To think it's unacceptable thing my GP said

[idontwanttogotoschool]

I saw my GP last week for my 6 week check. Generally my GP doesn't give the mother a 6 week check the receptionist told me as it's a waste of their time. So obviously GP was already miffed he had to give me a double appointment, so to see me and check my newborn.

Anyway I had some health issues with Gestational diabetes late in my pregnancy so that's why I wanted to check, but I mentioned I am wetting myself a bit when I bend, carry or lift baby. And the GP said well that's normal after your second child, and that was his advice. I said nothing I can do, as I wondered if it was just early days since birth. He said it's a long term thing ask your other friends with two children and it is just what happens.

So I'm disappointed he is saying live with wetting issue and I'm annoyed this is acceptable for women.

Well your GP is clearly an ignorant fool OP, as well as being completely unhelpful.

I have had three children, my youngest is 32 and I am now 71. I've never had leaks that lasted for long after a birth and now I have no leakage at all, evern coughing, sneezing or bending and stretching.

I've always done pelvic floor exercises, although I've been a bit lax about keeping it up recently, but a bit of leakage after birth does not mean you're automatically going to have this long term.

Your GP did not follow the NICE recommendations.

www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng123/chapter/Recommendations

It is very soon and you may still be healing, but saying it is normal and basically go away is not acceptable.

At the very least he should have told you to come back in a month if still ongoing.

Why do GPs dismiss women like this? So annoying. Go back see a different GP and print out the guidlines so they can follow them!

What a prince
I have 2 dc and have never leaked nor have any of my friends including 1 with 5
So no not normal
Please complain he is a incompetent twat

Not unacceptable, just not helpful. It will get better with the rightt pelvic floor exercises unless you have a prolapse. An obstetric physio will help you

I think I still leaked at 6 weeks and I had a c section. It had gone by 12 weeks otherwise they would have referred me for physio.

I’ve had 3 children and my pelvic floor is stronger than ever! I always used to have very weak bladder and I was terrified about it becoming even worse, so I did my pelvic floor exercises religiously. Just make sure that you practice consciously unclenching them as well as clenching them. Sometimes when I really need to go, and have been holding it in, I then struggle to find the muscles required to release it!

Early checks are not taken as seriously as they should be - my dc lost weight after birth and the midwife said even though the hospital ask to see them if they lose 10% she thought it unnecessary and as soon as dc had two weights the same (at 13/14 days) she discharged us (14% weight loss), 6 week check they asked if dc was smiling yet (no) and other reflexes off - ignored, at 15 months told not to worry dc wasn’t walking or crawling, at two year HV dismissed the fact dc was non-verbal. At three no one seemed concerned that his ‘play’ consisted of lining toys up. I have since been told he should have been picked up and seen/treated for various issues from birth (instead of years of being dismissed as being an over anxious Parent). There is a reason for these checks and screening exercise and it make me very cross that they are either removed or the results ignored.

I went to my GP as I had alopecia and he said "yes, I'm losing my hair too"

This is sad but he would never have said that if you'd brought a man in with you. I've noticed in the past if a male partner comes with you the condescending tone changes. They do then tend to ignore you and answer the partner so its still annoying, but you get better results.

My advice is if it's something you want to be taken seriously, bring a man with you.

That's disgusting. Please complain. NHS takes complaints very seriously:)

In France I think it is fairly standard practice for women to be given advice on pelvic floor health after giving birth. SHould be here too, it would save the NHS squillions in anxiety meds, prolapse surgery etc etc. Don't midwives give advice these days? My kids are all long since grown up but back when I had mine you would get pelvic floor exercises at ante natal classes and as soon as baby was born they would be reminding you to do them. I had four, all 9 or 10 lbs, horrible forceps with one and my pelvic floor exercises seem to have done the job, I still do them occasionally as I think I'm the age when it can be a problem.

Thank you for the support.. I will stick at the exercises and look up all the info then see how I am in a few more weeks.

I didn't get a six week check for me or baby with my first. I wasn't discharged by midwifes at that point due to babies weight loss, so my surgery they said I didn't need it. First contact at GPs was baby's jabs at 8weeks.

Yes mine is a male GP and he did give me a form for a fasting blood test to see if the gestational diabetes is resolved, but I'm not sure if I can just turn up at the hospital for this. I need to phone them tomorrow. Plus I'm breastfeeding. I did ask him if I can breastfeed during the test and he said why wouldn't you be able to.

GP did funnily enough have a female student I assume that's what she was in with him, which he had look up when to do the fasting test for sugar for the diabetes and she said anytime between 6-12 weeks after birth. I hope she was horrified by how he spoke to me, but she looked pretty terrified. Plus he didn't even introduce her or ask if I was ok with her being there. I don't mind one bit but unfortunately my GP is rude. My surgery allocates doctors on joining and you can only see your allocated GP. I asked about changing before and they said it would be reviewed by the partners, of which he is one. He's not that old either, I'd say maybe 50 or under. He said he has two kids at secondary school.

@idontwanttogotoschool

I would make another appointment with a female Doctor who might take you more seriously. A few years ago I went to see a male GP to ask about hair loss. He sat there with a bald head and said it was only hair and not important. I actually found out years later I had thyroid disease and hair loss is a symptom. Some Doctors not all have the "God Complex" and he sounds like one of them.

Ffs in this day and age that's appalling. But having had a crappy appointment this morning with a female GP (non child birth related but to do with periods) it doesn't surprise me. How are they in the dark ages still? Raging on your behalf.

So basically he doesn't know. He really shouldn't be telling you it's normal though. Even with moderate prolapses I wasnt having incontinence after two children.
Did he check for a UTI? Often this is the first sign I have one.
The postpartum healing period can be as much as two years. I don't understand why we're expected to bounce back to a new normal ( even if that includes incontinence) after a few weeks. Time fixes a lot and this certainly won't be the level you can expect to be recovered to without intervention ..
If you want to do some self help things try looking up Katie bowman and squatting vs kegels.

I have 2 and I certainly don't pee myself
Ask to speak to a different GP.

I don’t think it’s unreasonable for GPs to expect women to source information about common symptoms of having just had a baby from people other than them, but your GP sounds very rude. There are ways of saying things.

Completely unacceptable. Don't just "Google pelvic floor exercises", get yourself referred to a women's physio asap. You don't have to put up with this

It’s not normal and you don’t have to put up with it. If you want to look at an exercise plan built purely for mums (regardless of whether you had a baby 6 weeks or 6 years ago) then I recommend MUTU. It’s really helped me to reconnect with my core.

It’s not cheap but they regularly do offers on the programme and your subscription is valid for 2 years.

mutusystem.co.uk/

I don't think it's unreasonable for a GPs to expect woment to source information about common symptoms of having just had a baby from people other than them,

So does that then give them the right to dismiss the women who do ask them for information, with unhelpful, ridiculous replies?

I don’t think it’s unreasonable for GPs to expect women to source information about common symptoms of having just had a baby from people other than them

Does this opinion apply to medical issues generally or just postnatal ones?

Please complain , do your pelvic floor exercise and I have 3 kids I don't have incontinence so it's not normal , it does happen but the earlier you seek help the better . Is there another gp you could see ?

I know I’ve already mentioned MUTU but I’m not affiliated in any way! I’ve just used their programme (well got half way through then fell off the wagon but intend to start again soon!)

This is a really good article on pelvic floor issues and what you can do to help fix them. mutusystem.com/articles/pelvic-health-is-mental-health

That's odd, i had a 6 week check which both health visitor and midwives were pressing me to book right after birth

It's common but not normal. GP told me to use squeezy app and she'd refer me to physio after 6 months. Your GP sounds dismissive and indifferent, I'd complain

That is so dismissive of you and I would see another gp but also express your concerns with a complaint to the Practice Manager to include the comments of the receptionist. They have a duty to respond and resolve. Good luck. Also look at pelvic floor exercises this may help.

OP what he said was unsympathetic. Was he more concerned about your gestational diabetes and the health of your 6 week old? Your pelvic floor clearly hasn't recovered so if you can research and do the exercises you can do (that clearly the French quite rightly advocate), 6 weeks is early to recover so go easy on yourself, do the exercises and go back strongly if you feel you've done everything you can. They can operate but the waiting list is long.