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Episode 5: Childhood Bathroom Rules That Mess with Your Pelvic Floor

  • Writer: Allison Germundson
    Allison Germundson
  • Aug 27
  • 2 min read

Did the bathroom rules you grew up with—like “hold it until recess” or “don’t sit on the toilet”—set you up for leaks, constipation, or even painful sex as an adult?

In this episode of Vaginally Speaking, we’re going way back to childhood to unpack how early bathroom habits shape pelvic floor health for life. From being told to hover over toilets, rush to finish, or “just in case” pee before a road trip, these seemingly small rules train our bodies to tense, strain, and ignore natural cues.

If you’ve ever wondered why leaks, urgency, constipation, or pain with intimacy showed up in adulthood, this conversation will connect the dots and give you tools to change the story for the next generation.


🚽 Bathroom Habits That Follow Us Into Adulthood

  • Hovering over toilets → prevents full relaxation and complete emptying

  • “Holding it” or “just in case” pees → trains your bladder to ignore natural urges

  • Pushing out pee or poop → can lead to constipation, hemorrhoids, and even leaks

  • Bathroom shame → clenching, tension, and silence around body cues


🩸 How It Shows Up Later

  • Leaks when sneezing, coughing, or jumping

  • Constipation or straining to poop

  • Painful sex due to chronic pelvic floor tension

  • Urgency or frequency from years of ignoring signals


👩‍👧 Breaking the Cycle

It’s not too late to change your own patterns and teach your kids healthier habits:

  • Sit fully supported on the toilet (feet on a stool if needed)

  • Relax instead of straining

  • Go when your body says go (not “just in case”)

  • Create a shame-free culture around bathroom talk



🌟 Potty Training in Real Life

I share some of my own family’s potty training struggles (and wins!) — because none of us are doing this perfectly, and that’s okay. This isn’t about shame — it’s about shifting the story for our kids so they don’t carry the same struggles forward.


🎧 Listen + Learn More

Tune in to Episode 5 of Vaginally Speaking to hear the full conversation and get practical tips you can start today.




 
 
 
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