Pelvic floor exercises causing cramps

[catsofa]

I'm 21 + 3 and keep trying to get into the habit of doing pelvic floor exercises. I keep getting out of the habit again within a day or two, because doing them seems to set off cramps in my uterus and I have to concentrate on relaxation instead and sit still for a while to avoid pain.

I wasn't too worried at first as I still had plenty of time to do them, and thought the cramps might settle down later in pregnancy (I had cramps sometimes set off by other things like sex too, and cramps set off by nothing). But now time is pushing on a bit and I'm still not doing enough Kegels.

I'll ask my midwife about it when I see her, but my next appointment isn't until about 13th Jan so asking here for people's thoughts in the mean time. Does anyone have any thoughts?

[catsofa]

Bump - I think I posted this too late last night for anyone to see it.

[catsofa]

Nobody else had the same then?

Hmm, it's most annoying. I'll just talk to the midwife about it in January then.

[Bustherb]

Sorry I haven't but I didn't want to read and run. Hope it sorts it self out soon xxx

[Ridingthestorm]

I get cramps when DTD (27 weeks). I am also waking on a regular basis - not every night but most nights - with cramp in my lower right side in th else is area. I can't move until it wears off after five to ten minutes. It is painful and bloody annoying because this late in the night waking up means I am up for hours. I see the midwife on Wednesday and was going to mention it. So will let you know.

[catsofa]

Thanks for replies. A friend who is a qualified herbalist recommended raspberry leaf tea for toning the uterus, I'm not sure exactly what toning it involves but herbalist stuff isn't woo, I wonder if it might help with cramps. It used to help with period pains a lot.

I reeeeeally don't want to start peeing when I sneeze!

[PerpetualStudent]

I'd deffo check with your midwife. I haven't had this - but I do get cramps sometimes after DTD - it's put me right off! Which is a shame as the pregnancy hormones seem to have given my libido a major jumpstart!

Hope your midwife is able to explain/support and you're able to get into the swing of Kegels soon. Are you sure it sets off uterus cramps - not a chance it could be round ligament pain? I find it hard to do my Kegels (also aiming for everyday, but keep forgetting!) without also tensing my ab muscles, which could set off the ligments there?

[naty1]

I dont think take rasperry leaf tea until very near end as it can bring on labour

[divingoffthebalcony]

I started getting Braxton Hicks around the same time, and pretty much anything could set them off. Standing up, sitting down, a full bladder... you name it. I think some people's uteruses are more irritable than others.

[catsofa]

For a while I thought DTD was triggering cramps but in fact it only did so a couple of times and hasn't for ages, so it's not putting me off DTD any more. Thank god 'cos I've also been really horny!

Sometimes I get sharp pains that I'm not sure what they are, but sometimes it's quite specifically the very same sort of pain I got as period pain before I stopped having periods, so I'm pretty sure that is uterus cramps. The way I was told to do pelvic floor exercises (by a friend who's a paramedic and also by a pregnancy pilates teacher) does involve also using the muscles at the front of the bump as these need strengthening too. But I seem to get the pain whether or not I include those muscles.

Come to think of it a full bladder or just having relieved myself of one can cause the pain too, and occasionally some other random things. I thought Braxton Hicks were not supposed to hurt though?

Thanks folks, at the very least you are reminding me of other things to remember to mention when I do get to see the midwife!

[divingoffthebalcony]

Braxton Hicks aren't supposed to hurt, no. They can be strong and uncomfortable, but shouldn't feel like period pains. Tbh, I would consider getting checked out, because when my painless BHs started feeling like period pains, I was in early labour.

[Rockchick1984]

Raspberry leaf tea isn't advised until 3rd trimester As it tones the uterus by making it cramp, so I really wouldn't suggest that at this stage! I'd also check with your midwife re using the muscles at the front of the bump - generally exercising them can cause them to separate in pregnancy.

My guess would have been Braxton hicks too, or have you been checked recently for a UTI?

[catsofa]

Thanks folks.

I've not been in a hurry to get it checked out because a couple of times I've had really really bad cramps, and called the maternity assessment centre who checked my symptoms etc and told me they weren't worried, to have paracetamol and a hot bath and call back if they didn't stop. They stopped after about three hours. This has made me think it's not worth calling them about the much smaller occasional cramps which go away in minutes which are sometimes triggered by the pelvic floor exercises. I'm only getting those every few days at most if I don't do the exercises, and only for a few minutes at a time.

I was prescribed raspberry leaf by a qualified practitioner so am confident that it's safe for second trimester, but I hadn't realised that it causes the uterus to tense up, so yeah possibly not the most helpful thing to be taking, I think I'll hold off at least until this stops happening!

There are two sets of muscles going over the bump, one going vertically which are the ones which split in two during pregnancy to accommodate the bump and aren't very useful right now, and the others which go around it like a big belt. The belt ones are useful as they support the bump while the vertical ones are out of action, and I'm told it's a good idea to exercise them as they're important for supporting the bump and back. It shouldn't be causing cramps though.

I'm reading up on Braxton Hicks and think I'll treat it as that next time, maybe give the maternity centre a call while it's actually happening so I can describe better.

Thanks for help everyone!