Stress incontinence already :-(

[BananaPie]

I'm almost 6 weeks with dc2, and discovered to my horror on a 5k run today that I'm already suffering from slight stress incontinence. Will pelvic floor exercises help or am I doomed to running wearing tena lady?!

In short, I don't know. I think there are specialist physios though so it might be worth trying to get a referral to make sure you're doing the right exercises properly.

I think a lot of stress incontinance can be hormonal when pregnant so id put it down to that, do the pelvic floor and not worry till after the baby is born!! X x

Seems very early.... maybe speak to your doctor? There isn't much weight pressing on your bladder yet. Do you get any pains down there though? I'd have thought it too early again, but I used to find that running put enormous pressure on my round ligament and other pelvic ligaments, meaning I had to stop for a pee several times on a run by the time I was about 14 weeks!

The hormones will definitely effect your pelvic floor function, but keep doing your exercises anyway so they function as best they can.

Ask your doctor for a referral to a Women's Health Specialist Physiotherapist.

Hi. Pelvic floor exercises will definitely help but only if you do them properly. The best thing to do is read The Kegel Legacy - £1.99 or free download from the website. Whatever you do - don't pay any attention to the leaflets you get given by the GP.
If you want help from your GP (and it is available) then go to www.elephant-in-the-room.info first
Good luck

I agree that a leaflet from the GP is unlikely to be helpful if you're already symptomatic. But don't make the mistake of assuming that just because a product makes it's way onto the prescription list (in this case without any trials or endorsement by the Association of Women's Health Physiotherapists or NICE) and just because it has a convincing (and slightly patronising) marketing strategy, doesn't mean it's any good.

See a women's health Physio and let them guide you.