Pelvic Floor Exercises After Birth Nhs

Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles can help urinary incontinence treat pelvic organ prolapse and make sex better too.

Pelvic floor exercises after birth nhs.

You ll know as soon as you ve healed enough when to give them a go. Squeezy has been designed by chartered physiotherapists specialising in men s health working in the nhs. Pelvic floor exercises strengthen the muscles around your bladder bottom and vagina or penis. If your pelvic girdle pain continues after child birth your physiotherapist recommend additional exercises to help strengthen the pelvic area.

It is safe to begin pelvic floor exercises straight after delivery. They also help control bladder and bowel function and prevent leakage of urine. Pelvic floor problems are very common particularly during pregnancy and immediately after childbirth luber 2004. Daily pelvic floor exercises help you to regain control of your bladder and bowel after your baby s birth macarthur and ismail 2014.

Pelvic floor exercises can reduce swelling increase blood flow and improve healing following birth. Pelvic floor muscles pelvic floor muscles act like a hammock supporting your bladder and other internal organs from dropping down prolapse. As soon as you feel up to it it s safe to go for walks and do pelvic floor exercises and gentle stretches nhs choices 2016a. How to do pelvic floor exercises although with practice pelvic floor exercises can be done anywhere and anytime it is best to.

Having pelvic floor muscles that are working well may help prevent problems such as premature ejaculation erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. But giving birth by c section doesn t mean your pelvic floor won t be stretched and weakened too ng et al 2017 gyhagen et al 2013. Everyone can benefit from doing pelvic floor exercises. Bladder pubic bone urethra vagina uterus rectum anus pelvic floor muscles.

Having a well toned pelvic floor also enhances feeling in your vagina making sex and orgasm more satisfying sacomori and cardoso 2015. Pelvic floor exercises can help strengthen your muscles so that they can give your organs support again. Regular pelvic floor and deep stomach muscle exercises can help to reduce the size of the separation between your stomach muscles. Along with treatment you should avoid lifting any heavy objects climbing stairs or standing for extended periods of time.

Don t worry if you can t quite manage those pelvic floors just yet. This will improve your bladder bowel control and improve or stop any leakage. The following exercises are gentle and safe to start on day 1 2 following your caesarean section. Start gently within your comfort range and progress to stronger exercises as you feel able.

The gp can refer you to a physiotherapist who will give you some specific exercises to do. It is suitable for all men who want to do pelvic floor muscle exercises or kegel exercises.