It is completely normal that during pregnancy and birth the pelvic floor muscles become stretched and weakened.
Pelvic floor damage during childbirth.
As a result a woman may experience several problems due to a weakened or.
3 there are no symptoms and no damage is seen but there is a pelvic floor muscle injury.
Pregnancy and childbirth are unique experiences in the life of women.
It doesn t matter how much yours may soften throughout the 9 months ultimately your pelvic floor supports your growing baby and is one part of you that is hugely susceptible to injury during childbirth.
These injuries can be picked up if a check is done after six weeks via a vaginal.
The outcome of a healthy mother and healthy baby are desirable end points but many factors can influence the outcome of any pregnancy or childbirth.
If the pelvic floor has been severely damaged then this feeling may persist.
During labor and birth pelvic floor damage can becaused by.
Your pelvic floor is the group of muscles and ligaments in your pelvic region the pelvic floor acts like a.
You are also more at risk of pelvic floor damage during birth if you are of advanced maternal age over the age of 35 years.
A baby with a larger than normal head.
Older mums to be have a higher rate of caesarean or assisted vaginal delivery including forceps or vacuum.
Prolonged second stage of labor.
7 it is also important to note that it s the first vaginal birth that generally causes the most damage with the following.
Pelvic floor dysfunction is the inability to control the muscles of your pelvic floor.
6 even if a woman manages to avoid a caesarean the risk of pelvic floor muscle injury rises by about 10 with every year of delay in having your first child.
It is quite common after childbirth to experience some feelings of heaviness in the vagina.
This is caused by pelvic floor weakness and is usually temporary taking up to a year after delivery to resolve.
This is simply the body s way of adapting and allowing for the baby to pass out of the vagina.
If the pelvic floor muscles are damaged or torn from the bone during the delivery the damage is not seen from the outside so is therefore not diagnosed at the time.
Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles will help you to actively support your bladder bowel and uterus.
Pelvic floor muscles and their associated structures are at risk of becoming weakened during pregnancy or of experiencing trauma and damage during delivery this problem is identified by the nice 2006 guidance urinary incontinence.
These physical changes continue right until the very end during and after childbirth also particularly when it comes to your pelvic floor.
Keeping your pelvic floor in good shape during pregnancy and after childbirth is a positive step you can take towards preventing long term pelvic floor problems.