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Parenting

Did anyone NOT do pelvic floor exercises?

39 replies

YouDoTheMath · 21/08/2011 19:49

And if you didn't, have you paid the price or is everything pretty much back in place?

OP posts:
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ragged · 21/08/2011 19:51

Can I tag on a question... why do I need to do them now (age 44) to prevent prolapse when I'm 65 or 85? I mean, how much difference (extra % risk?) would it make if I didn't bother at all until I was 50, or 60 or older?

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belgo · 21/08/2011 19:51

I would recommend that every women does them, but make sure you understand how to do them properly to train the whole of the pelvic floor and not just part of it.

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RitaMorgan · 21/08/2011 19:52

I didn't (except for a couple of occasions when DP or a midwife reminded me). Doesn't seem to have had any effect though and everything snapped back pretty quickly.

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GilbonzoTheSecretPsych0Duck · 21/08/2011 19:53

I didn't. Trampolines now fill me with fear and when I sneeze I automatically cross my legs.

But I had 2 c-sections so I don't know if I can blame it on the pgs. I think I might just have very lax muscles Blush. Still, it keeps my dh entertained. All he has to do is point a finger towards my ribs and I do whatever he wants me to do with no arguments Grin

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belgo · 21/08/2011 20:02

Gilbonzo there is plenty you can do to tone up the pelvic floor, and yes, pregnancy itself can damage the pelvic floor. You can even see a specialist physio therapist.

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SuePurblybilt · 21/08/2011 20:04

Is there not a thing you can get to help? An exercisy thing?

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Honeydragon · 21/08/2011 20:07

I didn't had one cs and one vb and can trampoline with abandon. After dd my mw told me my stomach muscles had separated and that I would have to do loads of exercise. They were pronounced fine 3 days later Smile

I must start doing them in case I end up a leaky old lady....

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howabout · 21/08/2011 20:13

Honeydragon you have given me hope for my separated tummy as it was not something that bothered me after DD1 and DD2 but post DD3 I have been given the physio referral and the exercise sheet.

Skipping doubles is what convinced me some pelvic floor maintenance was in order.

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Ilythia · 21/08/2011 20:15

I did religiously for DD1 and then had a CS, had no effect.
Did them halfheartedly for DD2 and had her naturally, BIG mistake. HUGE.
I can't do an exercise DVD without needing a wee halfway through, and if I run for more than 45 minutes I have issues

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Mumswang · 21/08/2011 20:22

Me. And I've just had a 10 pounder

Am thinking of getting some Kind of machine to do them for me

I certainly do feel a bit odd on the pelvic floor region, but then I did give birth 9 days ago

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GilbonzoTheSecretPsych0Duck · 21/08/2011 20:32

belgo, where I am they have this weird machine that kind of electrocutes your fanjo (it might not actually electrocute it but it does some kind of weird shit) which kind put me off seeking help if I'm honest!

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Noomininoo · 21/08/2011 20:33

I've had 2 vb (both 7lbers) & I didn't bother...

Doesn't seem to have affected me at all (although ask me again when I'm an old lady & it might be a different story Wink)

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OveranxiousUnderated · 21/08/2011 21:40

I didn't. DD is 1yo, and a few months back I had a go on a bouncy castle at a birthday party...and I was having fun bouncing higher & higher, faster and faster...then I started to feel like a might wee myself a little if I continued...so I got off and ate cake & wished how I had done PF exercises afterall... Blush

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EdnaKrabappel · 21/08/2011 21:48

I didn't do my exercises - 2yr after ds was born I went to an exercise class and was told to use a skipping rope - 50 skips later I was thinking "help, this isn't good". I refused point blank the next 50 reps as I feared my pelvic floor would fall out entirely and I was literally on the point of wetting myself Blush.

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BonzoDooDah · 21/08/2011 21:53

I didn't (except when reminded) and had a nine pounder followed by a ten pound sixer !! Both by C-Section though. I'm fine on trampolines Grin think I got away with it!

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belgo · 22/08/2011 07:02

You don't necessarily need to use a machine. A lot can be achieved by the right exercises.

Please none of you be complacent - I see so much incontinence in elderly people - just because you are fine now doesn't mean you will never have problems in the future.

Tena Lady would have you think they are the only solution, and a little bit of 'dribble' is part of being a woman, but really these problems can nearly always be prevented.

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mousesma · 22/08/2011 07:08

I did but in a very half arsed way and I kept forgetting to do them with any regularity. No ill effects yet but as belgo says it's not good to be complacent.

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Oblomov · 22/08/2011 07:32

Have never done any. 2 cs's. Never even knew I was supposed to be doing any. Do people seriously do them ?

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controlpantsandgladrags · 22/08/2011 07:36

I made half arsed attempts at them (and still do). My pelvic floor is certainly not as it was Blush

I have to make sure I clench really hard before I cough/sneeze. I also start leaking when I really need a wee. It's my own fault though for not doing the bloody exercises often enough. Oh, and DD2's fault for being over 9lb.

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Octaviapink · 22/08/2011 08:16

I do them pretty regularly because I definitely notice the difference if I don't! My acid test is whether I can sneeze while walking along and not leak. If I can't, then I know it's time to step them up again for a while. But then I had two vbs from two babies who engaged at 32 weeks and were putting a lot of pressure on my pelvic floor for a couple of months each. Also pelvic floor exercises make a noticeable difference to the enjoyability of sex, frankly, so I consider that a pretty good payoff!

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CharlotteBronteSaurus · 22/08/2011 08:24

i didn't, and don't leak after 2 vbs
in fact the midwife who stitched me after dd2 commented on how good my muscle tone in that area is. i'd probably rather have toned abs, but them's the breaks Wink

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pippibluestocking · 22/08/2011 08:25

Belgo - can you direct us to a good website to learn how to do them properly. I did them with both DC but couldn't have done them properly because things are not how they should be!

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ssmile · 22/08/2011 08:27

I was lax with 1st preg ended up c-sec and partial prolapse disc 18mths later. Not nice.

Definitely enhances sex so I carry on doing them :)

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Smalline · 22/08/2011 08:28

I didn't. Had 1 cs then 1 vb at 41, I'm now 50 and can trampoline with no problemsGrin

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ssmile · 22/08/2011 08:28

Highly recommend gd Pilates class for 6wks to get you started then go from there.

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