scheduled c/s - do I still need to kegel?

[CorasMama]

the title pretty much says it. I'm having a scheduled cesarean (I'm not interested in debate, it really is necessary), and I just don't like doing kegels. Mostly, it's just that it's one more thing to remember every day. Do I really need them? There's not even going to be any "wait to go into labor, then c/s," because we need to schedule it so the specialists are all available on the same day. So I doubt I'll even go into labor.

[kitkat5505]

I have never been good at remembering to do kegels and had no problems, but even if you don't labor they can be helpful because pregnancy itself weakens the pelvic floor from the weight pushing down.

[Natsuki]

The weight of the baby and uterus on your pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy is what causes the most issues and is why you need to kegel - c/s birth won't prevent that so yes, you do need to do them .

[CorasMama]

Sigh. Fine, I'll try to remember to do them. There's a medication I have to take every six hours, so maybe I'll try to make it routine that I do my kegels whenever I take it, except the middle of the night dose.

[kltroy]

Your pelvic floor muscles are pretty shot just from the pregnancy. But honestly (my first was a scheduled c/s, no labor, too) I wouldn't kill yourself over the kegels for now. I'd just make sure you do them after the birth. Best of luck.

[Storm Bride]

My situation seems to be a little unusual, but I'd say "heck, yes". My third c-section was in 2005. I've been largely unable to do kegels ever since, because of nerve damage. I figure every kegel I did before that will hopefully postpone any serious incontinence issues a little longer...hopefully.

[CorasMama]

but you labored. A lot. I have no intention of laboring, at all, and if I do, it'll be an ambulance ride to the hospital, because DD was born very very quickly, and this baby canNOT be allowed to be born vaginally, it would be very very dangerous.

[Storm Bride]

Labour doesn't have anything to do with it. Even the doctors who say that sections preserve the pelvic floor say it's about pushing, and I've never pushed (maybe a little with Aaron - honestly, I was so far gone at the end that I don't even know). But, it's not about that, anyway.

The section that did the nerve damage was my third. I was fine after my first (in '93). I was fine after my second (in '03). After my third (in '05), I was numb on the left side of my abdomen and pelvis, from my navel through my entire vulva and vaginal area (that included my clitoris for the first 7-8 months). I never got all the feeling back, including the feeling in the muscle (can't remember the name at the moment) that we work when doing kegels. Since I can't feel it properly, I can't work it properly. I did labour with that third section, but not very much at all. This was a surgical issue, not a labour issue. That whole "c-sections save the pelvic floor" thing is a crock.

I laboured a lot with my fourth one, and the damage wasn't any worse after it. (The abdominal numbness was really bad for a few weeks, but that always happens to me post-op.). Since dd2, last June, it's been a little bit worse again...and I had about 3 or 4 contractions total before that surgery, and I don't even know if they were "real" or "false".

[CEG]

I apologize, don't have the document handy, but several studies have shown that c/s have a negative impact on pelvic floor and actually women with c/s and no vaginal deliveries are more likely to have pelvic floor issues. One study ranked them in order from least likely to most likely- vaginal delivery intact, vag delivery with lacs, c/s, vaginal delivery with epis. Something to do with the delivery and muscle tone and how things heal after pregnancy. So Kegel away! Best of luck with delivery.

[walking burp cloth]

Pregnancy does put a lot of weight on the pelvic floor, hence weakening the muscles. And I am sure the surgury will effect those muscles also. I say, go for it and kegel away! You will be happy you did when all your friends are wearing depends, and you are not because you do your kegels!!

[sharr610]

I had a prenatal yoga teacher once tell me that she always tried to do them when stopped at red lights. I have tried to latch onto this. Its a good way to remember to do them often enough and doesn't take a long time.