Not everyone understands Kegel exercises, but some see them as strenuous workouts. Unknown to them, doing these exercises offers more than they can imagine. It is essential to keep your pelvic floor muscles fit because of the loss of bladder control after birth.
Research showed that pregnant women that engage in Kegel exercises usually experience easy delivery. Do you care to know why? They trained their pelvic floor and abs to be strong to withstand pressure. A common complaint during pregnancy is pelvic pain, especially those carrying more than a baby.
We create this guide for you to reduce the risk of urinary incontinence and excruciating pains during pregnancy. Sit back for the invaluable info you are about to discover.
Key Takeaway
Kegel exercises are workouts for the pelvic floor, required to make delivery come with ease and to prevent urinary incontinence. Practicing these exercises helps mothers of newborns recover within a shorter period. Kegel strengthens the pelvic floor muscles, enabling it to hold the uterus and bladder in the right position. Kegel aims to aid contraction and relaxation when necessary during pregnancy and after birth. Lastly, jumping rope during pregnancy improves your joint and muscle balance.
What are Kegel Exercises?
These workouts train the pelvic floor muscles to contract and relax in the genital part. The pelvic organs require support, which is provided by the surrounding muscles. If the muscles are not strong enough, it will cause challenges during pregnancy.
That is why women need to do Kegel exercises after conceiving and after childbirth. They increase the strength and endurance of the muscles connecting organs around the pelvic. Additionally, they corrective measures to prevent the free release of urine from the body without control.
One secret you might not know is that Kegel exercises are helpful at any stage of a woman’s life. That means you can do it often after birth because that is the period you need to recover quickly. If you can strengthen your muscles with the workouts, you can regain your fitness as soon as possible.
How to do Kegel Exercises Effectively
The pelvic floor functions the usual way when we engage in different activities during the day. Walking, sitting, and standing put the pelvic floor into action regularly. But that does not mean you are already doing Kegel. It would help to locate your pelvic floor muscles to do it right.
This is what you should do:
- Go to the restroom
- Try urinating
- When the urine starts flowing, hold it for 5 seconds
- Release the flow to ease yourself
- Continue the cycle until you identify the pelvic floor muscles that require tightening.
- If you are consistent with this, you will definitely burst out a series of Kegels within a short time.
It does not end here, though. You still need to understand how to add Kegel exercises into your daily activities. You should keep in mind that muscle contraction and relaxation are highly important. Consistency with the Kegel exercises makes it seamless for women to deliver through the vaginal.
Source: Pampers
Why are Kegel Exercises Necessary?
Fitness enthusiasts usually work on their abdomen, legs, chest, and back. Many of the body parts mentioned above also impact the pelvic. Still, it cannot be like practicing Kegel exercises for pelvic floor muscles.
There are several questions surrounding possible complications when doing Kegel exercises during pregnancy. The answer remains it is 100% safe, as it won’t cause any harm to the mother and the baby throughout the pregnancy. However, people who experience pains before doing Kegel may find it challenging.
If you find yourself in this category, ensure you see a therapist as soon as possible. Kegel is not meant to put you through pain but to strengthen your muscles for contraction. It comes in handy during delivery and for urinary incontinence. Other benefits of Kegel include improved bladder control and organ supports
What is the Best Time to Engage in Kegel Exercise?
As indicated earlier, Kegel is useful throughout a lifetime. Therefore, it is advisable to begin at the earlier stage of life. However, the ideal moment to consider the workout is when you have already confirmed that you are pregnant.
It is essential to know that the first trimester of pregnancy is critical. You should seek a doctor’s advice before delving into it. The second and third trimesters are when the body becomes heavy. You can do the exercise often during this time.
Women with health conditions also need to see a physician. They are in the best position to guide you on whether to do Kegel exercises or not. If you often experience pains when doing the workout, the best alternative is to stop at once. But ensure you see the right health practitioner for a checkup.
Pregnant women can equally do jump rope exercises to boost their cardiovascular system. However, whatever you intend to do must be light. You don’t have to put pressure on to avoid preterm labor. Jumping rope during pregnancy improves your joint and muscle balance.
Conclusion
Kegel exercises work fine for pelvic floor muscles for women, especially during pregnancy. If you are reading this, it implies you already have detailed information about the workout. It is never too late to start. What is important is doing it correctly to maximize the benefits.