In: Association of Chartered Physiotherapists | Birth | Birth | Daily Mail | Health | Incontinence | Midwife | Pelvic Floor Exercises | stress incontinence | ENET | Ulrika Jonnson | vaginal weights | postnatal | Pregnancy | urinary incontinence | www.aquaflexvaginalweights.com | www. continencefoundation.org.uk | br www.tenscare.co.uk I had the pleasure of reading Ulrika Jonnsons Daily Mail article today about stress incontinence. How brave of this woman to admit something that most of us keep secret, Ulrika have helped thousands of women with public recognition of their problem. Www.dailymail. br co.uk/health/article1160211/UlrikarevealsembarrassinghealthsecretTVpresenterbreakssecrettabooincontinenceaffectsmillionswomen.html Urinary incontinence can be divided into frequency (often associated with infection), urgency (usually caused by damage to the nerve pathway), overflow (when the bladder is sluggish and has lost the ability to empty properly), and stress. br incontinence occurs when intraabdominal pressure rises sharply when under stress (eg coughing, laughing, sneezing). Urine leakage is likely to be small in volume, however, is unknown to the stress of acting as a trigger to cause a complete void (perhaps when suffering from urgency and mixed incontinence). br There are several theories and many factors that predispose to stress incontinence, these include aging, denervation at birth, multiple pregnancy, multiparity, large babies, obesity, chronic cough, abdominal mass within (for example, fibroid / tumor) and constipation. br Many women manage the day to day problem with using Liners and doing pelvic floor exercises, but in many cases is treatable, so talk with your doctor about it, or contact your local clinic continence can contact many of these clinics directly for a consultation www.bladderandbowelfoundation. org / continenceclinicboard more than 70 percent of cases can be helped, so it is very important to overcome their inhibitions and ask for help! www.continencefoundation.org.uk is another very useful site. br The first line treatment for stress incontinence is doing pelvic floor exercises. The muscles are at the bottom of the pelvis and form a sling that supports your pelvic organs (bladder, uterus and intestine) and are a vital part in the prevention of bladder and bowel incontinence. They also play a role in sexual function and are important during pregnancy and childbirth. br It is important to ensure that you are using the correct muscle group recruitment and on the right track. It helps to be lying or sitting with interest the first time we try to do the exercises and it needs to breathe normally. br Imagine you are trying to stop yourself passing urine and at the same time trying to stop yourself passing wind. The muscles feel like they lift and tighten the same time. The buttocks and thighs should remain relaxed, but a smooth adjustment in the bottom of your stomach muscles is quite normal. br You should try to do your pelvic floor exercises at least three times a day. Most women aim for ten long squeezes followed by ten short squeezes. It may take three to five months before you notice an improvement. br Tighten the pelvic floor muscles and hold for several seconds and then relax during the same period of time. Repeat until the muscles feel tired. br One of the best manuals I've found is unfit for motherhood by the Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women's Health www.acpwh.org.uk / docs / br FitforMotherhood.pdf There are also devices you can buy to help you, www.tenscare.co.uk/index.phpaction=productsproduct=75 example or the weight of the vagina www.aquaflexvaginalweights.com But I really encourage you to be brave and talk to your midwife or doctor first and ask for a referral a physical therapist. br br
