I agree, I did my kegels throughout my pregnancy and perineal massage in the last few weeks, and when I gave birth I just had a small tear (no stitches needed) and although I had a little bladder weakness for a few days, it soon went back to normal. Midwives and Doctors really need to stress to women how important kegels are!
Great article! More should be My midwife prompted me to kegel exercise all through my pregnancy but I just didn't realise how important it was. Not until I had a big problem. With a difficult delivery I suffered a third degree tear and had to have extra corrective surgery, this left me suffering with incontinence - there is nothing worse that having everyone coo-cooing over your new baby and you are silently holding it all together (literally) inside wearing pads because you can't stop wetting yourself. My midwife was very helpful - even after the birth and recommended I find a good Women's Physiotherapist, although I had to be quite demanding and persistent with my GP. Basically I got the feeling if I put up with it then nothing would happen. I am stronger as a result and trying for baby number 2, but I want to stress to all women try to avoid tears and episiotomy (I will definitely use a perineal massage cream next time). So to all women do your kegels - because if you only do a few here and there like I did first time round you might regret it.
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I agree, I did my kegels throughout my pregnancy and perineal massage in the last few weeks, and when I gave birth I just had a small tear (no stitches needed) and although I had a little bladder weakness for a few days, it soon went back to normal. Midwives and Doctors really need to stress to women how important kegels are!