Pelvic floors and coughing

[weepelvics]

I've had two vaginal births- one in 2011 and another in 2021. Had the odd cough between first and second child that needed tena to not show pelvic floor weakness. I've done pelvic floor exercises since my first was born although I'll be honest and say I was better at remembering after my first than my second. My pelvic floor is just dreadful now when I have a cough, I'm 40 and not ready for tena full time. If I recommit to pelvic floor activities could I get better or is game over?

It's definitely not game over. Please see Gussie Grips, she's an absolute godsend and should be beamed into maternity wards PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES | Gussetgrippers

NC for this but i actually had an appointment with a pelvic floor physio yesterday for similar reasons. Had DD1 in 2021 and currently 30w pregnant with DC2. I had pelvic floor physio after DD1 and had pretty much got on top of it again but this pregnancy has sent me right back to zero. Having awful substantial leaking every time i cough (and with a germy toddler, it feels like i am constantly coughing at the moment). It's really been getting me down and i have been thinking about an elective section for this birth as i was so worried about doing more damage.

The physio was great - she did an exam to assess my pelvic floor and gave me some tailored tips on how to tweak how i was doing them to maximise the effectiveness - including how to use breathing through them so they work more effectively.. She is going to see me again in a month to see if it's made a difference. I think i was lucky as i was referred by the consultant midwife and got an appointment within 2 weeks, but you could always look into going to a private women's health physio if the NHS wait in your area is really long (if financially that is an option for you)? She definitely sounded positive so i'm really hoping it will make a difference.

Here she is actually explaining it verbally, just realised this might be clearer (4) Elaine Miller (@GussieGrips) / X (twitter.com)