Did you know your pelvic floor muscles can help you achieve a flatter tummy…?
Bet you’re going to carry on reading this blog now! … and keep doing your pelvic floors!
The amount of times during my youth I had heard more mature ladies saying “Don’t let me giggle I may piddle myself!” or “I can’t do any jumping up and down for fear I will wet myself”.
I never really thought much about what their statements meant….until I gave birth.
When we carry a baby and give birth, our bodies go through a major transformation and need tender loving care so that function as they should. I feel it’s the same old story, we care a lot for our bodies during pregnancy but forget about them after birth. Obviously time and sleep deprivation play a huge part in this, but it’s worth knowing that in some countries you are encouraged to attend specialist classes after pregnancy and birth.
When I went to my 6 week postnatal midwife check-up she just asked me if everything was ok: A very general question. I didn’t know at the time I had Diastasis Recti (tummy separation) nor did I realise my bits down below weren’t really functioning correctly. I thought it was “normal” to have a slight trickle now and again and “normal” to sometimes not make it to the toilet. Fact is I had never really been shown how to do the correct pelvic floors. Like most I was more interested in the new baby and if it was feeding right, sleeping etc.
My NCT group discussions were always based around our little ones, how often they fed, colour of their poo, nap times etc etc. We obviously discussed the birth in great detail but none of us mentioned our own well being.
It was when my friend and I embarked on an exercise regime down at the park that we started to talk more openly about it. It could have been the most embarrassing moment ever…me… pissing my pants whilst doing the jumping jacks! Thankfully it was just us two exercising at the time so it was our secret….until now! Apart from giggling about it I also knew that something just wasn’t right!
I researched on my iPhone during those hourly nightly feeds and started to do frequent pelvic floor strengthening exercises. I am relieved to say I haven’t wet myself since…other than once when I was putting the key through the door and just didn’t quite make it!
If you plan on having another child it’s vital you strengthen your pelvic floor as lots of pelvic floor prolapses can happen after the second baby.
Why do they happen to some mums and not others?
If you’re a mum with a prolapse don’t start hating your body. You and your body grew a gorgeous baby, your body just needs some tender loving care to help to fix it.
To learn more watch this short video on Supercharged Pelvic Floor!