Anonymous
Post 11/30/2021 11:56     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

I follow a woman on instagram - she's legit trained in this stuff and after her twins made this her life work - @getmomstrong.

She teaches everything on how to manage intra-abdominal pressure and really advocates pelvic floor physical therapy as well as learning how to work out in a way that is safe for your pelvic floor.

Go to PFPT and check her out.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2021 10:59     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

Anonymous wrote:Op, pelvic floor physical therapy can help but it isn’t always a cure. A Post partum body will be forever postpartum it’s not gonna be the same as before. I have stress incontinence and a very mild prolapse. None of it was bad enough to warrant surgery per two Urogyns. I saw some improvement with two rounds with certified physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor disorders at VHC. They were very good and it’s an excellent program. However I still need to wear a liner every day just in case I have an unexpected cough or sneeze and I do not run/jump if I can help it. I just want to put that out there because sometimes I feel like pelvic floor physical therapy is presented as a cure all for this issue and it will certainly help but it is not always a cure-all for all women


Agree with this…but my question continues to be, why don’t ob gyns warn about all of the permanent negative body changes beforehand? I knew all about post partum hair loss, stretch marks, etc, but never knew about prolapse or dreamed I’d have bathroom issues like an 80 year old man in my 30s. Had I known, I would have made a different choice about delivery method and may have decided not to have kids. I doubt many women are in my boat on the second point, but running was my life before my kid and I wanted it to be a large part after. I also didn’t want all of my toileting organs gathered together in my vagina, which seems like a reasonable ask.

To the OP — I’m sorry; this sucks. I wish there were better answers.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2021 09:02     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

Anonymous wrote:OP you can also go see a urogynecologist. You may benefit from a stress incontinence pessary. And there are surgical options like a sling if pelvic PT and a pessary don’t help and you exhaust other options. A urogyn would fit you for this and educate you about options. Obviously they are predisposed to surgery but they can give you a good sense of how serious your incontinence is relatively speaking and what options are for managing it from conservative to surgical.


+1

urogynecologist. After 1 year they can evaluate if you are a candidate for surgery (e.g.., "sling" for incontinence), they wait for a few months after postpartum for body to recover by itself before considering surgery. Other less invasive therapies could work too as mentioned by PP in the thread, including the bulking agent, PT, pessaries, etc.

In NOVA, I recommend mid-atlantic urogynecolologist practice. They can determine if PT, pessary or surgery is the recommended treatment.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2021 08:11     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

I didn't have this issue specifically (mine was hypertonic pelvic floor) but if you decide to see a pelvic floor PT, I recommend Jenna Bythrow in Falls Church. She is at Advantage Physical Therapy. I've had a great experience with her.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2021 03:55     Subject: Re:Postpartum incontinence

Pilates. And physio as above.
Anonymous
Post 11/30/2021 00:51     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

OP you can also go see a urogynecologist. You may benefit from a stress incontinence pessary. And there are surgical options like a sling if pelvic PT and a pessary don’t help and you exhaust other options. A urogyn would fit you for this and educate you about options. Obviously they are predisposed to surgery but they can give you a good sense of how serious your incontinence is relatively speaking and what options are for managing it from conservative to surgical.
Anonymous
Post 11/29/2021 19:25     Subject: Re:Postpartum incontinence

I just had a procedure done - a urethreal bulking agent (called Bulkamid) is injected into the walls of the urethra to - you guessed it - bulk it up. Absolutely changed my life. I am 99% cured - I maybe get a drop or two during a vigorous workout, but that’s it. Amazing!
Anonymous
Post 11/29/2021 19:25     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

Anonymous wrote:I did “pelvic floor therapy“ but didn’t spend money on it – just looked it up. It took a couple years. Not sure if the exercises or time is what fixed it.


Pelvic floor therapy is more than exercises. Mine did manual manipulation. It was the only thing that helped; urine and fecal incontinence.
Anonymous
Post 11/29/2021 19:09     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

Anonymous wrote:Op, pelvic floor physical therapy can help but it isn’t always a cure. A Post partum body will be forever postpartum it’s not gonna be the same as before. I have stress incontinence and a very mild prolapse. None of it was bad enough to warrant surgery per two Urogyns. I saw some improvement with two rounds with certified physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor disorders at VHC. They were very good and it’s an excellent program. However I still need to wear a liner every day just in case I have an unexpected cough or sneeze and I do not run/jump if I can help it. I just want to put that out there because sometimes I feel like pelvic floor physical therapy is presented as a cure all for this issue and it will certainly help but it is not always a cure-all for all women


To clarify two four-month rounds- going once a week for four months two separate times (after each childbirth)
Anonymous
Post 11/29/2021 19:08     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

Op, pelvic floor physical therapy can help but it isn’t always a cure. A Post partum body will be forever postpartum it’s not gonna be the same as before. I have stress incontinence and a very mild prolapse. None of it was bad enough to warrant surgery per two Urogyns. I saw some improvement with two rounds with certified physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor disorders at VHC. They were very good and it’s an excellent program. However I still need to wear a liner every day just in case I have an unexpected cough or sneeze and I do not run/jump if I can help it. I just want to put that out there because sometimes I feel like pelvic floor physical therapy is presented as a cure all for this issue and it will certainly help but it is not always a cure-all for all women
Anonymous
Post 11/29/2021 19:01     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

Anonymous wrote:I did “pelvic floor therapy“ but didn’t spend money on it – just looked it up. It took a couple years. Not sure if the exercises or time is what fixed it.


It’s not PT unless you are seeing a clinically trained and certified pelvic floor physical therapist. Try someone trained by Hermann and Wallace Institute, they have a directory
Anonymous
Post 11/29/2021 16:54     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

Are you perimenopausal? Some estrogen might help
Anonymous
Post 11/29/2021 14:42     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

I did “pelvic floor therapy“ but didn’t spend money on it – just looked it up. It took a couple years. Not sure if the exercises or time is what fixed it.
Anonymous
Post 11/29/2021 14:41     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

Run to pelvic floor physical therapy. Your OB can write you a script for it. Sorry you’ve been suffering so long.
Anonymous
Post 11/28/2021 22:30     Subject: Postpartum incontinence

I am 1 year+ postpartum and am still having major incontinence issues. It is just horrible and psychologically horrible too. If you had this problem and improved the situation, can you shared what helped? Of course I am also consulting my doctor, but it would really help to hear some experiences and suggestions. I want to finally seek treatment or physical therapy or whatever would help.