Urinary incontinence following Forceps delivery

[CSLB]

Well the NCT classes did not prepare me for this ! Anyone suffered from urinary incontinence after forceps delivery?

My first baby is nearly 10 weeks old and I still have bladder problems and am going to see a specialist consultant this week....its so de-habilitating and has been getting me down...

Is it only pelvic floor exercises that get you back into shape....will I ever be able to get back into running? At the moment it feels like no and has really put me off having another baby...anyone felt the same or been through something similar?

[reikizen]

Yes, unfortunately it is very common but usually solved with pelvic floor exersises and physio input. The consultant may need to place their fingers in your vagina (tmi sorry) to check that you are using the correct muscles. Good luck

[gingerbreadlatte]

Hi CSLB

Congratulations on your baby, but sorry about the post birth issues.

I have been refered to a women's health physio for pelvic floor issues so I thought I might share some of her words of wisdom. I didnt have forceps but a very large (nearly 11 lb baby) and my whole PF and vagina felt stretched beyond belief.

Its very common to have issues and many people wont admit it apparently.

10 wks is very very early in the post birth recovery process. She said to me (when i saw her at 7.5mths post birth) that it can take a whole year for body to recover especially if breastfeeding as it causes the muscles to be quite relaxed. So try not to worry that you will be like this forever. As I am now dropping breastfeeds, I can feel my body improving along side of the treatment

Assuming you are not completely incontinent but occastionally or suffering stress incontinence, good pelvic floor exercises should help you.. However the other poster is right, its worth getting someone to feel how effective the exercises are on your muscles by inserting a finger.

Once I'd perfected doing the exercises (wasnt doing it right at all) I was told to do it 3 times a day, and to sit down and completely concentrate on it. Being careful not to squeeze buttocks in process!

Depending on how bad you are you may need other treatment. My muscles were 1 on scale of 1 to 10 and so my physio has started electro stimulation therapy. Which while sounds alarming isnt that bad, rather like having a TENS machine up inside you. That has really helped to kick start my recovery and makes doing exercises easier.

Sorry have written esssay, but I know how bad this stuff is to live with so do make sure the consultant helps you do exercises properly. I'd push for examination if he doesnt offer it and keep at it.

Good luck!

[CSLB]

Thank you gingerbreadlatte and reikizen for your replies. I have been graded a 1 too, so looks like I have quite a bit of pelvic floor work to do. I like the idea of setting aside time for this and properly concentrating on them..up to now I have just been fitting them in when I can around the baby and not doing very effective ones !

I am off to see a Bupa consltant tomorrow so good to have your insights before going...thanks again !

[trce]

although its not ideal I love running to but I just simply use incontinence pads which soaks up any urinary leaks i have. I use attends soft micro pads they are tiny pads but can hold a good bit of urine and have odour protection. i just wear them with my normal pants and after a few times i didnt really notice i was wearing anything.

have a look they are at www.attendslifestyles.co.uk i just buy them online and get them delivered

[Lovethesea]

Hi

Yes, I had emergency rotational forceps to get DD out in a hurry when she got distressed. I had no sensation or bladder control for some weeks afterwards. I ended up seeing the urogynae consultant, had to have catheters in (with a valve so my bladder could get used to being full again), kept diaries of liquids in and amounts out etc. After time it did settle, probably by 3 months after I had sensation and a little control. Tena is also wonderful for a range of pads from pantyliners to big super confident pants.

My problem is urge incontinence rather than stress. I suddenly need to pee and only have seconds to get to the loo or my bladder just releases. Once the pelvic floor exercises started to have an effect I had backup muscles there to give me more time.

It also involved retraining the bladder on how often it needed to empty. I had a relapse about 5 months which was awful, but the consultant said it just happens and would be fine. That probably helped me relax enough to deal with it being bad for a couple of weeks then it was ok again. At one point they considered tablets but I didn't need them in the end.

I saw the physio unti 10 months after DD's birth and the bio-feedback was useful. A small probe is put inside the vagina and you can see on a computer screen how hard you are squeezing and for how long.

I used to run a bit too before DD but the physio advised me not to for a while. I am now pregnant with #2 and planning an elective to protect my bladder and pelvic floor from more trauma. Not sure I will ever decide my pelvic floor is up to running again, but if yours settles right down I know people who run and just wear a discreet pad for the little leaks they get.

I am a bit worried that running might weaken my pelvic floor more so I am avoiding it, but the odd little leak wouldn't bother me anymore!

Hope this helps.

[bellissima]

Couple of my friends have had little ops - with success.

[golfgirl79]

just wondered how everyone is going...?
i also have very severe stress incontinence and will probably have surgery sometime next year... at the moment its physio and electrical stimulation, but it isn't helping.... its the worst thing i have had to deal with and i am hoping that if the physio doesn't work, surgery will help... would love to hear any positive (or negative) stories...