Leaky pelvic floor anyone???

[mamajess]

Hi all, just wondering if anyone else has this annoying problem, and if so what fixed it?
Straight after my last birth (biiiig baby, but no tearing/trauma) I had trouble holding my bladder, esp if I was busting or coughing or if there was water running nearby(!).

It seemed to get better without much excersise, (bub is nearly 2) but lately the problem has returned. I need to tense before I cough or sneeze or laugh too much (or vomit) or else I wet myself. I've had a bad cough so I've been wearing panty liners every day just in case.

I know it's a pretty common problem for women.
I'm especially concerned because I am preg with my third and if they go up 2pd in size as they have been, I could be birthing a 12pound bub this time.

I spoke to a physio and she gave me the most impossible list of excersises to do EVERY HOUR. That is totally out of reach for me I'm afraid. I'm lucky to do them 3 times a day.

Has anyone else managed these excersises as recommended? Was it worth it? Do I need a reality check?

[mamajess]

bump

[MissSookyLaLa]

where in aus are you mammajess?

I went to a great physio in sydney, and i think if you were to do the exercises she prescribed three times a day then you would be on the right track

im going to guess the pregnancy is putting pressure on your bladder....

i'd go back to the physio, or try another...and try to walk as much as possible as exercise definitely helps strengthen the muscles

good luck

[mamajess]

Thanks for your reply! I'm in melbourne.
I can only be realistic and do them 3 times a day. Every hour is a totally impossible expectation. I try to be conscious of my muscles as I move and bend and pick up kids and other heavy things.
The pregnancy is definately putting pressure on my belly...I've really popped out early this time...there was no way to hide until the 12wk mark!
Anyway, guess I'll just do what I can do and trust my body...

[Lastcenturymum]

There are incontinence physios around - sorry my friend who was one is now a lawyer! :rolleyes: Apart from exercises you can also do stuff with weights you insert. I think it would help to see someone now as the more you can strengthen your pelvic floor now the better for the birth and recovery

[pkbub]

I don't have the same problem, but that must be so annoying...I would try and get a second opinion from a more specalized physio, just to see what they say to do and you should explain to them, if what they tell you to do is totally unrealistic and you know you can't do it. We are all human! Hopefully you can get some help soon. Congrats on your pregnancy!

[coogeemum]

Mamajess, I'd love to know what the exercises are if you are willing to share. I'm 11 weeks with my second and have had the same problem with leaking since I gave birth.

[mamajess]

Ok here are the exersises
First, insert finger into vag and tighten Pelvic Floor (PF) to feel how strong your muscles are. This can be a gage as you progress so you can feel the muscles strengthening.

Lie on your back with yr knees bent
Contract and hold vag for 10secs, then release and contract for 20secs, release and contract for 30 sec.....till you can hold for 60seconds.

Contract and release quickly 10times, then rest.

Contract slowly, deliberately and gradually from rest to the strongest possible hold you can manage, then slowly, deliberately and gradually release to rest.

Repeat these exersises, only contracting anus muscle instead of vag.

Still on your back with knees bent
Contract PF
Lift left leg till bent knee is at right angles to your flat body and hold in position for 30 secs, then as you improve increase time to 1minute.....to 5minutes
Keep PF contracted until after you lower your leg back down to the floor.
Repeat with right leg.

Still on your back with knees bent
Contract PF
Lift left leg till bent knee is at right angles to your flat body and rotate the hip to ease the bent leg towards the floor on the left. Hold for 30secs, then as you improve increase time to 1min....to 5mins.
Bring leg back to the centre of your body and ease back to a flat position on the floor. Finally release PF.
Repeat with right leg.

My physio really stressed the importance of isolating the anus and vag muscles when contracting PF. She said that these exersises, in my case, should be done every hour. I wouldnt describe my problem as extreme at all...I just wet myself in a coughing fit, or when I'm throwing up from MS.

I hope the above info is helpful, just don't do anything that makes you uncomfortable, or hurts of course. I can only hold for up to 20 seconds. Often the contracting element makes my MS worse and I have to stop. Or I just get distracted!
With a 2yo + a 3yo and working four days there is NO WAY I can do this as regularly as I was told to!

[Tiny1]

Woah that does sound like a lot of work. I think the best thing you can do is just try and do pelivc floor exersises as much as you can. I do them every time i sit down at the computer, when i'm feeding bubs and laying in bed at night. Any exersises you can manage to do are better then none. I had problems and got really strict about doing the exersises and the problem has almost gone away.
Good luck i hope it gets better soon.
-Lizzie

[splish n splash]

If the exercises don't work once you have had bub there is a machine called wave ballace that you can use I didn't use it but when told about it you do it 3 times a week for 12 weeks I think. the gyno's have them you sit on it for 30 mins and it vibrates or something and strengthens you back up. I work in a medical clinic and have heard it's great from teh ppl we have referred to it.

Good luck

[mamajess]

Thanks for your replies..
good to hear you have had some success with some exersises Tiny1
splish n splash I might look into the machine if I dont feel enough progress
I had a brief look at an ad on here (last week maybe) that had things to insert...but that seemed a bit gimmicky or weird or something...maybe they were for real?