Can you imagine what it would be like if men had to go through even half the body destruction and embarrassing moments women endure from pregnancy to childbirth? If they had to face the pain of contractions, the soreness of milk coming in, and the humbling nature of pooping on a table in front of a room full of doctors and nurses?
Surely, if it were men who had to give birth, we would be facing a world-wide population shortage.
But, it’s not men going through all that. It’s us. And you want to know the best part? The fun doesn’t end just because the baby is out!
That’s right. Now that you’re a few weeks post-partum, you’re probably starting to take stock of your body and what still isn’t working exactly as it should. Your abs may have a long way to go before they are back in pre-baby shape, but that’s not even the worst of it. The worst is the fact that you may be peeing a little every time you laugh these days.
Have no fear, post-partum incontinence (the medical term for “pissing yourself”) is pretty normal stuff. And there are at-home measures you can take to start getting those muscles back in fight form; or at least strong enough to hold your pee in.
Remember the Kegel exercises you were hopefully encouraged to do during your pregnancy as you prepared for labor? Resuming those now should help you to start building your pelvic floor muscles up once more.
If you’ve never done Kegels before, there’s not much to them. The goal of this simple exercise is to strength the muscles that hang between your hips to support your bladder and uterus. They tend to get a little messed up during labor, but Kegels can help.
To successfully perform a Kegel, try stopping the flow of urine the next time you are peeing. Pay attention to the muscles you use to do that, and then practice constricting those same muscles throughout the day when you aren’t using the bathroom. Tighten the muscles for five seconds at a time, extending that duration as it gets easier to hold your Kegel. Try to do at least 20 Kegels a day.
You can practice your Kegels when you are sitting at your desk at work, as you are cooking dinner, and even when you are watching your favorite shows at night. Don’t worry, no one will be able to tell, and you’ll be well on your way to laughing without leaking in no time!
Written by Leah Campbell, infertility advocate, adoptive mama, writer and editor. Find me @sifinalaska on Twitter.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2016. All rights reserved.
