I'm new here with lots of questions!

Submitted by kiwi274 on May 21, 2016 - 1:48pm
Body: 

Hi everyone! I'm so happy I stumbled upon this website! I'm not sure if this is the appropriate forum for my questions so please let me know if I should post elsewhere. My questions are more about urinary stress incontinence. I don't think I have a prolapse, but I made an appt with my OBGYN this week to check.

I'm 31, and gave birth 15 months ago. Unmedicated birth, no tearing. I delivered on my hands and knees, but after the fact my midwife told me that puts a lot of pressure on your bladder. I've dealt with stress incontinence ever since then, but only with high impact exercise (running and any form of jumping). Laughing/coughing/sneezing are not problematic.

Around 7-8 months postpartum I went to a physical therapist specializing in pelvic floor problems. Completed her 6 week program. At first, incontinence improved. But then I developed excruciating tailbone pain and incontinence returned to the same level as before.

Now 7 months later I am still dealing with horrific tailbone pain and terrible incontinence. Like it may be a little leak at first, but if I continue the exercise, let's say running, I am full on soaked. So I've completely stopped all high impact exercise.

I watched the video last night on the "new" kegel but haven't practiced yet.

So I guess my first question is can you have incontinence without prolapse?

Why does it seem to worsen before/during/after my period?

Forum:

Aging gracefully

May 21, 2016 - 4:05pm

Hello kiwi and welcome,
There is so much here for our postpartum moms and what you are describing has been experienced and discussed by our postpartum moms on here quite often, so don't worry that you are alone in this.
The whole woman store offers a great postpartum bundle for our postpartum moms, and Christine has also come up with an incontinence video that has these really cool exercise that she calls pee on pee off to help with incontinence in addition to the posture itself.
Lots of great information here; just go up to the tool bar and have a good look around.

kiwi274

May 22, 2016 - 8:29am

I've already browsed around and read tons of the articles and blog posts and watched the videos.

Would the "WW Solution to Urinary Incontinence" or the "WW Wisdom for Childbearing Years" be better for me (as I do plan to have another baby)? Or should I get both, or would that be redundant?

So does urinary incontinence automatically mean enterocele? Is a visit to the OBGYN pointless?

Thanks!

Surviving60

May 22, 2016 - 8:33am

For dealing with your incontinence issue, I would suggest that product first. The other has some great information that you can benefit from, but Urinary Incontinence will jump-start you in the way that you need. Getting both would not be redundant, so go for that if you are able to. Good luck! - Surviving

kiwi274

May 22, 2016 - 10:30am

Ok thanks!

kiwi274

May 23, 2016 - 9:34am

Does the incontinence video cover Whole Woman posture?? Or do I have to buy that video separately?

Surviving60

May 23, 2016 - 2:13pm

Yes - it does. - Surviving

Surviving60

May 23, 2016 - 6:48pm

Kiwi, I watched the Incontinence program to make sure I was not steering you wrong. The descriptions of posture do not come until you get to module 5, the exercise program. It starts with a description of seated posture, and about 2/3 of the way through, she moves to standing position and gives a description of each posture element. The posture is the most fundamental part of this work, whether you are dealing with prolapse or incontinence or both. So I would recommend if you get this program (and it's great!) you might want to skip there first and get yourself really going on the posture. If you have already purchased other resources and you understand the posture elements, you'll be OK; otherwise, in my opinion, that's where you need to start. Nothing is going to happen until you get that belly relaxed and the chest strongly lifted, to restore that beautiful and essential wide-radius lumbar curvature. - Surviving

kiwi274

May 25, 2016 - 2:17pm

Thanks for the detailed response. I think I'm going to bite the bullet and buy the video..I think.. I'm just struggling here. I'm so hesitant to keep shelling out money, I've spent so much on PT and chiropractors, books, DVDs, etc. My husband has been so sweet and hasn't complained one single time about all the money I've spent, but the guilt is catching up to me, and I start to wonder if I'm chasing after restoration that just simply isn't going to happen for me. :(

Surviving60

May 25, 2016 - 4:19pm

This is such a common refrain here on the forum. Despite WW having an internet presence for over a decade, we still get many new members who have already blown their budgets on all the wrong stuff by the time they get here. I am speaking from personal experience because I had no trouble finding Whole Woman 6 years ago when I had my upsetting discovery. But, I do understand. There is such a cacophony of voices out there, shouting all the wrong things to panicky women of all ages. You almost HAVE to be looking for a natural non-medical answer, or our message can be easily overlooked in the confusion that is thrust upon us.

We've had many, many posts (especially from younger and relatively younger moms still in that 2-year healing window from birth) that deal with tailbone pain. Just try putting it in the search box and see what I mean. The posture correction is the answer and yes, it can take time. Try spending some time on the floor on elbows and knees with your butt in the air and your head down. This should give you great relief and also an understanding of why we want to keep this dynamic going when we stand up. Be patient and kind to yourself. - Surviving

kiwi274

May 25, 2016 - 8:17pm

Thank you so much for understanding. This is really, really hard. And I had an appt with my chiropractor today (who says he can fix the incontinence problem--that it's a brain issue..that the brain/nerve/muscle connection got messed up from giving birth, or something to that effect..but it's taken weeks of him first helping me learn how to do a proper kegel first..) Anyway, he got SO snappy with me today when he was teaching me breathing exercises. It made me feel terrible, I feel like he's been losing his patience with me but today just reached his limit and he couldn't hide it any longer. And I feel like he's my last resort (as far as seeing a real person, not just buying a book or DVDs). Anyway, sorry for rambling and I hope I don't get in trouble for posting this I just don't have anyone to talk to.

When you say 2 year healing window after giving birth..what do you mean? I've never heard of that before. is my body really still recovering?

Also, I'm so confused about kegels. Are they really bad for anyone or only those with a prolapse? Because why did my incontinence improve a little at first and then worsen again when I stopped doing them? I literally feel like my pelvic "floor" or muscles or whatever just give out on me during a workout. And I don't mean a little leak..I mean full on empty my bladder :(

Aging gracefully

May 25, 2016 - 9:11pm

Hi kiwi,
Christine has several articles about why kegels don't work. Here is just one of them:

https://wholewoman.com/blog/?p=1497

You may also want to look into what the correct pelvic organ support system really is. Doctors don't even know this, including your Chiro most likely.
I know you are leery about more purchasing, but Christine's book Saving the Whole Woman does explain it all, along with First Aid for Prolapse DVD.
These are the very beginning of her work and truly do tell it all like it is.

Surviving60

May 26, 2016 - 5:10am

Yes, it can take at least a full 2 years for the body to completely heal from birth, and this is an optimal time to make this posture correction permanent in your life. I would ditch the kegels now. I did them for decades religiously, and if that was the answer to prolapse, I wouldn't even be here! With millions of women kegeling and kegeling down through the ages, why is prolapse on the rise? Think about it...... Kegels pull the organs in the wrong direction, as Christine explains clearly. They are pointless and I'm living proof. - Surviving