What every new mum needs to know about getting her pelvic floor back into shape after childbirth
Many women damage their pelvic floor in childbirth, which can have a lifelong negative impact on their continence, confidence and sexual satisfaction. A damaged pelvic floor should not be seen as an inevitable consequence of giving birth and until now no truly effective solution has been offered to help pregnant mums. The recommended 100 kegels a day are not enough.
Pelvic Floor Secrets for Mum's is a pre and/or post natal pelvic floor conditioning programme that can help make the last six weeks of pregnancy and birth experience easier. By following the programme new mothers can encourage a speedier recovery by teaching women how to functionally strengthen their pelvic floor. A functional pelvic floor is not only able to support the baby and the organs during pregnancy, but can reflexively relax in childbirth and continue to support rthe pelvic floor efficiently afterward, with minimal if any perineal trauma.
Jenny Russell is the author of the recently published "Pelvic Floor Secrets: Six Weeks To Continence, Confidence & Sexual Satisfaction", She specialises in pelvic floor health and postural alignment. Jenni's book has received a lot of positive feedback from readers and professionals, and press coverage in the consumer press and the book is flying off the shelves.
The Royal College of Midwives is featuring information about the Pelvic Floor Secrets Pre & Post Natal Programme at its annual conference this Autumn.
Women who have followed the Pelvic Floor Secrets Pre & Post Natal Programme programme reported they were better informed about the changes happening within their body during pregnancy and labour and could therefore communicate more effectively with their midwife about their pelvic floor health and how their overall movement, function, diet and lifestyle choices can affect them/it.
"I'm sure the relaxation work we did made the delivery easier, I knew in general I would have an easy time pushing because on your Pre Natal programme I learned how to properly relax my muscles, breath correctly and was able to connect the pelvic floor to my abdominal muscles," Rita C, new mother.
Teaching expectant mothers pelvic floor conditioning and relaxation (in line with postural alignment and diaphragmatic breathing), especially during the last six weeks of pregnancy may enable the perineal tissue to expand more easily during birth. This can reduce the likelihood of perineal trauma from episiotomy, vacuum or forceps delivery and can reduce the possibility of ongoing perineal pain and a lifetime of pelvic floor issues.
One in 4 women suffer from damaged pelvic floor muscles, often caused by pregnancy and childbirth, and many suffer for the rest of their lives, some even needing surgical intervention, which often doesn't solve the problem.
By following the programme women will not only improve their overall pelvic floor strength and condition during pregnancy for an easier experience in labour* but can enjoy the following post partum:
Reverse/minimise stress incontinence
Reverse vaginal laxity
Increase confidence
Avoid pelvic organ prolapse
Avoid surgery and medication
Improve sexual satisfaction
Improve posture
Increase oxygen and blood flow to the pelvic area
"Having a strong pelvic floor can make a huge difference to one's quality of life, no more worrying about leaking, no need for incontinence pads and no potentially serious medical conditions such as a prolapsed bladder, bowel or womb and to top it all a vastly improved posture, body shape and sex life", says Jenni Russell, of Pelvic Floor Secrets.
Ends
Pelvic Floor Secrets www.pelvicfloorsecrets.com
Royal College of Midwives www.rcm.org.uk
Pelvic Floor Secrets: Six Weeks to Continence,confidence & Sexual Satisfaction, available from Amazon.co.uk
Notes to Editors
Pelvic Floor Secrets by Jenni Russell is published by Filament Publishing £15.99 and is available from good bookshops and to buy and download from Amazon.
ISBN 978-1-908691-39-2
For further information please contact: Caroline Ratner, Caroline Ratner Communications: 020 8209 0120, caroline@carolinecomms.com
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
Figures of women suffering from Pelvic Floor Dysfunction can be as high as one in two women throughout the world; from lack of sensation during sex to prolapsed pelvic organs or embarrassing "oops" moments.
A recent survey by Dr Hilary Jones on ITV's Lorraine (October 2012) found that 84% of women questioned had some form of incontinence with fewer than 40% seeking help from their GP because of the embarrassment and stigma attached to the subject.
Pelvic Floor Secrets is a sensory programme with three main aims; co-ordination, strength and endurance. It is these three principles that will have you enjoying better sex right into your twilight years.
About Jenni Russell
Jenni Russell has been specialising in pelvic floor health since 1996 and sees private clients at the UK's only dedicated pelvic floor clinic at 1 Harley Street, London W1. She is committed to helping women achieve pelvic floor health without surgery or medication.
She is CHEK certified: Holistic Health, Lifestyle (Level 1) and Exercise Coach with over 20 years of personal training experience, specialising in pelvic floor health since 1996.
Jenni's first book, "Can a Vagina Really Buy a Mercedes?" (2005) was featured on ITV's This Morning and in The News of the World Sunday Magazine.
Jenni speaks on the topic throughout the UK and is a regular contributor to local radio, with BBC London presenter Vanessa Feltz describing her as having an "Obama-like quality."
She is a seasoned athlete, and has been crowned "Britain's Fittest Woman" after winning the British Ultrafit Championship three times in 1995, 1998 and 2000 and is the record holder in the event. In 2000, Jenni took part in the Channel 5 game show The Desert Forges a gruelling challenge of endurance tests set in the scorching Wadi Rum desert in Jordan, and emerged the winner. She has also run both the London and New York marathons and continues to raise money for charity.