Womens Health: Poise Passion Award

The dictionary defines Poise as :

1. a state of balance or equilibrium, as from equality or equal distribution of weight; equipoise.
2. a dignified, self-confident manner or bearing; composure; self-possession: to show poise in company.

How poised are you in everyday life? Poise is something that is hard to maintain if you are having health problems of any kind, not to mention ones associated with your pelvic floor. And so many women have these problems, particularly after having children. Too many women in my life have suffered, often silently, and so I wanted to help spread the word about the Poise Passion Award in their honor.

The simple fact that one in four of us Moms suffers from light bladder leakage (if you don't now, expect it the older you get - I know I can expect it - hello? I had a 10 lb. + baby!). Yet, we rarely talk about it - I certainly never saw any mention of it in my What to Expect When You Are Expecting type books! This condition is so common among women, yet it's still considered a taboo subject even with close friends and family. Recent research found that 80% of women who suffer from light bladder leakage are hesitant to talk to their peers about this sensitive topic for fear of embarrassment*.

I want to help change that. You too can help open a dialogue about pelvic health and reverse the stigma often associated with bladder and pelvic issues! How? Kimberly-Clark's Poise brand has joined hands with the Women's Health Foundation (WHF) to increase awareness of pelvic health and wellness. Recently, the Foundation held the "Below the Belt" benefit to raise awareness of the issues effecting women today and celebrate champions of the cause.

At the event, Poise presented the first-ever Passion Award to Linda Michael of Portage, Indiana because her story of personal triumph over pelvic pain and bladder control issues (only six minutes to watch and well worth your time) and her willingness to tell it - has inspired women and doctors alike to share their stories. Linda personally struggled with and overcame her own pelvic pain and bladder control issues after giving birth to her son and now works toward breaking down the stigma surrounding these and similar problems affecting many women.

Thank you Linda and thank you Poise and the Women's Health Foundation, for bringing a voice to this oft neglected and so important topic.

Missy Lavender of the Women's Health Foundation, Linda Michael recipient of the Poise brand Passion Award, Amy Attenberger Poise brand manager:

*The National Women's Survey on Aging was commissioned by Poise Brand and fielded online by Alan Newman Research through its partnership with e-Rewards. The sample of 1,014 women ages 40 - 65 has a maximum statistical error of + 3.1 percent at the 95 percent level of confidence.

This review was sponsored by Mom Central Consulting.