If something was wrong with my pelvic floor, I would notice it, wouldn't I?

By Sabrina Nieland, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist

"Many mums quickly return to a normal level of exertion after giving birth, and why shouldn't they if they feel fine? Especially in the postpartum phase, women unfortunately can't always rely on their feelings. Pregnancy and childbirth often mean that the body is still far from being in balance and the feeling for, for example, the control of the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles is not really there yet. We know that 3 out of 10 women have difficulties in controlling their pelvic floor correctly, even though they attend a postnatal course.

On the one hand, this is because most women have never actively felt their pelvic floor before pregnancy and therefore lack the feeling for correct or incorrect activation. On the other hand, the pelvic floor has few pain receptors and therefore cannot make itself felt well when it is overloaded. After giving birth, you should therefore stick to the principles you learn in your postnatal classes, for example, about lifting and exercise, in order to prevent your body from being stressed too soon and thus from suffering consequential damage. Just because it feels good to go jogging again after 4 weeks does not automatically mean that it is good and that your body is stable enough for it.

A gentle increase towards your goal will allow your body to stabilise itself bit by bit. This is the best guarantee that you will be able to enjoy your sport for the rest of your life, without complaints such as incontinence or organ prolapse preventing you from doing so."

Learn more:

• What is the pelvic floor anyway?
• But how do I know if my pelvic floor is working properly?
• I always have a feeling of downward pressure - is this uterine prolapse (falling of the womb)?
• I had a caesarean section, so I don't need to attend postnatal physiotherapy, do I?