Pelvic Floor (and other vag issues)

tanabeans · May 2013

This week i am worried about post natal recovery and have heard of a lot of moms with pelvic floor issues. I came across this article while looking at pre/postnatal exercise

https://www.thepregnancycentre.com.au/blog/march-2012/areyou-confidently-doing-the-wrong-thing-

Do you (especially STM+) have any advice or thoughts on the matter? I am all about awareness and prevention.TIA!

amarissa85 · May 2013

Hmm, this is interesting. I honestly didn't really exercise in the first few months as I was too busy with baby and being sleep deprived. I was seriously considering cross fit after this one because I have upcoming photo shoots and need to get back in shape quickly after baby but I suppose it would be safe to just ask my doctor and see what he says.

tanabeans · May 2013

amarissa85:
Hmm, this is interesting. I honestly didn't really exercise in the first few months as I was too busy with baby and being sleep deprived. I was seriously considering cross fit after this one because I have upcoming photo shoots and need to get back in shape quickly after baby but I suppose it would be safe to just ask my doctor and see what he says.

I know nothing of post baby exercising but i would say cross fit is a little high impact for that soon after PP, i would be worried about pulling something. I recently tried TRX though and loved it, it can be low impact but very effective

My concerns of this was not injuring my hoo ha when i get back into my workouts.

goatgirlnyc · May 2013

Thanks for the link. I'm going to keep this in my back pocket.

tanabeans · May 2013

BreanneL24:
I had pelvic floor issues after having DS. I wasn't peeing on myself but I had a lot of pain and weakness there. My MW gave me specific exercises to do to strengthen the area. I also do a ridiculous amount of kegels so I think that kept me from peeing on myself. I remember trying to go for a jog around 6w PP and it was an utter nightmare. It hurt so badly. I agree with the article that the pelvic floor is definitely something you want to work on first.

Im not in a rush to get back to pre-baby condition, i figure it takes 9 months to get this way so i should expect at least 9 months after. Im more concerned with over all muscular health, i try to do kegels when i remember but not as much as recommended. Im gonna have to set a timer on my computer or phone. K time!

mrsf123 · May 2013

Do lots and lots and lots of kegels.

dmwbqb · May 2013

tanabeans:
amarissa85:
Hmm, this is interesting. I honestly didn't really exercise in the first few months as I was too busy with baby and being sleep deprived. I was seriously considering cross fit after this one because I have upcoming photo shoots and need to get back in shape quickly after baby but I suppose it would be safe to just ask my doctor and see what he says.

I know nothing of post baby exercising but i would say cross fit is a little high impact for that soon after PP, i would be worried about pulling something. I recently tried TRX though and loved it, it can be low impact but very effective
My concerns of this was not injuring my hoo ha when i get back into my workouts.

I've continued to do crossfit during pregnancy and plan to return after I'm cleared postpartum. A lot of the movements can be modified and the weights you are lifting can be adjusted as well. We have had plenty of women come back postpartum that have done great!

tanabeans · May 2013

You can probably tell this is really on my mind, next week i will move on to some other concern.

My mom said she tore really bad and recommended i just ask the dr for an episiotomy (sp?)

What do you think heals better? A tear or a cut? I would think a cut. I realize there are different levels of tear and a small one might not be as bad, but there is no knowing how badly i might tear, does it make sense to get a cut to prevent a bad tear?

NiksMama · May 2013

tanabeans:
You can probably tell this is really on my mind, next week i will move on to some other concern.My mom said she tore really bad and recommended i just ask the dr for an episiotomy sp? What do you think heals better? A tear or a cut? I would think a cut. I realize there are different levels of tear and a small one might not be as bad, but there is no knowing how badly i might tear, does it make sense to get a cut to prevent a bad tear?

FWIW, My OB doesn't do episiotomies. She says they don't heal as well and have a higher risk for infection.

BelhurstBride · May 2013

I started off pretty much breaking the rules and doing whatever I felt okay doing. (which was practically immediately post birth.) But then I read about uterine prolapse and really started following the rules and working on my pelvic floor muscles first and foremost.

I still have incontinence issues. It's significantly worse with this pregnancy and I'm nervous for what things are going to be like post pregnancy.

amarissa85 · May 2013

I had an episiotomy with my first and I think they really did that as my benefit although I don't ever remember them asking me about it. DS has a large head and I think if they hadn't cut me I would have ripped from front to back anyway. Again my OB could see what I could not so in his best judgement it may have been better just to cut me. There are a lot of mixed opinions about this. I have seen some that said they tore horrendously and the healing was bad and those with episiotomies that say the same. I guess it just varies.

amarissa85 · May 2013

BelhurstBride:
I started off pretty much breaking the rules and doing whatever I felt okay doing. (which was practically immediately post birth.) But then I read about uterine prolapse and really started following the rules and working on my pelvic floor muscles first and foremost.
I still have incontinence issues. It's significantly worse with this pregnancy and I'm nervous for what things are going to be like post pregnancy.

I do as well. My doc keeps saying do kegels but I often forget.

tanabeans · May 2013

amarissa85:
BelhurstBride:
I started off pretty much breaking the rules and doing whatever I felt okay doing. (which was practically immediately post birth.) But then I read about uterine prolapse and really started following the rules and working on my pelvic floor muscles first and foremost.
I still have incontinence issues. It's significantly worse with this pregnancy and I'm nervous for what things are going to be like post pregnancy.
I do as well. My doc keeps saying do kegels but I often forget.

There should be an ap to remind you to do kegels every hour or whatever you set it to. I always forget

tanabeans · May 2013

BreanneL24:
tanabeans:
You can probably tell this is really on my mind, next week i will move on to some other concern.My mom said she tore really bad and recommended i just ask the dr for an episiotomy sp? What do you think heals better? A tear or a cut? I would think a cut. I realize there are different levels of tear and a small one might not be as bad, but there is no knowing how badly i might tear, does it make sense to get a cut to prevent a bad tear?
Tears are almost always favored over episotomies. Like you said, you have no idea how badly or if you will tear. With an episiotomy, they cut you from vag to anus. That is a lot of area to have to heal. There also can be complications from episiotomies when things don't come out where they should. Of course, there will be anecdotes from each viewpoint of someone having bad complications from a tear. Tearing sucks, I won't lie, but it is a couple weeks of discomfort and all goes back to normal. You can also help prevent yourself from tearing by pushing slowly and listening to your body.

I didnt know they cut you all the way! I thought it was just a little bit. I think ill talk to my dr about it and learn more about labor. Like i said i am all about knowing before hand and trying to prepare. Did you learn how to control your pushing in a class or was that just common sense/ instincts for you?

BelhurstBride · May 2013

amarissa85:
BelhurstBride:
I started off pretty much breaking the rules and doing whatever I felt okay doing. (which was practically immediately post birth.) But then I read about uterine prolapse and really started following the rules and working on my pelvic floor muscles first and foremost.
I still have incontinence issues. It's significantly worse with this pregnancy and I'm nervous for what things are going to be like post pregnancy.
I do as well. My doc keeps saying do kegels but I often forget.

I'm a fanatic about them, they still don't help. My doctor has mentioned more interventions but I didn't feel like bothering until we were done with kids.

tanabeans · May 2013

amarissa85:
I had an episiotomy with my first and I think they really did that as my benefit although I don't ever remember them asking me about it. DS has a large head and I think if they hadn't cut me I would have ripped from front to back anyway. Again my OB could see what I could not so in his best judgement it may have been better just to cut me. There are a lot of mixed opinions about this. I have seen some that said they tore horrendously and the healing was bad and those with episiotomies that say the same. I guess it just varies.

I think in the end i will have to trust the OB to make the judgement call when the time comes. I cant imagine having a say at all but my mom got me thinking if i should mention it before hand.

BelhurstBride · May 2013

tanabeans:
Did you learn how to control your pushing in a class or was that just common sense/ instincts for you?

In my experience it's really not something you have a lot of control over. Some kiddos come fast, some come slow.

Your body, your strength, your baby's positioning, your OB/MW, the level of interventions and if you've had pain meds will all play into how pushing and delivery goes.

tanabeans · May 2013

BelhurstBride:
amarissa85:
BelhurstBride:
I started off pretty much breaking the rules and doing whatever I felt okay doing. (which was practically immediately post birth.) But then I read about uterine prolapse and really started following the rules and working on my pelvic floor muscles first and foremost.
I still have incontinence issues. It's significantly worse with this pregnancy and I'm nervous for what things are going to be like post pregnancy.
I do as well. My doc keeps saying do kegels but I often forget.
I'm a fanatic about them, they still don't help. My doctor has mentioned more interventions but I didn't feel like bothering until we were done with kids.

Did you do kegels while your were prego? I will be sure to follow the rules with this and try to strengthen everything now.

Thank you all, you have given me some great insight and i feel better now, i can move on to the next thing to worry about...what to do with this child when it gets here lol!

silvercamaro77 · May 2013

One thing my Dr said was that the smaller you are the more likely you are to have pelvic floor issues because carrying around extra weight on a regular basis thickens your muscle. Since there is then more muscle to start with it is inherently stronger and you have fewer issues.

I'm 110 lbs normally and I had an awful time trying to regain strength and I did a lot of Kegels during pregnancy too. Even 3 or 4 months after delivery I had trouble walking down hills etc without peeing myself.

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