Shedding Light on Pregnancy & Pelvic Floor Myths

Today I am talking about bladder weakness in pregnancy and those first few months after the birth of your precious baby. I am going to share some tips, statistics and hopefully get (the almost 60% of) women talking about ‘the little problem they don’t have’ who are too embarrassed to discuss bladder weakness.

Did you know that 1 in 3 women will experience bladder weakness from pregnancy and that women who have had just one baby are three times more likely to experience this issue compared to those who have never been pregnant? This is caused by the extra pressure babies put on your pelvic floor.

Out of 1000 women surveyed over 44% believed if they suffered from light bladder leakage due to pregnancy they would have a life-long struggle with the issue. This not definitely not the case and by taking action and carrying out daily pelvic floor exercises they can strengthen and regain control preventing any future leaks happening at all!

You may have seen me previously discuss this issue on my blog and that is due to an educational campaign for women that I am taking part in ‘Lights by TENA’. This campaign is the first of its kind and aims at helping soon-to-be and new mothers understand the problem and empower them (by educating) to overcome it. Bladder weakness is extremely common for women to experience during pregnancy and after birth however it is not something they must just accept; they can follow these simple tips (thanks to physiotherapist Jane Le Fevre) to help combat and overcome the problem.

Find your Pelvic Floor
The Pelvic Floor runs from your pubic bone at the front of your pelvis to the coccyx at the back. Imagine this sling of muscles is like two elevator doors. As you lift it, imagine the doors closing together and then lifting towards your head. The rest of your body should stay still.

Practice!
Practice lifting your pelvic floor daily, both strong fast and slow gentle contractions throughout the day. Your pelvic floor has to work harder to support your growing baby and changing body so it’s a perfect time to keep it active and strong.

Practicing lifting your pelvic floor regularly during pregnancy will help you regain pelvic floor control after the birth of your baby.

Lift baby and pelvic floor
Every time you lift your baby, lift your pelvic floor. This will help to regain control as well as protect your back.

Patience
Be patient with your pelvic floor after birth. If you aren’t feeling confident with your pelvic floor by 6 weeks post-partum talk to your GP or see a women’s health physiotherapist to get help.

Use the right product while dealing with the problem
Use a correct liner such as one from the newly launched lights™ by TENA® range to handle the leakages while you’re dealing with the problem. The liners will keep you drier, fresher and odour free. And much less stressed.

 If you would like more expert tips, further information or to receive a complimentary sample liner visit www.lightsbyTENA.com.au.