me were exactly the same as if I'd been in the room with her." She also built a practical daily routine around managing her leaks at work:
- Wearing absorbent underwear from the Orykas women's washable incontinence underwear range on every working day
- Completing a short set of pelvic floor exercises during her morning commute, prompted by a phone alarm
- Keeping a bladder diary for two weeks each month to identify patterns and triggers
- Limiting herself to one coffee per day, which she found noticeably reduced urgency
- Scheduling timed bathroom breaks at the start and end of each work block, rather than waiting until urgency strikes
- Maintaining regular six-monthly check-ins with her GP via telehealth to track her progress
"None of these things individually fixed the problem," Jess says. "But together they made it manageable. I haven't had a really difficult day at work in months. It becomes second nature after a while." Her experience reflects what many women in regional Australia discover — that with the right tools and a consistent routine, managing bladder leaks at work becomes far less defining.
What these five mums have in common
Despite coming from different cities, different workplaces, and different birth experiences, these five women share several consistent themes. The most important: the moment they stopped treating bladder leakage as something to be ashamed of and started approaching it as a practical health matter to be managed, their situation improved — both physically and emotionally. Postpartum urinary incontinence is a recognised medical condition, not a personal failing, and it responds well to a combination of behavioural strategies and professional clinical support.
They also all found that product choice had a significant impact on their day-to-day confidence. Disposable pads and liners have their place, but many of these women found that washable, absorbent underwear offered better reliability during long work days, reduced odour, and lowered both their monthly costs and their environmental footprint. Today's washable incontinence underwear is designed to look and feel nothing like the bulky options of previous generations — and for many women returning to work, that sense of normality matters as much as the absorbency itself.
Finally, every one of these women wished she had sought professional help sooner. Whether through a GP referral, a pelvic floor physiotherapist, or a call to the Continence Foundation of Australia, qualified support was available — and it made a genuine difference. If managing postpartum leaks at work is affecting your quality of life or confidence, you don't have to navigate it alone.
Frequently asked questions
Is postpartum incontinence at work common in Australia?
Yes, urinary leakage following childbirth is very common across Australia. The Continence Foundation of Australia identifies postpartum incontinence as one of the most prevalent forms of bladder dysfunction in women of reproductive age. While symptoms often improve in the weeks and months following birth — particularly with pelvic floor rehabilitation — some women continue to experience leaks after returning to work. The important message is that it's treatable, and professional support is available through GPs, continence nurses, and pelvic floor physiotherapists.
Can I get financial help for continence products in Australia?
Eligible Australians may be able to access funding through the Continence Aids Payment Scheme (CAPS), administered by Services Australia. CAPS provides an annual payment to help offset the cost of continence products for people with permanent and severe incontinence. Some individuals may also be eligible for continence-related supports through an NDIS plan. Your GP or the National Continence Helpline on 1800 33 00 66 can advise whether you may qualify and how to apply.
How do I find a pelvic floor physiotherapist in Australia?
Your GP can provide a referral, or you can search directly through the Australian Physiotherapy Association's online directory. In regional or remote areas, telehealth pelvic floor physiotherapy has become significantly more accessible in recent years. If your GP establishes a Chronic Disease Management plan, Medicare rebates may apply to a set number of allied health sessions per calendar year — ask whether this is appropriate for your level of symptoms before your next appointment.
What type of underwear is best for managing leaks at work?
This depends on your flow, your workwear, and your personal comfort. Many women find washable absorbent underwear more reliable and comfortable than disposable liners during long work days. Look for styles with a full absorbent gusset, moisture-wicking inner fabric, and a cut that works under your usual work attire. Whether you prefer a high-waisted style for extra coverage or a trimmer silhouette under fitted trousers, the most important thing is finding an option you feel genuinely confident wearing — so you can focus on your day rather than your bladder.
This article is informational and does not replace advice from your GP, a qualified continence nurse or a specialist.
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