Kegel exercises are a good idea, especially when you’re pregnant. The downside is that, unlike weight lifting, you can’t watch your form. Thanks to the magic of the internet, I have discovered a lot of advise on how to do these exercises and even devices that are supposed to help.
Has anyone had any experiences with this? Is there a correct way to do this? Do the little Kegel (for lack of a better term) machines help?
(According to my OB, there are physical therapists that specialize in pelvic muscle training and they usually work with post-partum women. I thought, *How do you end up with that sort of job? Does someone wake up one morning and say, “I can’t be a lion tamer, so I’ll be a pussy trainer!” *)
I think you don’t need to get too complex about it. The advice to squeeze as if you were trying to stop peeing is really all you need to know.
They do help, though. Not only in maintaining the muscles, but they also helped me with the pelvic pain you can sometime get later in the pregnancy, when it feels like the little guy is trying to fall out on his head.
My wife and I learded about this in Bradley Classes. It was discussed several times in class and seemed pretty straight forward.She did the exercises and claimed that they helped.
I may be thinking to hard. Recently, I’ve developed urinary incontinence. I’ve been sqeezing whenever I think about it. I guess that “every once and a while” isn’t enough and worry that I’m not doing it correctly. (At least 100 times a day seems to be a common recommendation.)
Tomorow I have an ultrasound. I’m not looking forward to having a full bladder during this spat of record pollen counts. (Note to self: bring extra clothes.)
I put a stickie with a big “K” on it on my computer monitor for a while. One other exercise is gradually tightening, little by little. The description I remember is to think of the muscle as an elevator, stopping at each floor until it gets to the top. You can do it in reverse, too, for extra entertainment value.
I hated those ultrasounds–at least the waiting room part. When I was actually having it, it was so interesting I kind of forgot about my bladder.
I’ve done a gazillon kegals since giving birth almost EIGHT YEARS AGO. And I still wear a maxi if I’m going dancing, going to be running, going to be jumping (don’t jump in the superjump with your toddler) - and sneezing can still lead to a leak.
I’ve thought about the surgery route, but everyone I have talked to says “it doesn’t help any more than the kegals.”
I’m not figuring the kegals were a waste - mind you - its possilbe I’d be causing increases to the size of the flood plain had I not done them.
My wife tried an electrical stimulator (not that sort - duh) - a TENS device. She didn’t find it particularly useful or helpful. She then got a springy thing (like a spring-loaded dildo) and that worked heaps better - for a whole lot of reasons
She had to get the stronger spring set eventually.
Every little bit helps! I know 100 seems like a lot but 10 sets of ten is 100! And you can do them anywhere! I had a 9lb. 14 oz. baby by vaacum extraction and tore 4th degree; over 20 perineal stitches. My OB said if I didn’t Kegel, I’d be peeing myself everytime I laughed by the age of 40. I Kegeled from that day to this, 21 years. I have a very appreciative husband!
And maxi pads are easier to carry than extra clothes, I agree with Dangerosa.
p.s. men’s pc mucles are different, but they, too, can benefit from Kegels!
A regular dildo is good to hold in the vagina while doing kegels, if you don’t have or don’t want to get the fancy ones that measure your strength or something. Don’t worry; it’s not like you’re ever going to get to crushing strength.
**Dunawake, ** everyone, regardless of their sex, has that same muscle; it’s just supporting a few different things in women than in men. Exercising it is good for anyone to do. On preview, I see that Cyn beat me to it.
Remember this thread? Followed later by this one? (Warning: Pelvic prolapse, major TMI.) If anyone needs motivation to do Kegels, those threads will provide it.
There are also these vaginal cones . Some people I know went to an informational seminar on stress incontinence and these things were mentioned. Apparently using them is not actually more effective than just doing Kegels without them, but if people get them they are more likely to use them.*
Like the other exerciser.
They’re kind of pricey. Maybe your OB/GYN could write a prescription?
*)
