Does weak pelvic floor muscle increase possibility of an incompetent cervix?

**raffee** · 17-03-2006 14:57

I ask this because since having my fourth, my pelvic floor muscle has weakened immensely ( warning TMI: I can't hold as long as I used to and occasionally let out a bit when I cough or sneeze). Im now preggie again and worried that it will lead to more serious problems as I get more heavily pregnant.

Has anyone had such concerns? What did you do to prevent any serious complications?

**the_queen** · 17-03-2006 15:03

I haven't had this issue (yet - I'm only my 2nd pregnancy) but I do know that when I visited the physio at the (public

) hospital, she asked me if I had any incontinence issues (isn't that word gross??!! LOL) and said that if I needed to, I could speak to a particular kind of physio, who specialises in that kind of thing. So maybe your MW or OB could refer you to someone like that?
PS I am a public patient, so I'm not paying a cent for the physio treatment. I would assume this continence person would be under the same "medicare" system IYKWIM. (omg I'm so incoherent right now! Hope you are understanding me!!)

and pps you are such a SUPERMUM!!!!

**Chickadee** · 17-03-2006 15:08

I don't think the cervix "strength" is related to your pelvic floor strength. The muscles in the pelvic floor don't extend that high. But I'm not 100%.

Best thing is to talk to a qualified midwife, ob or gyno. If you do have a risk of an incompetent cervix they can put a stitch in for you. Sounds odd and a bit gross but better than risking the baby.

**raffee** · 17-03-2006 15:20

Thanks for the replies! I will definitely raise my concerns at my next hospital appointment...

**amelias mum** · 17-03-2006 15:23

hi,
i just had baby number 5 1month ago and id say my pelvic floor muscles would be quite weak but i had no probs what so ever with a incompentent cervix.i hope that helps.

**JodieC** · 18-03-2006 05:54

i dont think they do hane anything to do with each other. my sil has an incompetent cervix but not pelvic floor issues

**~beckkles~** · 18-03-2006 20:09

I have an incomp cervix and the 2 are not related.
Incomp cervix occur when either a trauma has occured to the cervix or you are just that unlucky to be born with it ( which I am)
After having children the only risk of poss Incomp cervix is the possibilty of twins or triplets where the wieght bearing on the cervix is too much
Bec
*I have great pelvic floor's

**Ffrenchknickers** · 18-03-2006 20:13

No, I definately would say they couldnt be related. Many many women have weak pelvic floors (trust me, I hear about it all the time being a Body Attack instructor - all those startjumps!LOL) but not many have incompetent cervixes. The pelvic floor is a muscle that you have a degree of control over....the cervix is a totally involuntary "muscle."