Don't ignore your pelvic floor!

[Traveller]

I have finally seen a physio about urinary urge issues post birth and got a wee (hehe) bit of a telling off for leaving it for so long. Incase anyone isn't sure there are a whole heap of symptoms before incontinence which are important to act on. Symptoms like:

Always feeling the need to pee
Not wanting to drink in public without knowing where the nearest loo is
Feeling like you are busting to pee and then only a trickle comes out
Going to the toilet and then needing to go again a few minutes later

So I'm sharing the love ladies, if you have any suspicions about the health of your pelvic floor then please ask for help and if the first GP you speak to brushes you off, seek a second opinion. You shouldn't have to live your life constantly thinking about your bladder.

[Astrid]

Great post

Also to add to this. If you think you have a pelvic floor issue, please see a physio before doing any major exercise regime. They can advise what exercises to avoid or modify. No point in having great abs from crunches if your pelvic is worse.

[megs]

Thank you for this post. After birthday 4 children, 2 of those 4kg babies, know I have pelvic floor issues ( I fear I actually have a prolapse). A question I have is I have no idea what to expect if I was to see a physio for these issues. Do they do an internal?

[jellybean88]

Megs I have a prolapse and saw a physio she did an internal which although it lasted maybe 20 mins it was only at the opening not like the one do where it feels like their whole arm lol
During the internal she felt the prolapse and other muscles and told me about the damage to the other muscles and helped me learn to do my exercises properly and told me how each muscle was doing during the exercises so although I had a prophase she was able to identify another damaged muscle
She also taught me how to avoid making the prolapse worse with correct toileting etc..

[AnyDream]

Fantastic post! I'd like to add to that if you're having any bum/poo issues - get those checked out as well. You can have nerve damage in the general area (especially if you've had a fast or excessive pushing type birth) and it's just not worth putting up with the discomfort/embarrassment.

[Astrid]

Also you do not needing an problem with weeing to have a pelvic floor problem. If you feel a bulge in your vagina, that can be a prolapse. Get it checked

[luna moth]

And squeeeeeeeeze!

Do those exercises regularly. For ever.

[Traveller]

It's also fairly easy to fix, I'm noticing a difference already. No excuse ladies, lift and squeeze.

[Mumma T]

Something I came across recently -the stronger you pelvic floor the harder it can make dialation in labour - it a no win situation :banghead: (I haven't yet looked into if this is true but thought it interesting)

[megs]

No more babies for me so thankfully I not have to worry about that theory

[jellybean88]

Lol mumma T I wonder if my crap pelvic floor accounts for my 1hr labour then I dilate really fast

[luna moth]

Something I came across recently -the stronger you pelvic floor the harder it can make dialation in labour - it a no win situation :banghead: (I haven't yet looked into if this is true but thought it interesting)

An awesome midwife I met did a little demo of why a good pelvic floor makes it easier for baby to get in a good position. My own experience has been that I didn't dilate any faster than standard, but both babies were posterior, and both turned really easily in labour.

P.S. Squeeeeeeeeze.

[glorious]

Pelvic floor does not change dilation..
Often women don't realize that #2s can also be affected by poor pelvic floor so if you have difficulty pooing even when it's a normal poo it's probably a sign of your pelvic floor needing some help.

[Mumma T]

Like I said I had no idea if it was true, but I found it interesting that it was even mentioned

[Cassius2]

*suddenly starts squeezing*

I read a fabulous blog post many moons ago (well, after DD2 was born) where the midwife blogger was talking about a rather easy way to help manage the pelvic floor by doing squats. I do those now...10 in the shower, and then a few every time I need to bend down etc. it is great and i have noticed real improvements!

[~TT40~]

Pelvic floor doesn't affect dilation, but the pelvic floor is what bub hits to rotate.
Bub has to go into the pelvis one way, rotate and come out a different way. So a good strong pelvic flor gets bub rotating st the right time and into the correct position to be birthed