Life After Babies

6 weeks on I wanted to post an update. SO - I got 3 apps for my iphone, and set reminders to go off all through the day, so one way or another I did at least 3 sets of exercises every single day bar maybe 1 or 2 since early October. The other day I sneezed and realised I don't have to THINK about it any more. I seem to have resurrected my pelvic floor and I am more happy than you can imagine. Yesssss!!! The App I like the best is PFE the logo is a pink box with a purple tick in it. I think I did actually pay a little bit for it, but what I like is that each set of exercises varies in duration, length of squeezes etc. and also it records how many sets you've done that day, the average for the week, average since you started etc. It kind of drives you on. I have also bought the Aquaflex Pelvic Floor thing - this http://www.neenpelvichealth.com/professionals/products/aquaflex-r/?gclid=CLPl8qLplbQCFQzKtAod-jYAKw Which was the top rated option on Embarrassing Bodies. I find it tricky to use every day as you have to stand up for 20 minutes and there never seems to be a good time in the day for me to do this. But it does mean I can test my strength and understand where I am (about midway at the moment). Maybe I will manage to use it more over Christmas to support what I am doing with the App. I wanted to share this as I really doubted I could improve the situation myself, but thanks to others posting on here I was inspired to try, and I am in a much better place as a result. Thanks guys. :-)

Super golden, in the app store look up 'Pelvic Floor' & a few apps come up. Tell me why 100 reps a day is counter productive? The app I'm using suggests 10 slow (10 second contractions) then 10 fast ones three times a day. But I've been doing the fast ones 10 x 10 each time. I'm at Kings gynie soon so will ask them to check my situation to see how bad it may or may not be.

Thanks so much everyone. I now realise that whilst I have stress incontinence things could be a lot worse - you've helped me put things into perspective. I can do 100 reps fine, it's just if I cough or sneeze unexpectedly - without time to 'brace' & cross legs, or if I run without being careful to use the loo first. The final straw was dancing at a party the other week & having an accident, it just made me feel horrible on so many levels & so ashamed (thank goodness only I knew). I just thought by now with both kids at school I'd be sorted. Like an earlier poster I had pretty easy & fast births & under 8lb babies. I just hate, hate, hate this. No more babies for me. I will speak to Kings & see what they say. I suspect it will be a renewed effort on the PFE's. I've downloaded 2 smartphone apps to get me started - thanks for that tip. Thank you everyone, I really appreciate your openness & support on this.

Thanks Monkey - you're braver than me! I exercise, do some Pilates, use a Mamasure (internal Tens machine) & all the usual stuff but several years on I'm still having problems. I have a referral to Kings but feel rather nervous about the possibility of surgery. But otherwise I fear I will never truly relax & do more than walk again. :-( I just wondered if there are loads of people like me out there, as it's always suggested its a female design flaw that we all suffer post birth, or if actually I'm a freak. :-(

Hi Family Room I love my kids, but after several years of pelvic floor exercises I'm depressed to find I still have problems if I try to run, or cough, or sneeze. I hate it. I'm a fit & healthy woman & I had really good birth experiences, no damage at the time just this longstanding issue ever since. I'm really shocked to still be struggling with this. It's not a subject people tend to be open about, understandably .....but I could really do with some input from others.... Has anyone on here had surgery to 'fix' pelvic floor problems & if so did it work? Please PM me if you can offer any advice or support.