Did anyone NOT do pelvic floor exercises?

[YouDoTheMath]

And if you didn't, have you paid the price or is everything pretty much back in place?

[Cutesbabasmummy]

I have pelvic floor muscle pain three years after having my son. I have a neuromuscular condition so how much tone there was in the first place was debatable but I carried my son for 9 months and he came out with forceps. NHS physio was useless. I have had 3 appointments with a specialist physio and things have improved a bit. I can't actually contract the pelvic floor on my own - its just a teeny flicker of movement. We are working on my abdomen separation at the moment - I still look 6 months gone - and supporting my internal organs with a netter core strength. I do also use an electro stimulator which seems to help with pain relief bizarrely.

[ChildlessMumXoX]

I'm in my 40s. I didn't do them much over the years. I thought I was doing them, but I was doing it wrong. Have some collapse to the bladder and intestine walls after stillbirth. Having physiotherapy to help. They have showed me how to do it right (now). They said it might get better. At this stage it could just be management of the problem. Working those muscles like mad to try to strengthen them. Feels like my insides are falling out (though they're not (yet!)).

[nilequeen]

I have 2 PF gadgets...a pelvic toner I've to squeeze until it clicks and a (much easier) battery operated thingy that painlessly jump starts the muscles with no effort from me...easier and more effective. You just need to use it for two weeks, then little top me ups now and then. Pricey, but worth it if you're worried and should last a life-time.

[scaryfairy28]

I've been told by various professionals to do them. Because by the time it's too late it's too late iyswim there important once your hormones drop at menopause and by then it's too late to fix.

[belgo]

it's a good idea to do them when you check your email or facebook.

[speculationisrife]

Am I the only one doing pf exercises as I read this? It's like when someone talks about slouching and you instantly straighten up. I did them sporadically when pg with dd, and occasionally when I remember I've done them in the two years since then. If bladder more than half full then I have to be careful sneezing, and I can't jump up and down on a hard surface without leaking. I think once you've had children you probably need to do them every day for the rest of your life - like brushing your teeth!

[SydneyB]

I didn't and after 2 large-ish babies I am paying for it! But only 2 and 1/2 yrs after the birth of my 2nd when I had a prolapse. I'm now seeing a brilliant specialist women's physio who says it's a disgrace how little importance is given to proper pelvic floor physio. These muscles weaken over time so just because you're fine straight after birth doesn't mean it'll remain that way. As Belgo says, in France and Belgium they are very up on this kind of thing but here, no. Find out how to do them properly and then do them regularly for life!

[Cattleprod]

MIL was the only one in her group of friends to do them religiously - they used to take the piss out of her for it.

Now they are all mid 60s, she's the only one who never has to buy tena lady!!

[SpringHeeledJack]

I didn't- well, only a bit. 2 pregnancies to term, one singleton (fine) and twins with a section

since which I have weed myself running, trampolining, on a bouncy castle and at Chessington. Oh, and at lazerquest

(mind you, the last one was mostly down to larffing as I caught myself doing a commando style slither in order to shoot at an 8yo)

[belgo]

Hester - all women are at rick of incontinence. The risk is increased by every pregnancy, and the risk is further increased by every vaginal birth.

But with the correct before and after pregnancy care, problems can mostly be avoided.

Oblomov - yes people seriously do do these exercises, and in France and Belgium women's health is taken very seriously and pre and post natal physio is very common.

[belgo]

LakeFlyPie I agree, pelvic floor exercises can also help the lower back as the pelvic floor muscle does not only go around the bladder and vagina, but also to the rectum is a good diagram.

That means that not only do you need to exercise the front part of the pelvic floor, but also the back part.

I was very lucky that in Belgium everyone woman can have physio 6 weeks after giving birth.

I think this is something that should be covered in biology GCSE or whatever health lessons teenagers have in the UK.

Squatting is a good way of strengthening the whole of the pelvic floor, and I've read that weeing while squatting (as they do in countries where they have 'squat' toilets) is a good way of training the pelvic floor for example in the shower.

[LakeFlyPie]

Pilates is a great way to learn how to engage the pelvic floor muscles.

It's important to do the fast contraction and slow hold exercises to ensure both types of fibres are strengthened.

Keeping the pelvic floor strong help continence, sexual function, posture and low back pain, good enough reasons for me to try and remember to do them

[howabout]

I recommend Pilates to learn how to do them properly. Also anyone else do them while having sex or is that just me?

[hester]

I didn't. Am now in late 40s with no problems sneezing etc. Mind, I had an emergency CS - have read that it's pregnancy that causes the problems, rather than delivery (and I carried BIG), but I don't know if that's true.

[ssmile]

Highly recommend gd Pilates class for 6wks to get you started then go from there.

[Smalline]

I didn't. Had 1 cs then 1 vb at 41, I'm now 50 and can trampoline with no problems

[ssmile]

I was lax with 1st preg ended up c-sec and partial prolapse disc 18mths later. Not nice.

Definitely enhances sex so I carry on doing them :)

[pippibluestocking]

Belgo - can you direct us to a good website to learn how to do them properly. I did them with both DC but couldn't have done them properly because things are not how they should be!

[CharlotteBronteSaurus]

i didn't, and don't leak after 2 vbs
in fact the midwife who stitched me after dd2 commented on how good my muscle tone in that area is. i'd probably rather have toned abs, but them's the breaks

[Octaviapink]

I do them pretty regularly because I definitely notice the difference if I don't! My acid test is whether I can sneeze while walking along and not leak. If I can't, then I know it's time to step them up again for a while. But then I had two vbs from two babies who engaged at 32 weeks and were putting a lot of pressure on my pelvic floor for a couple of months each. Also pelvic floor exercises make a noticeable difference to the enjoyability of sex, frankly, so I consider that a pretty good payoff!

[controlpantsandgladrags]

I made half arsed attempts at them (and still do). My pelvic floor is certainly not as it was

I have to make sure I clench really hard before I cough/sneeze. I also start leaking when I really need a wee. It's my own fault though for not doing the bloody exercises often enough. Oh, and DD2's fault for being over 9lb.

[Oblomov]

Have never done any. 2 cs's. Never even knew I was supposed to be doing any. Do people seriously do them ?

[mousesma]

I did but in a very half arsed way and I kept forgetting to do them with any regularity. No ill effects yet but as belgo says it's not good to be complacent.

[belgo]

You don't necessarily need to use a machine. A lot can be achieved by the right exercises.

Please none of you be complacent - I see so much incontinence in elderly people - just because you are fine now doesn't mean you will never have problems in the future.

Tena Lady would have you think they are the only solution, and a little bit of 'dribble' is part of being a woman, but really these problems can nearly always be prevented.

[BonzoDooDah]

I didn't (except when reminded) and had a nine pounder followed by a ten pound sixer !! Both by C-Section though. I'm fine on trampolines think I got away with it!