Pelvic Floor Exercises During Pregnancy and Postpartum

Strengthen your pelvic floor to prevent incontinence before and after pregnancy, with exercises you can do all the time, when sitting, walking or lying down.

During pregnancy, your pelvic floor, like a lot of your body, will change too. They are necessary to support your growing baby, and softened by the effects of pregnancy hormones. Regardless of your method of delivery - Caesarean or vaginally, this will impact your pelvic floor muscles.

In a vaginal birth, your pelvic floor muscles go through a lot of stretching and strain. Meanwhile, when going through a Caesarean birth, the surgery cuts through multiple muscle layers, leading to a slower recovery and also a weakened abdominal wall. It’s important to strengthen these muscles to avoid any prolapse of the womb, bladder and rectum. Another problem you’d want to avoid is incontinence when laughing, sneezing, during brisk walking or exercise.

Perform Pelvic Floor Exercises

Try toning exercises like a pelvic lift.

Start with these two exercises, which can be done in any position and is safe during pregnancy. First, you’ll want to imagine your bladder is full, and gently squeeze your pelvic floor muscles. These span the muscles from the anus to the urethra, which work together to stop any leaking. The entire pelvic floor should tighten up.

Kegel Exercises

First, squeeze the muscle and hold for 10 seconds, then relax and rest up to 10 seconds. Repeat this 10 times then move on to the second exercise. For the second exercise, you’ll want to squeeze and relax the muscles quickly for 10 repetitions. Be sure to isolate only the pelvic floor muscles, and do not engage your abdominals, or your thigh or buttock muscles. Additionally do not breathe in or hold your breath.

Pelvic Lifts

Another exercise you can try - which also helps tone your butt is a pelvic lift. To do this, first lie flat with your knees bent, and squeeze your pelvic floor muscles. Next, slowly raise your pelvis and butt upwards, and hold the position for five to 10 seconds, then return to the starting position, slowly releasing your pelvic muscles.

Squats

Squats are great to maintain strength and range of motions in your lower body, including your pelvic floor muscles.

Hold a fixed object like a chair or a table, and stand with your feet wider than hip-width apart. Slowly lower your body into a deep squat, with your weight over your heels. You may need to put a towel under your heels if they do not touch the floor. Do a Kegel as above, then draw your abs in as you breathe out. Do this five times. This exercise helps to strengthen your abs, legs and your pelvic floor.

Basic Hip Twist

This basic exercise uses both your pelvic floor and core muscles. First, lie on your back with your knees bent, your feet shoulder-width apart. Draw in your pelvic floor muscles and engage your core. With your fingers resting on your hip bones, float one knee out to the side by a few centimetres. Stop when you feel your hip bones pushing into your hands, and bring your hip back a little. Repeat 10 times on each leg.

Coffee Table Lift

This works your transverse abdominals and your pelvic floor muscles. Start by getting onto all fours, hands shoulder-width apart and knees hip-width apart. Your back should be flat, your toes curled under and hips in a neutral position. Inhale, and as you exhale, draw your tummy and pelvic floor muscles in, and lift your knees off the floor. As you inhale, lower your knees back down. Do 10 reps of this.

High Knees with Toe Taps

This is yet another exercise that strengthens both the core and pelvic floor muscles. Start by standing with your feet hip-width apart, your knees soft and while your pelvis in a neutral position. Next, engage your core, draw in your pelvic floor muscles, exhale and raise one knee. After this, straighten your leg, then tap your toes on the floor thrice. Now, inhale and lower your leg down to its starting position. Repeat on your other leg, and try to get 10 repetitions on each leg.

Use a Biofeedback Device

Ensure you’re doing your Kegel exercises correctly with the Elvie Trainer.

Alternatively, you can try using a device like the Elvie Trainer ($319.90), an award-winning Kegel trainer to help you strengthen your pelvic floor. Some benefits of the Elvie Trainer include better bladder control, enhanced intimacy and faster postnatal recovery. Additionally, the Elvie Trainer connects to an app that provides real-time feedback. For instance, a gem on the app lifts in response to you squeezing your muscles. With the fun workouts, you could see results in less than a month.

Moreover, with the Elvie Trainer, you can check if you’re doing the Kegels correctly - some push down instead of lifting up. WIth their patented technology, it can detect incorrect contraction so you improve your technique. It also comes with an extra cover for custom sizing, designed to fit all kinds of body shapes. Give your pelvic floor a full workout with a unique set of fun five-minute exercises, and track your progress over time. This trainer can be used pre- and post-pregnancy, but do check with your health professional before starting.

Your Pelvic Floor After Birth

Train your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles with the EPION Core Trainer, which produces more than 50,000 muscle contractions in a half-hour session.

Although you’re supposed to abstain from a vigorous exercise routine after birth, you can still start on regaining your pelvic floor strength. You can restart your Kegel exercises as soon as 24 hours after your baby is born, beginning with the pelvic floor holds and rapid holds. Be kind to yourself - you may have some bruising or numbness so don’t push yourself past your pain limits. You can slowly increase the number of repetitions and how long you hold for as your body recovers.

Another way to strengthen your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles after birth is to try the EPION Core Trainer. Their 12-week programme uses the high-intensity Functional Magnetic Stimulation (FMS) to produce more than 50,000 muscle contractions in a half-hour session. Hence, this helps you regain your pre-baby body confidence and fitness levels quicker and easier. For more information, call 6363 2122 or WhatsApp 8522 7281 to learn more.

Motherswork Exclusive: A gift to our VIPs. Sign up here and make an appointment with EPION Aesthetics for your free session. VIPs can get a complimentary Black Diamond Facial, suitable for both pregnant women and breastfeeding mums. The Black Diamond Facial comprises four comprehensive steps, including a unique aqua cleansing system, applying highly nourishing serums, a Diamond Peel and a detoxifying charcoal mask. VIPs will also be entitled to a free TESLA session. During the session, VIPs will receive a treatment designed to strengthen core pelvic area and muscles. The treatment produces the same effect as doing Kegel exercises. It claims to not only improves your posture but also alleviate post-partum incontinence.

Incontinence

After giving birth, you may experience some postpartum incontinence, especially when you laugh or cough. This should last up to six weeks postpartum, unless you have an injury or a second-degree tear. In these cases, you may experience incontinence for up to three months. After birth, the pelvic floor tone is actually higher and then tightens up in response.

Signs to Look Out For

When you’ve healed and are beginning to resume your normal activities, don’t disregard any persistent pain and discomfort that might occur weeks or months after you’ve given birth. Some other, not-so-obvious signs might include a feeling of heaviness or pressure in your perineal area, or feeling like you’re sitting on something. In addition, you might have leaking after peeing, difficulty urinating or passing a soft bowel movement and sustained constipation. In such cases, consult your OB-GYN or an accredited pelvic floor therapist.

In terms of sexual intimacy, once you’ve recovered, it should not hurt. However, do bear in mind that if you’ve had tearing and/or an episiotomy, this can impact your recovery time and comfort. Furthermore, scar tissue can also cause intense pain. Once again, do address these concerns with a pelvic floor physical therapist. Manual therapy may include finger insertion, physical exercises, visualisation techniques and body movement or posture depending on your condition. Some locally based physiotherapists include Embrace Physiotherapy, Physiotherapy Down Under and Physio Active

Exercises to Stretch Your Pelvic Floor

Aside from strengthening your pelvic floor, you can also try stretches like hip stretches.

Depending on your body, doing Kegels may not help your pelvic floor. Instead of strengthening the muscles you may need to stretch them. It’s best to get a second opinion from your doctor or pelvic floor therapist to know which to do. Some stretching exercises include abdominal breathing, as well as abdominal and hip stretches.

Abdominal Breathing

Begin by lying down on your back with your knees bent, with one hand on your chest and the other on your abdomen. Next, inhale and visualise your abdomen filling with air - your lower hand should rise, while the top hand stays still. Exhale, starting from the ribs down towards the pelvic floor, letting it relax and open. Each breath should be three seconds in and three seconds out, and repeat for five minutes every day.

Abdominal Stretch

Lie face down on a yoga mat with your hands by your shoulders. Before starting, inhale, and send the breath towards your pelvic floor and the back of your rib cage. Exhale and then press away from the floor with your hands until your arms are straight. Ensure the front of your pelvis faces the floor and move comfortably without putting pressure in your lower back. Stretch your abdominal walls with three cycles of breathing, then lower and repeat five times.

Hip Stretch

Finally, lie on your back with your knees bent, then place one foot on the opposite knee. Lifting the bottom leg, hold it around the thigh with your hands. Bring in your bottom leg towards the chest so you can stretch your outer hip muscles. Hold for 30 seconds, while practising your abdominal breathing, then repeat twice on each leg.

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