It is completely normal that during pregnancy and birth the pelvic floor muscles become stretched and weakened.
Pelvic floor muscles after birth.
Along with treatment you should avoid lifting any heavy objects climbing stairs or standing for extended periods of time.
If your stitches are sore after the first few weeks you may also squeeze in your pelvic floor muscles without realising in response to the pain.
Daily pelvic floor exercises help you to regain control of your bladder and bowel after your baby s birth macarthur and ismail 2014.
If your pelvic girdle pain continues after child birth your physiotherapist recommend additional exercises to help strengthen the pelvic area.
Having a well toned pelvic floor also enhances feeling in your vagina making sex and orgasm more satisfying sacomori and cardoso 2015.
Regular pelvic floor and deep stomach muscle exercises can help to reduce the size of the separation between your stomach muscles.
This is simply the body s way of adapting and allowing for the baby to pass out of the vagina.
On the biomechanics of vaginal birth and common sequelae annu rev biomed eng 11.
Returning to sport or exercise after birth.
These muscles aid urinary control continence and orgasm.
References ashton miller ja delancey jol.
If the gap is still obvious 8 weeks after the birth contact the gp as you may be at risk of back problems.
If your muscles are held tight for too long it can make sex painful and you may accidentally leak wee fitzgerald and kotarinos 2004.
Pelvic floor exercises after birth.
Participating in sport running or other high impact activities early after childbirth may actually reduce pelvic floor muscle strength and cause long term bladder and bowel problems or pelvic organ prolapse.
As a result a woman may experience several problems due to a weakened or.
Last reviewed september 2018.
You can minimise the risk of these developing with some careful precautions.
The gp can refer you to a physiotherapist who will give you some specific exercises to do.