What is the pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that form a sling at the bottom of your pelvis, holding the bladder, bowel and uterus in place. When these muscles are working correctly, they give you control over when you empty your bladder or have a bowel movement.
How does pregnancy affect the pelvic floor?
During pregnancy, from as early as twelve weeks in, the hormones released can cause a slackening and weakening of these muscles. This may result in stress incontinence where urine leaks out slightly when you cough, sneeze, or even just move in a particular way.
Up to a third of new mums continue to experience stress incontinence post-birth.
A weakened pelvic floor can have bigger consequences later on, such as post-menopause, when a hormonal change causes a further weakening and can lead to prolapses of the pelvic organs which means they push downwards into the wall fo the vagina, which affects up to 40% of women over 50.
What can I do to keep my pelvic floor strong?
Ask your osteopath, ante-natal class instructor or other health professional for advice on how to strengthen and relax your pelvic floor muscles before and after giving birth.
***
If you would like to learn more about our team of practitioner’s click here or you can book an appointment online here.
Alternatively, you can call us at the clinic on 03 9908 2844.