did kegels help ease your labor?

**tiamax** · 06-01-2012 21:05

im currently doing kegel excercises like crazy, at least 200 a day, which is the recommended "aim" .. i am however a bit sceptical that they will actually do anything.. supposedly they're meant to make your labor progress quicker, and help you heal better if you tear and also prevent tears.. did anyone find this true?? did kegels help you at all during pregnancy??

**Opinionated** · 06-01-2012 21:08

Pelvic floor exercises for those who don't use the American terminology

I did them, but don't know if they helped or not. I can't say whether my tear would have been worse or my labours slower had I not done them. I was just hoping to avoid incontinence.

**LoveyDovey** · 06-01-2012 21:09

I'm curious too.

I was doing them but I found I was really sore the next day which was a nuisance...I guess I should persist?

**Gandalf** · 06-01-2012 21:12

I don't know about how they help in regards to labour

but considering a large number of women become incontinent over their lifetime due to a weak pelvic floor, i'm very very content to keep doing pelvic floor exercises+squats to try to maintain mine. *shrug* if it helps with childbirth its a bonus, but its certainly not the aim behind doing them

**tiamax** · 07-01-2012 22:03

hmm, well i guess all in all it wouldnt hurt doing them.. im just really scared of ending up with a 3rd or 4th degree tear lol. thanks!!

**Gandalf** · 07-01-2012 22:10

Originally Posted by tiamax

hmm, well i guess all in all it wouldnt hurt doing them.. im just really scared of ending up with a 3rd or 4th degree tear lol. thanks!!

look into birth positions for tear-prevention.
Its not a guarantee that you won't end up with them, but if you're able to birth in the position you're body wants to, rather than on your back (aka-epidural) then you are more likely to avoid serious tears.

Oh and good labour support - someone who, when the midwives tell you 'just pant', will help you just pant (without you kicking them in the face

).

**Babiesoneday** · 07-01-2012 23:44

Its a good practice,to have,in general. Like many others, I cant say if they made it,easier or not. Id say better safe than sorry. Its not likely theyre going to mske it worse

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**Tam-I-Am** · 07-01-2012 23:51

Have you ever read any of Katy Bowman's work? I don't believe in pelvic floor exercises - I think that they shorten the pelvic floor, creating a 'hammock' effect over time by pulling the symphasis pubis and the coccyx closer together - and this seems to be supported by her research.

I honestly don't think the human body was designed to exercise the way that we do these days - it was supposed to be exercised as animals do, as a fluid machine (all in one go), not separated down into individual parts - and I believe that exercising that way can do more damage than good.

I found this blog piece a good starting point, and then went looking for more of Katy Bowman's work. It lead into looking into Christine Kent's work, and into clinical pilates with a focus on building overall bodily strength (particularly core), not just PF muscles.

http://mamasweat.blogspot.com/2010/0...s-are-not.html