F***ing pelvic floor

[Illstartexercisingtomorrow]

Aaaargh!!! Just aaaaargh!

Half way through preg but tbh even in the first trimester it's a bloody joke every time I cough or sneeze. I was fine outside of pregnancy.

Pelvic floor exercises are no help at all I know im meant to be doing them 20million times a day for them to be effective but I just can't

It is so so upsetting now. I'm going through one of the only period-free times of my life and wearing pads for most of it.

Anyone got the same issues? Any advice?

[Sophia1984]

Same here, and have been since first trimester. Have to stop and clench legs before sneezing. No tips I'm afraid, but I also find pelvic floor exercises impossible :-(

[Illstartexercisingtomorrow]

Even if I clench it's still not enough to prevent any issues :(

[Ellarose85]

Same here, I'm sick quite a bit with acid reflux and I wet myself every time I'm sick!

Sneezing is also a dangerous game!

I downloaded the NHS app for pelvic floor exercises, I have had no improvements so far!

[goodbyeyellowbrickroad]

Don't know if this will make you feel better but when I was pregnant (have 12 week old DS) my pelvic floor was crap. Resorted to using the smaller Tena Lady pads. About a month after DS was born my pelvic floor was almost back to normal. No leaks when sneezing etc. Started doing pelvic floor exercises as couple of days after giving birth.

[emmabrown123]

Same problem here. 29 weeks now and have had a cough on and off for the last few weeks. Constantly wearing pads, daren't go out without one! Unfortunately I've not found anything that helps. Doing my pelvic floor exercises but minimal effect. Will be following just in case anyone has any good tips!

[Illstartexercisingtomorrow]

I've downloaded the nhs pelvic floor app (called 'squeezy' made me lol) so will see if this helps matters.
Tbh I doubt it will as I'm getting bigger week by week so the best I can hope for is it remains constant rather than getting worse through the pregnancy. And hopefully after birth things will spring back into action quicker than if I wasn't doing the pelvic floor crap

[Illstartexercisingtomorrow]

ella how long have you been using the app?

[skankingpiglet]

It's so depressing. I didn't have any issues with it in my first pregnancy, only from around half way though this one. I'm doing the exercises, but no change either. This baby is sitting very low and has been for some time so I wonder if that is what has made the difference this time? I'm hoping things will improve once the baby's out!

I wondered why they always give you Tena samples at NCT sales, now I know

[Querty12345]

Don't worry I had a very mild bladder prolapse after ds but 6 weeks after birth everything went back to normal as far as stress incontinence is concerned. That was in December, and no I am 3 months gone with number 2! I constantly need to pee and wear a pad just in case. You're not alone! Worth every minute though

[pleasethankyouthankyouplease]

Not sure about during pregnancy but once you're able to ( after you've had the baby I mean) find a really well trained Pilates teacher .
X

[ohidoliketobe]

Oh god yeah to peeing when vomiting!!
This is my 2nd pregnancy and I was exactly the same with my 1st, it did improve once baby was born, and I'm clinging to that hope! Easier to do pelvic floor exercises and for them to be effective without the weight of baby, placenta, fluids etc resting on them. Pilates was useful!

[Shanster]

My pelvic floor has gone. After DC2 it never got back to normal, and I started using tena liners everyday....now onto pregnancy #3 and I have to change the liners 2-3 times per day. Its horrific.

[Querty12345]

Shanster have you spoken to a gynae about your options? Are you ok about a third vaginal birth? If you have c section I have heard it is possible for you to get repaired while they are down there so to speak. Hope you get things sorted

[superwormissuperstrong]

Yet another lovely pregnancy symptom. 1st trimester - blooming nightmare every time I was sick or retching. 2nd not so bad - but now in 3rd trimester and the hay fever is causing so much stress incontinence. Add to that cankles, piles have appeared and I can't bend down without the bump hurting. Come on baby - think i'm ready for you to appear now!

[seafoodeatit]

Mine is living up to the floor part of the name - long walks, coughing, sneezing and some days just breathing seems to cause a leak. Hopefully things will go back to normal after giving birth but if it doesn't I'm thinking of giving one those toner device thingies a go, have you considered something similar?

[Illstartexercisingtomorrow]

shanster you should get a referral to a women's health physiotherapist - they really can help and it sounds pretty miserable to be in that situation tbh

A note to everyone - I've used the squeezy app religiously for the past week and actually already felt an improvement. I wanted to update as I really wasn't expecting this. I am not able yet to prevent accidents when coughing but I can feel when I am doing the exercises that the pelvic floor is responding better, and also worked out that is the 'fast twitch' fibres that need improvement - so the slow twitch fibres that control most of of the day are ok-ish but the fast ones that should kick in before sneezing or coughing are crap. But getting better. I remember a Physio saying however that the moment you stop the pelvic floor ex it all relapses

[UrbanYokel93]

You're not alone, I'm 18+4 and the last few days I've started to leak a tiny bit when sneezing. I've started to do pelvic floors but if I do them for too long they give me cramps (have had minimal guidance on this). I really hope this gets sorted for you OP

[Zoomtothespoon]

I just tried to find the amusing side of it... Although I wasn't so bad that when I sneezed I peed!

Mine was more when I started belly laughing would I end up pissing myself my son and partner thought it was brilliant

[ohidoliketobe]

NHS Squeezy app purchased and installed. Anything's worth a shot!

[livelyredjellybean]

What does the NHs Squeezy app do, exactly...?