Pelvic floor issues? 1 week postpartum

[sasscass]

I remember the day after I gave birth, I stood up with a full bladder, walked around a bit and I wet myself completely and I couldn’t control it. I couldn’t even feel myself weeing. I was actually confused at first, I just felt warm fluid running down my legs and on to the floor.

Within 7 days, this no longer happens but I have tried to stop my urine mid flow and it’s impossible. Every time I cough or sneeze I feel my vag force itself downwards, I feel like it would fall through if I coughed properly so I have to be gentle and I’ve suppressed so many sneezes because of this.

is this normal? Will this improve over time?

I had my first baby 12 weeks ago. I also found I couldn’t stop my urine mid flow at first but I can now. I also felt the same as you when coughing or sneezing but that feeling has gone away now too. I used the NHS ‘Squeezy’ app for pelvic floor exercises and that helped massively.

My pelvic floor was useless immediately after birth. If I felt that I needed to go to the toilet I had to run for the bathroom or I'd wet myself. I tried doing levels, but it was like nothing was there! Couldn't feel a thing!

Fast forwards a few weeks, it started getting much stronger. I carried on doing pelvic floor exercises and there came a point where I could actually feel myself tightening up there. I could stop urine mid flow and there wasn't a mad rush for the toilet anymore.

It'll come back, don't worry. Just keep up with your exercises

You will recover don’t worry

It’s only been a week, please give it time. I think there really needs to be more education about things to expect afterwards.

@Cinnabomb it’s been 14 days now and it’s already a lot better than it was. Obviously still a way to go but it’s almost back to normal.

they spoke to me at the hospital about pelvic floor exercises, but focused it more around long term how in older age it can be a problem, and they mentioned sexual pleasure. They didn’t say anything about short term. I did expect a weak pelvic floor, I think anybody with an ounce of logic would know that it would be much weaker after childbirth but I really didn’t expect it to be THAT weak lol. I found it concerning how weak it was but as you said, give it time, only one more week has passed and it seems to be mending well so far.

i wish they educated people more on it too. I feel like I’ve had a complete lack of support during this pregnancy and postpartum. I know it’s a learning curve but I honestly feel stupid.

@sasscass please don’t feel stupid. It’s such a strange dynamic that these things aren’t discussed more, from both sides, and genuinely lots of people don’t know what normal is or whether what’s happening to them is ok. Generations ok I guess women had closer bonds with a mix of generations they may have been able to ask, but that community support has been largely lost. Alternatively perhaps these things have never been discussed, put down as “womens things” and we are expected to suffer in silence/ get on with it 🤷‍♀️ It’s also these TENA adverts for older women that portray the idea that ‘a little leakage is normal’ when it totally doesn’t have to be a part of everyday life!

I guess my point is what you are feeling is normal, don’t feel stupid, equally ask for help if you need it. But be aware healing can take a long time, upto 12 months especially if breast feeding . Congratulations on your baby.

The same happened to me. Walking home from collecting DS1 from school with a less than 24hr old DS2.
Those jumbo post partum pads have their uses!

Yes, it mostly improved by itself but DO start making pelvic floor exercises a routine.
I'm 52 (DS13 now) and it's a problem.
I have started using an App which takes me through the exercises 3 times a day.

I would go and see a post partum physio around 6 weeks and have them check your pelvic floor properly. They can give you good advice and help

i would highly recomend a mummy mot at The Health Suite. There is no other post natal check like it . Fatema is who I went to in Leicester www.thehealthsuite.co.uk

Definitely this. It's well worth the investment as you don't want problems when you're older.