Kegels is one of the most confusing exercises to me. No matter how much I try, I am always unsure if I am doing them correctly. As a mom of six, who is also ten months postpartum, I know I need to do my Kegels daily; but because I don’t know if I’m doing them right, I quickly grow frustrated.
You may be asking if Kegels are really that important. For many, they are. Millions of moms leak when they sneeze, cough, laugh, lift, jump and run. In fact, childbirth is proven to be related to post-partum urinary incontinence. But, just because it’s common doesn’t mean leaking is normal. Kegels can help strengthen the muscles that support the uterus, bladder, and bowels. They promote perineal healing and strengthen pelvic floor muscles after giving birth.
One in three women over age 18 experiences involuntary urine leakage.
Kegels can also be used in a proactive manner during pregnancy. The benefits of doing Kegels during pregnancy can be a reduced risk of bladder leackage, hemorrhoid prevention, AND as a way to gain control of the pelvic muscles used for pushing during vaginal delivery.
I remember the delivery of my first child being a learning process. I had no idea how to find the right muscles to push. When I finally found them, I didn’t know how I did it, so I spent another few minutes trying to figure out how I did what I did. During my second pregnancy, my midwife (who was my childhood friend’s mother) stressed Kegels to me at every visit. After the delivery she bragged about how well I did and contributed it to her nagging me about doing my Kegel exercises.
Are you unsure about your Kegels?
There are thousands of women out there who are just like me. Women who do their best, but are unsure if they are performing their Kegel exercises the right way. This is why PeriCoach was created. PeriCoach is a new pelvic floor muscle training device + smart phone app that takes the guesswork out of “Kegels.”
How does PeriCoach Work?
PeriCoach includes built-in biosensors that let women know when they’re squeezing the right muscles. Results are instantly sent to a smartphone over a Bluetooth wireless connection. The app collects and analyzes the readings and gives a picture of how the user is doing over time. It can also send reports from the smartphone to a clinician or pelvic health specialist.
“Pelvic floor muscle exercises are a great, non-invasive treatment for urinary incontinence. However, with verbal or written instructions alone, many women find ‘Kegels’ difficult to do on their own, and they become frustrated with the lack of progress,” said Leslie M. Rickey, MD, MPH, associate professor of urology and obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale University. “PeriCoach offers reassuring, visual feedback and allows clinicians to monitor progress between visits.”
Do you need help with your pelvic exercises?
Learn more about PeriCoach!
PERICOACH®, NEW FDA-APPROVED PELVIC FLOOR
TRAINING SYSTEM FOR WOMEN, NOW AVAILABLE
