to think the NHS should give a damn about my front bottom?

[hidingforthis]

Because the NHS does not care at all.

Since having my two huge babies removed with the help of forceps my pelvic floor has put in a rather disappointing performance. When I run it refuses to co-operate and leaks wee, when I jump it does the same, when I sneeze it takes its cue to partially empty my bladder. When it really wants to embarrass me it lets out a fanny fart. Oh the shame.

And everyday I do my pelvic floor exercises. Just like I did throughout pregnancy. But what does the bloody GP suggest? Pelvic floor exercises. Once I made such a fuss I was referred to a physio who suggested: pelvic floor exercises. She checked I was doing them right. I was. So she told me to do more.

AIBU to think that an NHS that pays for breast enlargements to avoid depression, and stomach stapling for the obese etc etc etc should actually be prepared to help 30 somethings who have really embarrassing and limiting conditions due to childbirth? Conditions that are only likely to get worse. Conditions that put them off having more kids. I could go so far as to blame the NHS who let a student doctor try her first forceps delivery on me and her first episiotomy repair too. That was fun. But I do not blame the doctors, I just want them to help me now.

Looking at the different options available on Amazon, there appear to be 3 types.

One looks like a pair of GHDs, and I think the idea is you insert the open part, then squeeze it shut, like doing your pelvic floor exercises with resistance. You'd be tied to a private place while you did it, mind!

The second one is a sort of egg shape, with a string attached. You put weights (different ones provided, and you increase the weight as you improve) into it, then wear the egg internally as you go about your day. Your PF muscles need to work constantly to hold the 'egg' inside.

The third seems to be a sort of TENS machine, but I don't know anything more.

FWIW, I, too, was at Blackberry's post. Can't find anything in your posts to suggest you're wanting more children. No reason at all that you should have to go through another pregnancy (should you wish to have more) with this condition worsening daily!
Some funny people about on MN at the mo...

In France, they use a technique with all women postnatally called hypopressive gymnastics. (Don't know if this matches anything that's already been suggested.) There's at least one practitioner in London:

www.mummysphysio.com/main_kineuk.html

Not sure how good her English is, though - she promises to "help you to recover a slime and toned body."

I think the 3rd sort that amistillsexy mentions is the sort that I have been recommended. It measures the electrical pulses that you generate when doing your exercises, so that it essentially measures the strength of your muscles.

So the first two are tools for doing the exercises, and the third one measures the results...? Don't know for sure - just guessing.

Essentially you need to prove to the Drs that your pelvic floors aren't the problem, and getting a physio to do an accurate measurement sounds like the best way.

My consultant chap thought my PF's were good, and my physio was very underwhelmed with him for this! Clearly they were rubbish and the machine proved it.

I have utmost sympathy. I also had big babies and forceps.

The OP has been given the same advice that has actually helped a lot of women avoid surgery ......... the professionals will keep on about it cos many women say they do it but dont do as much as they say they so ..... no slurs , its human nature

also its rare to so surgery on women planning to get pregant again because that can undo any surgical intervention if done before family completed.

Surgery CAN be successful for prolapses and incontinence (I had mine about 5 months ago) but after it you do have to be aware of the types of activity that can undo it...... labour obviously puts one heck of a strain in the pelvic floor. ....... I for example have to be aware all the time that things like throwing hay bales around will do me no favours !!!

Before surgery you would prob need to have all sorts tests on bladder to make sure its stress incontinence and what type of surgery will benefit. You would have to be aware for example of the possible complications if offered tvt tape as it can sometimes cause more problems that you had origionally.

GPs have to be sure you reeeeeeeeeeeealy have done all you can first before emarking on this surgery, tis not minor surgery !!!!!!!!

Its not a straightforward thing to say its something that "should not have happened" as if its been something "done " to OP either that was "not her fault"...... it might be nothing at all to do with the forceps birth !!!!!!!!!!!

I did not have forceps at all ..... but

• I did have three large babies ( largest 10 lb 1 0z)

• I did work as a nurse which involved a lot of manual handling ( pre hoists etc)

• I do get bad coughs ( bad enough to break ribs !!!)

There are alot of things that can lead to women developing stress incontinence !

having sid that .........

Hidingforthis ....... perhaps you can carry on doing the exercises and even get a toner ( but do be careful and ask advice about proper usage).

If you want another pregnancy you might postpone any surgical treatment till after .......... depending on whether there is any prolapse of the vaginal wall or not accompanying the stress incontinence .... fixing problems might include repairing the vaginal wall. Not good to stress is out by having more vaginal deliveries !

If you dont want to be preggers again then by all means go back and be really honest with your GP about how much it affectgs your life.......

the NHS DOES care.......... othewise why would we have consultants who specialise in gynaecological genitourinary issues ??????

Go back and ask to for a gynae referral. I had to go to the continence nurse to be assessed then went to gynae and got a TVT.

Thank you everyone for all the advice on this thread. I do my pelvic floors religiously. I really am not exaggerating. So I think it is time to get stroppy with the GP and get some proper assessments done and see whether strengthening tools or surgery are the best way forward.

I do wish I had been given better support in labour as I do think I could have avoided these problems with a c-section. DC1 was 10lb 2oz. Before birth I suggested she was huge but a scan 24 hours before birth suggested 8lbs 6oz. My birth plan said that if it came to instruments I would prefer a c-section, that was ignored. The forceps were brutal and, as mentioned in my OP, operated by a first-timer. They led to a massive heamorage (how on earth do you spell that?). The sewing-up was so bad that the doctor present at my second birth was horrified by what she saw. Before my first birth (i.e throughout my first pregnancy) my pelvic floor was sound. Since the moment DC1 was delivered it has been more than a little lack luster.

OK PLEASE LISTEN !!!
9am Monday - you ring your GP
You go along and say
I'D LIKE A TVT OPERATION PLEASE. It will sort you out - I promise, I have had one.

I agree with the other posters who suggest asking for a gynaecologist referral. They will be able to compare your post-natal symptoms more accurately with other women in your situation - to be fair most GPs won't have this specialist knowledge.

At a baby clinic with my DD I chatted to one of the health visitors who asked about my recovery - it was ok but I mentioned my SIL had warned me I might not be able to go on trampolines with confidence now that I had two babies. It was lighthearted but the HV was very firm - she said that it is a myth that women today should expect to be left to suffer post-natal continence problems. She made me promise that if I had any complications to always ask to be checked and helped in the future.

Hope you find a solution that works for you OP.

I had forceps and no incontinence. I would go back to GP and ask for a referral. Its not always clear to a GP whether people want further investigation.

I also refused to let a student stitch me up after ds2!

glad it worked for you Thatsdope ..... but tvt is not the be all an end all , there can be complications with it.... and it may not be suited depending on what else might be found.

By all means OP ask for treatment but not anything specific until investigations are completed to see if there are any further issues like cystocele or rectocele ( prolapse of anterior or posterior vaginal wall).

yy to a gynae referral. I also had a bad forceps delivery and a manual removal of placenta. The 1hr long, botched repair work, was remembered by the A&E gynae SHO on shift, when I presented myself 6 weeks post birth with my insides hanging out. She said to me' I remember you, I was at your ds birth, we had a terrible time of it stitching you up' This was 3 yrs ago and I've since had a far more pleasant 2nd birth but still have a prolapse. I messed about with physios and pelvic floor exercises for months. When I finally saw a gynae he told me no amount of pelvic floor exercises were going to fix me and I would need surgery, which I'm putting off because I'm a wuss. Mine has become manageable by an electronic pelvic floor toner (a Kegal 8) and losing weight. It's not fixed by any stretch but I can live with it. Please go and see your GP and insist on a gynae referral.

If you are anywhere near London, there is an great pelvic floor clinic at Kingston Hospital (NHS). The Dr who set it up, Dr Ramalingam, is excellent, a top surgeon, and I was lucky enough to have her sort me out after a rather nasty ventouse delivery. As her clinic was still new two years ago, she told me that she takes referrals from all over. She also commented that older ladies, eg my mum's age, shouldn't be using Tena Lady etc as there are ways to repair damage that years ago would have just been accepted - which worries me given another thread on here today.
Good luck getting sorted out - I must have been part of a trial or something as I also got loads of physio as part of my treatment - my first appointment was over an hour!