Here are some statistics you might not know about pregnant and post-partum women:
- About 30% of post-partum women are affected by urinary incontinence (UI)
- Kegels, done correctly, help 80% of women suffering from UI
- 46% of pregnant women reported receiving no information about Kegels in one study (International Urogynecology Journal, January 2006)
- 50% of women cannot locate the correct pelvic muscles to do a Kegel with just verbal or written instructions
Knowing these facts, is it any wonder that many new moms either don’t know about Kegels or don’t know how to do Kegels correctly?
Kegel Myths
Kegels Don’t Work
One popular myth among new mothers is that Kegels don’t work, meaning they don’t help with symptoms of pelvic floor weakness, like urinary incontinence or decreased sexual sensation. This myth is prevalent because many post-partum women are not given enough guidance to locate the right pelvic muscles to do a correct Kegel.
Says Sarah Hamilton Boyles, a urogynecologist and research director for the Providence Continence Center, “They’re hard muscles to engage. It’s not like flexing your biceps.” Many women tighten their inner thighs or buttocks rather than their pelvic floor muscles, and need “hands on” help to locate the correct muscles. Experts add that many women simply forget to do their Kegels consistently, leading to less than spectacular results.
Tip: If you are not getting good results from doing Kegels, consider asking for some “hands on” help from your obstetrician/gynecologist.
Kegels Hinder Labor and Delivery
Another myth is that over-toning the pelvic floor muscles by doing Kegels during pregnancy makes the pelvic floor too strong and less elastic, making labor and delivery more difficult.
A Norwegian study reported in the Journal Obstetrics & Gynecology debunks this myth. Women who did Kegel exercises three times a week by the 30th week of pregnancy had lower rates of severe tearing during childbirth, unplanned Cesarean sections, and deliveries requiring forceps or a vacuum.
In fact, a study done at Trondheim University Hospital in England indicated that women who did pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy experienced fewer instances of prolonged second-stage labor that lasted more than an hour. Other studies show that women who did Kegels during pregnancy also experienced fewer UI symptoms post-partum.
Tip: If you are pregnant, start doing Kegels now. Also consider doing perineal massage. If you are not sure how to do these, ask for help from your obstetrician/gynecologist. Remember, 50% of women cannot correctly isolate the correct pelvic muscles to do a Kegel with just written or verbal instruction, so get “hands on” help if necessary.