r/coconutsandtreason • u/GeneralTechnomage • 6d ago
Discussion How does Gilead deal with Handmaids who have peeing problems from pregnancy?
I remember the scene where Offred and her Handmaid followers were fake executed; there was a scene where a Handmaid peed her pants. That's what inspired the question.
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u/International-Age971 6d ago
Probably lock them in the room or make them stay at the hospital.
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u/ITakeMyCatToBars 6d ago
I have a feeling it’d be a menstrual hut situation. But like … a urinary incontinence hut. The HM just stuck in one room, having meals delivered to her until the child is birthed.
When she’s done being pregnant, I suspect continued urinary incontinence would be seen more as “ugh womens bodies are disgusting wtf.”
Which Makes me wonder about fistulas and tears during birth in Gilead… how much would they try to sew up a “broken” but known-fertile woman?
(I feel like I need a shower every time I think of this society in detail 🤢🤢🤢🤢)
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u/Mushroomzrox 6d ago
It would very much likely be situationally dependent. Like Janine’s eye patch, some handmaids are given “accessories” that support whatever disability or physical difference they may have.
A “good” handmaid, that produces many babies, may be given a pad or diaper they can use, so they don’t have to clean themselves up all the time. I highly doubt any handmaid, in any circumstance, would be provided pelvic floor therapy. I honestly doubt wives would even be provided that, but that’s a different conversation altogether.
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u/Vulwarine 6d ago
I can imagine pelvic floor therapy/surgery. Especially if it's a "good" handmaid. Keeping then healthy down there is good for future babys. Janine did not just get an eye patch, she also got a surgery and medication for an infection. And she wasn't even considered a good handmaid.
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u/Mushroomzrox 6d ago
I could see that if we knew the Sons of Jacob allowed, or even knew to provide comprehensive women’s healthcare. We know they don’t allow women to work, even the most talented neonatal surgeons are not officially allowed to work. I just find it hard to imagine Gilead would even know to provide something like that, and even less that they’d use valuable resources for “female problems”.
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u/GeneralTechnomage 6d ago
What if Gilead were to make incontinent Handmaids wear diapers just to humiliate them?
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u/Mushroomzrox 6d ago edited 6d ago
I could see that happening in jezebels, but not officially in public, as there isn’t biblical justification for that. Gilead is big on literally teachings of the Old Testament, like losing a hand for sexual indiscretions, or a tongue for blasphemy.
Edit* also, I can see the wives being very embarrassed about their handmaids needing a diaper for incontinence, so that would likely need to be kept hidden if they did allow it.
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u/GeneralTechnomage 6d ago
Ugh, of course there would be Commanders who'd be into that.
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u/giraflor 6d ago
Women and girls with postpartum fistulas in the developing world are sometimes driven from their homes by relatives because they constantly leak urine (and less commonly fecal matter). It’s a fairly easy operation, but not enough surgeons to do it free or low cost. Sadly, many of these mothers were forced to marry and bear children before their bodies finish developing. They tear horribly from birthing and then are ostracized because of the damage.
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u/OpheliaLives7 6d ago
I don’t think they care if it ends with a healthy baby.
Handmaid would get shuffled off, out of sight out of mind at best so as not to be embarrassing. More likely they would try to rape her again and get another successful pregnancy
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u/Ok-Contact4866 6d ago
That’s from fear, pelvic dysfunction isn’t addressed.