What can you do make your pelvic floor and that whole area stronger
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Anonymous
| I had a baby last year and I ended up with fecal incontinence. I did go to physical therapy to strengthen my pelvic floor but the lady I was seeing wasn’t too helpful and didn’t think I had much of a problem. I’m so glad that I’ve been able to work from home because of Covid because I’m not sure what I’d do if I had to be around other people. It finally got better after 10 month pp which was also the same time I became pregnant again. I’m afraid that it’s going to happen again and this time it’s going to be worse. What can I be doing right now to prepare that part of my body? |
Anonymous
| You need to see someone different. I had FI and it improved a lot after a year - takes a long times for nerves to regenerate if nerve damage was involved. I did pelvic PT and we did training on my rectum to improve my strength and ability to hold in stool. It involved using a balloon catheter. Sucked to do it but it was necessary. Your PT should have known to be doing this and the fact that she doesn’t think it’s a concern means it’s time to find someone new. If I were you I’d wait at least 2 years between pregnancies to allow for optimal healing. Who did you see? |
Anonymous
| Kegels |
Anonymous
| I'm so sorry. +1 for second opinion with different PT provider. |
Anonymous
| Also keep in mind what NOT to do is just as important. I know kids require a lot of lifting but try to lean on husband, nanny, others to do the physical work - lifting, putting into crib, etc. |
Anonymous
| Surgery |
Anonymous
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It was Inova Physical Therapy Center (Ballston), referred to by my regular doc.
Would doing PT help now while I’m pregnant? |
Anonymous
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A different pelvic floor PT for sure.
Also, on Instagram check out @getmomstrong. She has a fitness program specifically designed for moms and starts with Core Basics which helps strengthen the pelvic floor. |
Anonymous
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Check out Katy Bowman. She has a ton of free articles on pelvic floor.
Her stuff totally fixed my problems. Kegels did not help at all, I had to strength all my hip musculature in a functional way. |
Anonymous
| reformer pilates |
Anonymous
She is changing my life. I am not kidding. I have hypertonic PF that I saw a PT to correct, which improved urinary urgency and sex/lubrication. But I was still having issues with looking pregnant AND unable to carry my son for long periods of time, pain while doing dishes, hip pain and irritation, etc. I did Core Basics and am only on w6 of slam bridge but I was able to carry my 40lb son on one side 0.25 mile without pain while managing internal pressure. |
Anonymous
| See a better physical therapist. Thrive again physical therapy is great. Also check out the Mutu Mamas online exercise program. |
Anonymous
| Yeah, definitely check out someone new if it happens again. (Not sure if it helps to do so now while pregnant, though maybe someone else will have an answer to this.) I just wanted to comment about my own experience. I had fecal incontinence with my first but not with my second. I was also scared that things would be worse with my second and that I wouldn't be able to work. Hoping you have a better experience this time around too! |
Anonymous
No, sorry but I’m a FI sufferer and surgery is considered a last resort as the outcomes are not good at all. Don’t weigh in on threads unless you have experience and knowledge to contribute. Op have you seen a colorectal surgeon? Susan Stein at GW is great. I saw her for an evaluation when I was in the worst of the FI (couldn’t hold on ANY gas or any stool that was soft and had to run to the toilet for even the firmest stools and even then couldn’t hold them in so was having accidents near daily - I was beside myself). I also consulted a urogynecologist. I had a full evaluation of my pelvic floor muscles to determine if my anal sphincter was intact and the condition of my other pelvic floor muscles. Because of the FI they told me I could try another vaginal birth but most of the docs I saw recommended scheduled C-section to protect my anal sphincter from any further damage so that is what I did. I was very happy with that choice. |
Anonymous
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And I should add that it continued to improve for a good while eg even 2+ years after delivery - so I do think spacing your pregnancies is a good idea. I also nursed a while and I felt a bit better after I weaned in terms of just being able to build muscle and core strength (which do play a role in continence).
Don’t just do a bunch of kegels. - see a better pelvic floor PT and get some other doctors to see you for an evaluation. |