Pregnancy and child birth incontinence

Pregnancy and Child Birth

The list of worries when having a baby can often seem endless - from stretch marks to postnatal depression - at a time when a mother-to-be is meant to be taking it easy, the opposite can often be evident.

Affecting expectant and new mums, one of the most feared and yet least talked about worries as a result of having a baby is the pressure placed on the bladder during pregnancy and the stretching of the pelvic floor muscles during childbirth.

Pregnancy

Many pregnant women find they need the toilet constantly, especially in the later stages of pregnancy when the baby is putting pressure on the bladder.

Not only is this uncomfortable, but it can also be embarrassing and inconvenient when you need the toilet in an inappropriate environment.

Incontinence during pregnancy is usually a mix of stress and urge incontinence, and hormones can also have an affect on the softening of the support structures, especially the bladder neck.

Labour

Every time a woman has a baby, the pelvic floor muscles are weakened further. This is a result of a number of factors:

Anatomical – Babies are now, on average, much bigger than previous generations because of better nutrition and medical care. The larger the baby, the more stretched the pelvic muscles.

Mechanical – As the baby’s head moves through the birth canal, it puts pressure on the bladder, urethra and pelvic floor muscles, and can damage them. Babies delivered using forceps are at more risk of damage.

Hormonal – Circulation relaxin levels take up to six weeks to return to normal, which means the pelvic floor muscles cannot return to full strength before this.

After birth

Not only can a weak pelvic floor lead to uncomfortable leakages after birth, but the resulting poor muscle action can often cause problems in the bedroom department by significantly decreasing sexual pleasure.

It is recommended that you start pelvic floor exercises 24 hours after birth to give your muscles the best chance of return to normal functions as soon as possible.

Breastfeeding mothers have very low oestrogen levels, which can affect the function of some nerves in the bladder base and urethra, which need oestrogen to work properly. This means women who breastfeed must make sure they carry out pelvic floor exercises to ensure when oestrogen levels return to normal, some strengthening work has already been carried out.

Aquaflex

We manufacture Aquaflex, a clinically proven pelvic floor muscle exercise system, endorsed by the NHS. Pelvic floor exercises on their own will tighten and tone muscles, but for extra confidence, weighted Aquaflex cones can be used to promote muscle development.

Aquaflex helps women achieve strong pelvic muscles for perfect control. It is an aid to give the pelvic floor a full work out and promote strong muscle development.

Aquaflex cones are inserted in the way same as a tampon and once inserted correctly, the cone will cause the pelvic floor to automatically contract. This reflex action exercises and gently strengthens pelvic floor muscles. The more weights added, the stronger the pelvic floor becomes.

Jeanette Haslam, a Chartered Physiotherapist who has been involved in Women's Health for more than 30 years, said: “Following birth, the only really effective way to avoid long term incontinence problems is to strengthen and exercise the pelvic floor muscles. Muscles only improve if they are worked in the right way and harder than they work in their everyday.”

Aquaflex Cones should not be used during pregnancy.

Exciting news!!!!

Neen's incontinence products are to be featured on Channel 4's Embarrassing Bodies early 2009. Watch this space to find out when.