Pelvic Floor dysfunction? Diastasis? Both…

Ah crap! Not another body malfunction brought on by pregnancy!
Pelvic floor dysfunctions affect roughly a quarter of the female population in the United States.

• 30 to 40 percent of women suffer from some degree of urinary incontinence in their lifetime
• Better digestive function
• Almost 10 percent of women will undergo surgery for urinary incontinence or pelvic organ prolapse.
• 30 percent of those undergoing surgery will have at least two surgeries in an effort to correct problems introduced or unresolved by previous surgeries

That sucks.

Let’s start with the basics.
Pelvic floor disorders occur when the “sling” or “hammock” that supports the pelvic organs becomes weak or damaged. The three main types of pelvic floor disorders are:

1. Urinary incontinence: lack of bladder control (pee pee laugh)
2. Fecal incontinence: lack of bowel control (oh my gosh, that wasn’t just gas)
3. Pelvic organ prolapse: a condition in which the uterus, bladder and bowel may “drop” onto the vagina and cause a bulge through the vaginal canal (What the f**#@*&!!!!?)

Also, check out these symptoms:

• Urinary problems, such as an urgent need to urinate, painful urination or incomplete emptying of their bladder
• Constipation, straining or pain during bowel movements
• Pain or pressure in the vagina or rectum
• A heavy feeling in the pelvis or a bulge in the vagina or rectum
• Muscle spasms in the pelvis

Wait a minute, these symptoms sound familiar…

While postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction only affects women who have given birth, a study of 184 first-time mothers who delivered by Caesarean section and 100 who delivered vaginally found that there was no significant difference between the groups at ten months following delivery, suggesting that pregnancy is the cause of incontinence for many women regardless of their mode of delivery. So what do they have in common? Diastasis recti is a naturally occurring condition that develops over the course of pregnancy as a result of your tummy getting bigger. Still confused? Let’s break it down:

• Diastasis affects the Rectus Abdominis muscle (weakens, compromises)
• Primary job of the Rectus Abdominis muscle is to keep your inner organs in place (compress and fix)
• Result of weak or injured Rectus Abdominis muscle is that the weight of organs that are no longer supported pressures the pelvic floor (weakening the pelvic floor muscles)
• Too much pressure on the pelvic floor results in pelvic floor dysfunctions

Chicken or egg problem?

Good question, yes this could have been a pre-existing condition.

Major known causes for pelvic floor dysfunctions include obesity, menopause, pregnancy and childbirth. However, some studies show a genetic link from an inherited deficiency in their collagen type. Whichever the cause, there’s no doubt that having stronger and more supportive abdominal muscles will dramatically help resolve your pelvic floor condition. What to do now?

The Abdominal Connections 6 Step Program and the Postpartum Recovery Program both address pelvic floor conditions brought on by pregnancy. We use modern Kegel techniques that both help you identify and control your pelvic floor muscles and strengthen them to avoid further damage by reinforcing your deeper abdominal muscles. Let us help you build up your confidence to laugh, jump, and sneeze without worry.

Pee pee accidents stop being cute after potty training, let’s do this together.