to ask about your pelvic floors (might be TMI)

[kitnkaboodle]

... because I just weed myself.

Generally pelvic floor not too bad. I went down the road tonight for a drink at a friend's house. Had two largeish glasses of wine and ended up bursting for a wee. Too lazy to go upstairs to her bathroom as very cosy by the fire.

When I left to walk home felt that bladder was full, but not at all worried about walking home. Started walking down the street and could feel it gradually leaking out. I was sort of clomping along as I had quite high-heeled boots on and was a bit tiddly. With every clomp a bit more wee leaked out. Not gushing by any means, but by the time I got home I was worried that OH might be still up (he wasn't) and might spot the problem. Wet enough to have to change knickers and trousers

have I got a serious problem, or is this kind of normal? I'm 50 - had 2 children vaginally. Like I say, I don't have leakage problems normally and my bladder was VERY full - but still a shock

I have read (more times than I am happy to have done) that the damage caused by birth isn't always apparent right after the birth. But comes to bite us on the bum when we get older.

I had a C-sec and at 47 so far seem unscathed. But give it a couple of years and that might not be the case. Apparently having a big fat head pushing down on your cervix, but being too elephant like to actually come out, for fecking HOURS, can bugger things up in a way you don't notice till menopause adds to the loveliness of getting older. Or so says my mate.

Who is not a midwife, or doctor or anything,but had a similar experience at birth to me and at 49 has just started having to cross her legs and clench if she coughs/sneezes/laughs.

At 27 I wee when I sneeze (prior to children), and now I've just had my 3rd child 3 weeks ago with 3rd degree tears. I'm just resigning myself to wearing nappies by the time I'm 40!

Haha seriously though. If you have had 2 children have you been doing pelvic floor exercises since birth? Apparently you have to do that stuff everyday for life or it just creeps up on you!

Where the hell did "3rd child" come from... this is definitely my FIRST child....Sleep deprivation kicking in, I'm seeing triple ;)

I did pelvic floor exercises immediately after having kids for a bit, but none for years. Youngest child now 11. Is it too late to start again and try to make things a bit better??

Oh dear, OP, best get clenching.

I've been fine up till now (nearly 48, 3 DCs), except for one occasion recently on an activity holiday with the DC's. I was required to bounce on a trampoline while throwing a basketball into a net. I had to make my excuses and run and change my underwear.

Seek out gussiegrips either on here or on Twitter and as she always says - #doyerblardyexercises!

I'm 29, pg with dc3 and have massive problems with urge control. I have no problems running or coughing or sneezing though.

I'm off to the Physio for it after Dd arrives. I'm not going to put up with it - especially knowing it will only get worse- and psychologically its enormously depressing.

The exercises definitely work! I was scared after birth when I couldn't stop my stream on the loo (I don't do this regularly, I know you shouldn't! but wanted to asses the damage lol) Only started being almost able to again a few days ago, and I'm younger than you ladies, so I'll definitely be doing the exercises for life!

... see that's the funny thing. I always thought I was OK in that department as I can stop and start the stream on the loo with no problems. Can stop and hold it for AGES. Maybe it's a different set of muscles or something. I guess me clomping down the street with some force was kind of equivalent to bouncing on a trampoline

Well yeah the same muscles you stop and start flow with are the ones you should be exercising, but saying that, I still pee when I sneeze, I suppose it's whatever relaxes those muscles!! Maybe it's because alcohol was involved... there's some positions/situations where you just can't hold it.

Mine is sneezing and laughing.. but jumping up and down has no effect!

I've always had an awful, awful bladder, when I started my old job they took me aside and asked if I was pregnant because I weed so much. Now in my late 20s after one child and another on the way my pelvic floor is well and truly shot. I actually weed myself a bit the other day when I got a really tickly throat and was coughing loads. I think like other muscles you can improve it with exercise.

Kegels are the only exercises I do regularly. I've had three kids, and am in my mid-30s, and so far, so good. All three births were vaginal. Most of my friends complain of leaking when they sneeze, cough, or laugh, so I count myself lucky.

You can buy weights to tone up that area, too, if you think you need some extra help.

Just a thought...DM can have this problem but only when she has a wee infection - could you have a wee infection?

Had issues after birth. There's a good nhs leaflet on exercise.
See if you can see a physio . I did and it really helped.

With re exercise try pulling in slightly holding for a few seconds and letting go, as well as doing the sharp pull ins.
There'll be info on this somewhere

Can't emphasis enough how helpful physio was!! Also I saw an incontinence nurse incase my problem wasn't to do with pf

Is anyone else doing pelvic floor exercises as they read this thread? Sorry OP, that's probably not very helpful!

I've just about finished having a chest infection. Had it for about a month, and had to resort to Tena Lady pads for the duration

Mind you, I was coughing so badly and violently, that I was pulling muscles in. Y ribs and back. I've done Pliates for over 2 years now, so in theory should have been ok ish.

I would recommend Pilates. It makes you do your pelvic exercises for an hour a week!

I thought mine was pretty good until I wet myself whilst throwing up due to norovirus
I'm still young and no DCs either so no excuse!

48 & 3 DC- Im normally ok, and can hold it in for a while, and no general issues but during recent the flu bug, with a cough that lasted 4 weeks plus, I done more washing than normal put in that way- coughing= weeing- sneezing= weeing- ! Oh but I do cross legs if I sneeze!!!

Peachy, don't worry, I think the strain of throwing up would test even the strongest of pelvic floors! I did my exercises all through pregnancy and haven't had any incontinence issues (touch wood!) but I did feel a bit bulgy and strange down there til DS was about 9 months. Coward that I am, I didn't go to the doctor but started doing my PFEs religiously and it's made a huge difference. I'm careful at the gym and don't do high impact exercise but I feel pretty much back to normal now. But I do notice a difference if I forget to clench for a week or so!

Nothing to add except I'm doing them right now!!!

Pilates is really fantastic for this.
I am 43, big babies. I know my bladder is weaker than pre children, however I don't have any problems at all.
I would suggest that the wine wouldn't have helped either.

Mine's pretty good, however in your situation I would have used the toilet before I left. I'd rather be on the safe side.
I'm 54, with 3 vaginal births. I didn't really do pelvic floor exercises consistently but I found it really tightened up when I started swimming regularly. I would guess from doing quite a bit of breaststroke (tones the inner thighs as well).

OP let this be a lesson to you to ALWAYS use the loo before you leave anywhere, especially if you've been drinking!

OP, probably best to get checked out by a gynae consultant. You may have a small prolapse.