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About Helene Byrne
Expertise
I can answer all questions regarding prenatal and postpartum fitness and exercise. I will not answer any questions that are not related to prenatal and postpartum fitness and exercise. I will not answer questions regarding getting pregnant, or signs or symtoms, only fitness and exercise during and after pregnancy. No due dates, medical problems during pregnancy, signs or symtpoms of pregnancy, pregnancy tests, vaginal problems/smells/discharge, periods or ovulation.

Experience
Pre-and-Postnatal Exercise Specialist ACE certified Personal Trainer Author: "Exercise After Pregnancy: How to Look and Feel Your Best" Book Author: "Bounce Back Fast! Post Natal Core Conditioning" DVD Founder: BeFit-Mom Teacher: Post Pregnancy Exercise Workshops

Organizations
IDEA Health and Fitness Association

Publications
numerous regional parenting magazine

Education/Credentials
Dancing Thru Pregnancy, Pre/Post Natal Exercise Specialist Certification 2000 Resist-a-Ball Core Program, 1999 American Council on Exercise, Personal Trainer Certificate, 1999 Peak Performance, San Francisco, CA, Pilates Instructor Training Program, 1992 Health and Fitness Institute, Cal State Hayward, Personal Trainer Certificate, 1990 American College of Sports Medicine, Group Exercise Leader, 1989 Boston Conservatory, BFA/Dance, 1982

Awards and Honors
ï¿½Bounce Back Fast! Post Natal Core Conditioningï¿½, 2005. Winner of the Platinum Award from the Family Review Center, 2007.

You are here: Experts > Health/Fitness > Obstetrics/Gynecology > ObGyn/Pregnancy issues > urine/exercise/postpartum

postpartum

Expert: Helene Byrne - 10/27/2009

Question
I’m 29, have three kids and my youngest one I had 15 months ago. Normal pregnancies, except the last one felt very heavy on the bladder/pelvic bone and I had pelvic bone pain for about nine months after having her. Lately, I’ve noticed that when I jump with my kids, jump rope, run, or bike, or do abdominal exercises, I feel some drops of urine. I’m worried, I don’t want to think I’ll be in depends by next year. The weird thing is that I before I jump, I don’t feel any urges to go to the bathroom. However when I stop and go, yes I had a pretty full bladder. I do drink lots of water throughout the day, so that makes sense. But not feeling any urge to go and then that happens during movement makes me worried. I hope it’s nothing too out of the ordinary and that you have some help for me! Thanks
Andrea

Answer
You are experiencing urinary stress incontinence, a very common problem, and fortunately one that's easy to fix by strengthening your pelvic floor muscles.

These small muscles run from your pubic bone to your tailbone, and provide support for the base of your abdominal cavity. A vaginal birth stretches out this muscles, and unless your recondition after childbirth, they can remain weakened. Isolation exercises for this group are called Kegel exercises, named for the doctor who first advocated strengthening the pelvic floor after childbirth.

To find out more about your pelvic floor muscles and how to strengthen them, go to:
http://befitmom.com/pelvic.html

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