Pelvic Floor Issues

Jodi,

Hi, I am a SAHM my youngest is 4. I still have pelvic floor pain. It suprises me when I say that how many moms don't know what I am talking about. I was dilated to a 4 for a week with my daughter and was in terrible pain. I was on bedrest for 2 months before her birth.

For me what helps is staying off my feet as much as possible and also taking warm baths. Sometimes I even sleep with a heating pad inbetween my legs at night. The warmth does wonders.

As all doctors and everyone says eat right, exercise, and get plenty of sleep. I also suffered from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome for 3 years after her birth before my condition was diagnosed. Which means I ached all over from fever anyway so that contributed to the pain. I would say to try and have gentle relations with your husband. Deep penetration can be painful but normal intercourse probably won't be. Take care of yourself and if you don't like your doctors diagnosis and course of treatment, please get a second opinion.

I don't know about doing it before or during your pelvic floor therapy, but Pilates helped me strengthen my pelvic floor. I took a Pilates class at my college last semester, and the starting position for almost all the exercises in which you are on your back call for you to lift your pelvic floor (Kegel-like) and hold it while you do the move, as well as squeezing in your abdominal muscles.

There are videos you can get to do Pilates at home, but be very careful with those, so as to not hurt your back. Not having an instructor to advise you how to properly do the exercises increases the risk of back strain.

A good friend I graduated from high school with who now lives in France had a baby 3 years ago. In France, every mom who delivers a baby goes to therapy afterwards. She said it is the most embarrassing thing ever. The therapist sticks her fingers inside you while you do the Kegel exercises, so she can tell you if you are squeezing hard enough. She had a c-section, but doesn't matter in France, everyone does the therapy. The therapist may do things different here in the US, but I think the exercises are the same; Kegel. Do them when you are sitting, standing and walking, it will help.

Good luck.

Hi, Jodi

I am so sorry to hear you are going thru this. I know how tough it is.

Are your appts being scheduled at your OB/Gyn's office, or did they refer you to a physical therapy center? If you're not able to get your therapy because the nurse is not available, you might want to check with your dr and find out if s/he can recommend a PT Center for you to go to. Also, ask for several referrals, and check with the centers to see if they take your insurance. Once you determine which center is close to you and takes your insurance, your dr will write a Rx for therapy. Also, the therapist will also be able to give you specific exercises you can do at home between appts.

Congrats on the baby, and I hope you feel better soon! Keep me posted...
~J.~

I don't have any experience with this, but the most recent issue of the magazine Fit Pregnancy has an article on it. You may want to check it out.

Good Luck!