Post-Partum pelvic floor

[Squtternutbosch]

Hi all,

I gave birth 11 days ago (woohoo, I have a beautiful son!). The birth was quite quick but difficult- he got stuck and needed ventouse delivery, it all happened very very quickly.

My urinary continence has generally been ok since- I had one "full accident" a couple of nights after my son was born, as I couldn't put him down anywhere quickly enough, but other than that I have managed to get to the toilet in time every time and have had minimal leakage. However...I can't stop the flow of urine once it starts. You know how usually, when sitting on the loo peeing, you can clench and stop the flow? Yeah, I have no ability to do that whatsoever.

So just wondering really...has anyone else experienced this after childbirth and, if so, was it temporary? Or am I doomed to a level of incontinence my whole Life? :(

Ps my boy is absolutely wonderful, so obviously worth it!

[Aliveinwanderland]

I found I couldn't feel my pelvic floor at all following my ventouse delivery. However after a few weeks of doing my exercises I now have some feeling back. It's not as strong as it was, but it's getting better. I'm 3 weeks post delivery.

Have you been doing your pelvic floor exercises?

[fitzbilly]

Congratulations op on your baby!

Your birth sounds a lot like mine and I had similar issues. Now, three months later things are getting a bit better but it's still bad.

My main problem is when I go running. My bladder just slowly empties over the course the run so I have to wear pads, I'm hoping it is temporary!!

[Allthatglitters90]

I had a kiwi delivery, so not quite ventouse but along the same lines! I'm now five months down the line and on the whole, my pelvic floor is much better. A couple of days post delivery it was very similar to yours so things will hopefully improve. Like other posters, when I exercise I leak (jumping jacks are my nemesis) but I'm hoping in a few more months this will change too. Keep up your pelvic floor exercises!

Congratulations on your DS!

[Squtternutbosch]

Thanks everyone. I've just seen my midwife and she's given me some good exercises to do alongside the clench/release classic. I've only just started doing any because my doctor told me to wait 2 weeks. Everything's still a bit swollen and numb so I'm hoping when the feeling comes back i'll have a bit more success.

Ah well, it is what it is i guess- all I can do is try my best and continue to enjoy my son!

Congratulations on all your lovely babies :)

[QuilliamCakespeare]

It took several months for me to reach my new 'normal' which is still not as good as I was pre-birth. Farting frequently causes a little pee to escape even 2 years on