I also want to recommend going to see a pelvic floor specialist physio. I went to a normal physio at the women's doctor and she wasn't anywhere near as good as the specialist I went to later.
There is also a book called womens waterworks which goes through the excercises really well, you might be able to get it at the library.
From memory, the physio I saw said 15mins exercise routine each day. With fast and slow squeezes, and lift squeeze and holds. Also using a pelvic floor exerciser which gives you resistance.
Good luck. I have gotten really lazy with mine and am just getting back into it.
I might try and see if I can get my hands on that book. My MHN mentioned a Womens Wellness Centre in Melbourne that is as it sounds specialises in women only, they may have a pelvic floor specialist there. I am really wanting to get onto it now rather than leave it to get worse.
Try looking up physios in the yellow pages, thats how I found mine. Sally obrien in if anyones in brissy. You don't need a referral but Im not sure, you might get more back if you have one.
They have the exercisers, or they are available online, or you can just use fingers. Is this tmi? I think you can get a rebate if you buy it from them.
I can track down exercise routine if anyones interested.
If you've been told that your pelvic floor is in "danger" so to speak, I suggest you find a physio specialising in pelvic floor and see her throughout your pregnancy...an ounce of prevention being worth a pound of cure. You can claim it back on private health insurance if you have it. She would assess your situation individually and tailor a programme for you. I would also start as soon as possible before your baby gets too big and starts putting pressure on an already weakened pelvic floor.
Your maternity hospital should be able to give you some names of physios. I don't know if you are in Melbourne...at Cabrini they had pelvic floor physios come in and visit all the mums after giving birth. This particular clinic was just down the road and they also had another practice in the Hampton area.
megs - i've got a moderate prolapse, and I see a physio who specialises in PF stuff - she's in Ringwood (outer Melbourne). I could ask her if she can recommend anyone in country vic If you want to PM me where you are.
My understanding of prolapse is this (sorry if I'm telling u stuff u know!). This tissue in the vagina gets stretched (either near bladder, uterus, or rear - can't remember right word lol! but there's three different types of prolapse) - can be from straining (constipation, childbirth, lifting, coughing) or genetic weakness. Once it's stretched it will generally stay stretched. But, if you imagine your pelvic floor muscle sitting underneath that tissue helping hold it all up. So if you strengthen your PF, it will hold up the prolapse better. And there may be minimal improvement with the prolapse over time, but the PF being strong minimises how much you feel the symptoms. So the GP is right when he says that only surgery fixes it. But, I know my physio says that most of them are quite manageable and surgery is not required - I've been advised I shouldn't need surgery with a moderate prolapse, I just need to learn the best way to manage it. If you're not getting symptoms, it's not bothering you, I'd be very surprised if you'd need surgery. Symptoms are usually a heavy dragging feeling, or sometimes a chafing/out of place feeling. I find it a complete PITA to be honest! At my worst (half way during my last PG) I've had tissue actually bulging right out. But now it's pretty good. And I have done HEAPS of work on my PF!
The other thing is if your PFM is quite weak, sometimes the exercises won't actually strengthen them, or may not strengthen them properly, so I think being assessed is probably a really good idea for you. In order to check what is going on, the physio does need to feel just inside the entrance to do this, but it's not as bad as a pap smear for e.g.! Just a little finger inside either side to assess the muscle strength, and also to check the prolapse. Certainly my phsyio was always very respectful & polite in the way she did this. I had never realised that physios did that kinda stuff before tho! Then there's a range of treatment options depending on your situation.
Hope this is helpful. PM me if you have questions or wanna give me a rough idea of whereabouts you are. GL!
Thanks so much for that explanatin Belfie, you made more sense than the Dr, he just gave me the brush off.
At this stage I'm unsure if I would like another baby, but even if I don't I really want to improve the situation. Like you I didn't realise that physios did that sort of thing.
I will send you a PM and would be very grateful for a possible referral.
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