To be upset about my pelvic floor 😩

[IndiaGrace]

I have a two year old, born by c section after failed forceps. I'm 28 weeks pregnant with DC2 and suddenly my pelvic floor is a disaster. I mean it was definitely a bit weaker after DD but never like this 😩

I have just sneezed and had to change my pj bottoms.

I have a cough just now and have to cross my legs at work.

I'm fucking 30. It is surely not normal for 30 year olds to wear fucking Tena 😐

Did you do anything since birth to improve it? Tena Lady are a real thing. Use them! Until you've regained control of it.

My youngest is 12, I have a pelvic floor of steel usually, can start stop midstream etc, can run trampoline and all that and I had a cough after Christmas which meant I kept peeing myself slightly. It's got better but I still have to remember to consciously clench when I eg leg press at the moment.

I had problems after DC1, now pregnant with DC2 and very worried. Got a referral to an NHS physio and she is brilliant - very reassuring, tells you how to do pelvic floor exercises properly. Ask for a referral now - even if you have to wait until after the birth it'll be worth it. Don't suffer in silence, I know how depressing it is but as others have said, there's lots you can do.

I went to Dr. I was referred to consultant. Got told it wasn't 'that' bad. And here I am. Have wet my self too many times to list. I wear a pad every day. Exercises haven't/ don't work for me. Feel very let down by Drs.

^ Physio also warned that things will be worse at the end of the pregnancy just cos there's a huge baby pressing down on everything...

I've just been to the GP about this. 2 DC, both emcs. DC2 is 18 months and my bladder appears to be wrecked. I feel like I'm constantly on the loo. I can go, leave the bathroom and immediately need to go again. I also have leakage while excersising,coughing and sneezing.

The GP has given me a pee diary to complete before she decides if there is anything to be done. It's so impractical as you're required to measure liquid in and out. Can't really see myself popping to the loo with a measuring jug at work

The main message appeared to be it will all resolve if I do my pelvic floor exercises....

Just wanted to add that your general level of fitness will be a factor on your pelvic floor muscle control. I never believed this and thought I had decent core strength and pelvic floor muscle control. Once I took up daily exercise I was very surprised at how much better my pelvic floor responded when needed. I also second reducing caffeine.

Something to consider post-partum OP.

yep it's awful. I found physio with incontinence nurse helped, as did pilates

I wet myself alittle bit at tesco the other day when i sneezed... there is nothing quite like having to go up to your husband and say 'we need to go I wet myself a little bit' 😲

There's also the mistaken belief that if you have a c section your pelvic floor is better where as you've had your stomach muscles chopped in half transferring all your lifting/moving pressures to your pelvic floor...

So for those of us who had a baby bounce into our pelvic floor for hours before an emcs it's twice as bad...

Exercises.. and check your doing them right... I braved a trampoline and survived wee free although after this winters cough I might be more cautious

Anyone experiencing incontinence issues should go to their GP.

Prolapsed are more common than thought because, as a previous poster mentioned, this kind of stuff generally isn't talked about. Which is a real shame as there are treatments available.

And if a GP refers you, try and get a referral to a Urogynaecologist. They specialise in this area.

Early intervention is key. Prolapsed untreated can worsen and really affect quality of life.

Something I wish I had been aware of, hence this post.

It's important find out what your bladder is doing. ALL the exercises I was first advised (holding) made it worse, I needed to relax, not hold, and only after learning how to push (relax) did my bladder issues improve.

Oddly, all peeing issues stopped the day I found my DH dying last year, and have only just re-surfaced, almost as if I didn't have time for this. I am not suggesting that such issues are psychologically-based, just what happened to me.

In addition to all the above.

There used to be a poster called GussyGripper or (something similar!) who is a pelvic floor specialist.

I had the French physio post birth. And he key takeaway was that kegels are not great for the majority of women and the other exercises really need someone specialised to help you with getting them right.

There's a YouTube video by a physio who explains it all well too, but can't remember her name! Will post if I can!

And there's Mutu Mamas (website of that name) which is a great post birth exercise working pelvic floor and rest of core. It was recommended to me by Mumsnetters and is good.

I understand that echt

My DH has a chronic illness and for the longest time I've put my health issues on the back burner and ploughed on with a "I simply haven't got time/space to think about it" because we have a 9yr old DS and a mortgage to pay.

Unfortunately mine has come to the point where it's possible I'll need a colostomy so fuck knows what we'll do then.

Apologies for hijack, look after your pelvic floor ladies

There's a physio who is a Mumsnetter and has fantastic advice on this subject. Gussiegrips I think it is.

Yes, that's who I meant!! Gussiegrips! Not whatever I write!

*wrote