Strong, healthy pelvic tone is vital for every woman at all stages of her life and most particularly throughout her pregnancy and the post-natal period. Inhealth.ie have a choice selection of Pelvic Toners for your selection from Kegel8 Tight & Tone, to Sensatone Digital Pelvic Floor Stimulator to the Kegel8 Periform Intra-Vaginal Probe and many more. But what are the pelvic floor muscles? What are the consequences of a weakened pelvic floor and how does that affect pregnancy?
What are the pelvic floor muscles?
The pelvic floor (pubococcygeal or PC) muscles contain all the pelvic organs within the pelvis, keeping the pelvic organs healthy, vital and in optimal working order. The PC muscles form a figure-of-eight that stretches between the pubic bone at the front and the coccyx (tailbone ) at the back.
What are the consequences of a weakened pelvic floor and how will that affect my pregnancy?
As the pelvic floor weakens, various issues can arise, from an inability to control the bladder, to a decrease in sexual pleasure, to a lack of muscle strength during labour and delivery to a distressing condition called genital prolapse which occurs when the bladder, rectum or uterus moves down in the vagina. Exercising your pelvic floor throughout pregnancy is crucial in strengthening the muscles that support the pelvis as it experiences increased weight as the pregnancy progresses. Strong pelvic muscles will help a woman to carry the baby more comfortably, will aid in a quicker and safer labour and delivery. And when performed post natally, pelvic floor tone will stimulate blood flow to the pelvic region quickening recovery from stitches, an episiotomy and a caesarean.
