PSA: Ladies, do your kegels!!!!

[DebbieJ]

Otherwise you'll end up in PT for pelvic floor weakness like me and everyone there will say "oh you're too young to be this weak!" Gee, thanks!

KEGEL KEGEL KEGEL! Incorporate it into your daily activities and do them!

[eagle]

i read here on bbb that you dont need to do them!

[DebbieJ]

Originally Posted by eagle

i read here on bbb that you dont need to do them!

Really? That's interesting...

[SnuggleBuggles]

Yeah, wasn't that the thing that if you do lots of squats and other strength things like that that it helps the pelvic floor too?

I do both. I just started making more of a kegel effort lately as it seemed necessary. Used to have kegels of steel and working back to that...long way to go.

eta- I went to PT after ds2. I never was that bad off and once I started doing them again I went from a 1.5 on her scale to a 4 out of 5 in a few weeks. So, just out of shape vs never in shape.

Beth

[Schmitty21]

Wow - PT? Good tip! Thanks for the extra encouragement.

I make a little game out of it - try to hold them while I am riding in an elevator, or while driving, I'll pick out a target down the road and try to hold a Kegel until I get to that sign/exit/bridge/whatever.

It's definitely helpful when racing for the bathroom! :-O

[BabbyO]

Originally Posted by SnuggleBuggles

Yeah, wasn't that the thing that if you do lots of squats and other strength things like that that it helps the pelvic floor too?

I would imagine that is the case...but only if you do your squats appropriately. If you don't engage your kegels when you do your squats...it won't matter.

OP - thanks for the reminder. I've been SO bad about this...and need the reminder!

[citymama]

Thanks OP for the reminder - I can already see the difference (weakening) between DD1 and DD2's birth, and I really need to do more Kegels.

[BigDog]

I've never done kegels. Someone please tell dumb ol' me why I need to start doing them? I just pushed out kid #2 6mos ago. Are my parts gonna start failing me??!

[daisymommy]

Originally Posted by eagle

i read here on bbb that you dont need to do them!

Here ya go: http://mamasweat.blogspot.com/2010/0...s-are-not.html

Suggests too many Kegels can CAUSE pelvic floor damage.

My midwives have suggested other exercises that they say are more effective than Kegels. That said, when you have a prolapse (total TMI!) all the Kegels in the world won't help...unfortunately.

[DebbieJ]

There are lots of other exercises (i.e. squats) that help engage other muscles that assist the pelvic floor as well. I am learning and doing all of those in PT too.

Seems kegels are a debated topic out there.