Um..leakage..TMI warning..help choosing exercise type

turquoisenarcissus
turquoisenarcissus Posts: 3
in Fitness and Exercise
Ok, so I gave birth vaginally and my pelvic floor weakened. When I do cardio/zumba I will often modify the move so i not to experience leakage:( Does anyone else have this issue? How do you deal with it?

Replies

  • Vicstar1977
    Vicstar1977 Posts: 82
    Hell yeah, I've had five natural births!!! Im gettin surgery :blushing:
  • petry1644
    petry1644 Posts: 11
    I have not given birth and haven't had that experience. I looked up stress incontinence related to exercise...MedlinePlus has good advice...here is the link. Good luck, that must be so annoying!!


    http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000891.htm
  • restoreleanne
    restoreleanne Posts: 217 Member
    Yes, I wear pads It has been better as I lost weight and pee every 10 min. I want the surgery so bad, I just keep doing my kegels and hope for the best.
  • debi_f
    debi_f Posts: 330 Member
    I had/have this problem, too! I've always wanted to be able to run, but...well you know how that goes...

    Over the summer, I did a LOT of biking and started a Pilates class three times a week. Then, two weeks ago, I wasn't able to make it to the gym, so hubby asked if I wanted to go for a jog with him. Um. Yeah. I just stared at him. He convinced me to give it a try, so I visited the "little room" and made hubby promise not to laugh if I couldn't make it very far.

    But I did it! I managed to run 1.9 miles with no "accidents"! It felt amazing! I went again the next day! And the next...

    Then one day, I 'd had a cup of tea about half an hour before going out, and had... Problems.

    I wanted to cry. After going home and taking care of things, I forced myself back out to try again and everything was okay.

    So, all this to say, work on it. Try to do some exercises that will help strengthen that area (I believe the biking and Pilates helped me), and try the more "bouncy" types of exercise to see how it goes. Limit your liquid intake for the hour or two before a workout (but don't dehydrate yourself), and wear a pad if you're worried. Things WILL improve.

    Hope that helps!
  • kimothy38
    kimothy38 Posts: 840 Member
    This is extremely common and embarrassing. I usually have issues when I'm doing up and down movements on the spot,ie skipping. My trainer sometimes thinks I'm slacking off when I stop doing an exercise so I told whats what and now he doesnt ask too many questions. It's awful too when I have allergies and can't stop sneezing.
  • YaGigi
    YaGigi Posts: 817 Member
    Everyone I know had natural birth giving and most of them have this issue. They say it goes away in couple months.
    It's normal body getting back to its shape.
    You gave a birth to a human being, it's such a miracle, off course your body needs some time to get back to its normal function.

    Don't worry.
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    I had a bad birth so I'm unable to move my muscles there at all anymore. I wear pads & hope they last. I'll get home from my run & well..... you know the rest. Pads is all I can say. Not normal period pads...they dont do crap.
  • joybedford
    joybedford Posts: 1,680 Member
    I have had surgery best thing I ever did. I had 3 big babies ( including twins) vaginally and pelvic floor muscles were shot. If you have only recently given birth try frequent pelvic floor exercises google for proper technique but pads will reduce embarrassment a lot but I found they rubbed when I ran. Hope this helps.
  • diligentjosh
    diligentjosh Posts: 274
    What is a pelvic floor?
  • 10manda86
    10manda86 Posts: 229 Member
    you are joking right???? but just in case you aren't... next time you pee, try to stop it halfway through.... that my friend is your pelvic floor... it is just as important for men to exercise theirs as it is for women!! to exercise just hold the pee muscle :) it is stretched to the max during childbirth and thats why heaps of ladies have trouble with coughing, sneezing and obviously exercise afterwards... keeping it strong before and after having kids is an issue close to the heart of every mummy out there!
  • diligentjosh
    diligentjosh Posts: 274
    Well, I know that stopping midstream can cause prostate issues and whatnot (and it hurts like hell), but I have never heard that term before. It is why I asked. I guess it is like where the bladder sits, correct?
  • taekwonkenpo
    taekwonkenpo Posts: 1,004
    the best solution to this issue is to be a guy. That takes care of it. :bigsmile:
  • CarolynB38
    CarolynB38 Posts: 553 Member
    Well, I know that stopping midstream can cause prostate issues and whatnot (and it hurts like hell), but I have never heard that term before. It is why I asked. I guess it is like where the bladder sits, correct?

    It basically keeps all your insides... well... inside. It supports the bladder among other things. It is like a muscular sling. Very weak muscles can result in a prolapse of uterus, or other internal organ. If it's not too bad, incontinence is the main symptom.

    In answer to the OP, pilates is great for strengthening the whole of your pelvic floor, not to mention all the other muscles, especially your core :smile:
  • pinkraynedropjacki
    pinkraynedropjacki Posts: 3,027 Member
    next time you pee, try to stop it halfway through....

    That is actually worse for you. You can cause more problems by stopping it mid stream. Not just for men but women as well. Not the best advice.
  • CarolynB38
    CarolynB38 Posts: 553 Member
    next time you pee, try to stop it halfway through....

    That is actually worse for you. You can cause more problems by stopping it mid stream. Not just for men but women as well. Not the best advice.

    Agreed, but it's a good way of describing which muscles to exercise :happy: Definitely not to be done on a regular basis though!
  • traceygl1967
    traceygl1967 Posts: 72 Member
    Hmm yea 7 kids here with 2 sets of huge twins lol i usually just put a liner on . There is a machine you can get that helps tighten your pelvic floor that is pretty good and a reasonable price
  • amdahwd
    amdahwd Posts: 237 Member
    I have this problem and have just been dealing with it for a long time. Started wanting to run and it is really bad if I have anything to drink at all that day before I go. Started wearing pads for running and heavy exercising (and not monthly pads - they are no good). However, this week, I decided if I am going to commit to this healthier lifestyle and keep up with my activity that I am beginning to enjoy, I am going to go all in and have the surgery. Have my initial consultation with the urologist December 10.
  • sarahrbraun
    sarahrbraun Posts: 2,261 Member
    Ok, so I gave birth vaginally and my pelvic floor weakened. When I do cardio/zumba I will often modify the move so i not to experience leakage:( Does anyone else have this issue? How do you deal with it?

    I've had 3 kids, my 'baby' is 7...but I still sneeze with my legs crossed. I have started wearing a poise liner to the gym after I dribbled a little trying to lift.

    I would definitely go to the bathroom RIGHT before you start your zumba class. I have been known to go to the bathroom as soon as I get to the gym, after my treadmill time, then for a third time after i lift weights/before I leave the gym.
  • Amberonamission
    Amberonamission Posts: 836 Member
    kegels work like magic. Takes about 6 months for things to go back to normal. You can use that little kegel weight. I'd think you'd need some privacy for that. Otherwise I do regular tighten, tighten a little deeper, little deeper, release over and over when I am sitting. After a while you would be shocked at the muscle control I have down there. I may not be able to heavy dead lift. But I can do cooter curls. lol
  • ynotcycle
    ynotcycle Posts: 121 Member
    Cooter curls. Lulz!

    I stumbled into the weird part of MFP: )

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