Kegel weights « Back to Group Discussions

[Teles]

All along I was thinking that I would buy some kegel weights to work on my pelvic floor around this point in pregnancy (17 weeks), but I was just informed that they are discouraged during pregnancy.

I have a really difficult time isolating the muscles enough to do kegels. It's like I initially tense them but while I'm counting out 10 seconds or so I manage to tense something else instead without noticing the transition so when I go to release it's a totally different muscle area.

Has anyone else heard this about the weights or have any suggestions?

[Jenny01]

I've never heard of kegel weights!  I've recently read a few articles on this and they encourage more squatting vs. kegels anyways.  Like this one http://www.pregnantpossibilities.com/2011/pelvic-floor-exercises-squatting/

[odinsmama]

Yes, I started using some just before I got pregnant and they say not to use them during pregnancy. I liked them, though.

And I LOVE that article about the squatting.

[josie423]

Yes, deep squatting is MUCH better for the pelvic floor than kegels!

[Maitrima]

Wow, I'm so glad I came across this! I just finished a course of PT for kegels that was initiated before I even found out I was pregnant. I think learning how to do kegels correctly was helpful, but I would much rather be doing squats!

[HouseofPeace]

ooooooooooooh- i like to hear about the squatting.  i do the kegel's- both when pregnant, not pregnant, but not at the levels they tell me to.  but i do squat, all over the place, all the time.  and more and more as pregnancy goes on, it's so comfortable.  and have had great recovery from all births.  except for the leaks when i get pregnant (which i think is sometimes b/c i'm too busy to pee chasing those critters i birthed around), i usually don't think of it too often.  my Creighton Model instructor actually told me to not over do the Kegel's too, and since i'm bad at boring exercises, they have never been one i love to do compulsively.

and also glad to hear my butt is good in all of this!  i've been thinking of kegel weights and other exercisers for years, and more since my MIL had a uterine prolapse (which runs in her family, but the women in mine haven't had a history of it, but they do have a history of bigger butts)- but this is nice as it supports my natural tendency to keep fit and muscular naturally (we all walk miles a day, pick our veggies squatting on the farm (baby on back), and generally do a lot of natural exercise and eat very well, so good muscle tone under all this pregnancy acne and cellulite!

also all the toning exercises help w/ back-aches and w/ labor too.....

thanks for this thread!

also for the first-timers- i can vouch that giving birth naturally/vaginally does not mean you must have stretched out and permanently untoned lady parts!  taking the time to work on it, and also just staying healthy means you can successfully have babies and still have nice toned and strong muscles down there.

Edited by HouseofPeace - 8/30/12 at 4:15pm

[Teles]

Originally Posted by Jenny01 

I've never heard of kegel weights!  I've recently read a few articles on this and they encourage more squatting vs. kegels anyways.  Like this one http://www.pregnantpossibilities.com/2011/pelvic-floor-exercises-squatting/

I love, love this. I don't mind doing squats at all!

[JessNP]

What a fantastic thread! I took a prenatal yoga class last week and we did tons of squatting and work on all fours. It felt sooo good on my lower back and (now I realize) my pelvic floor. Jenny01 - thank you so much for that link! Not to hijack your thread, but after I read your link, I did some more researching on Katy Bowman, mainly because I am a visual learner and was looking for pictures of the exercises. I found some here on Katy's website. Thank goodness, no more Kegel's! 

[odinsmama]

Originally Posted by JessNP 

I found some here 

Ooh, thanks! Yay for pictures!

[Jenny01]

Thanks for the link Jess!  I'm going to try some out this weekend