Birth & Beginnings: childbirth conversations

Hello mothers and mothers-to-be! This blog focuses on pregnancy, childbirth, children, and parenting. Along with providing helpful information and resources, it is also a place to discuss choices and trends in these areas. The blog will inform and encourage mothers as we share and learn from each other. It is not a place to say that one opinion is better than another; instead it is a forum for camaraderie and for sharing personal experiences. So feel free to read, respond, and absorb information on a daily basis as together we traverse this world of motherhood.


Laura Tolman, CCE, LSP

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Laura Tolman is a local certified childbirth educator and labor support professional. She also works as a postpartum doula. She and her husband are long time Alaskans and are the parents and forming relationships with families while learning about other cultures. In her free time Laura enjoys writing freelance articles, poetry, and the performing arts. Her favorite pastime is being with family and coaxing uproarious laughter out of her young son.

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Archive

Pre-natal Exercise - 8/22/2008 10:35 pm

No Fear - 8/17/2008 12:02 am

Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD) - 8/14/2008 10:20 pm

Connect With Moms - 8/7/2008 10:40 pm

The Chronic Whiner - 8/6/2008 10:55 pm

Last month of pregnancy - 8/1/2008 10:41 pm

Baby’s sleeping arrangements - 7/21/2008 11:02 pm

How many children? - 7/16/2008 11:38 pm

Go For the Full 40 - 7/11/2008 11:41 pm

Dream of Numbers - 7/7/2008 11:23 pm

Happy 4th of July - 7/4/2008 9:18 pm

Dealing with an Unexpected Birth Outcome - 7/1/2008 10:02 am

Another Breastfeeding Benefit - 6/25/2008 10:16 pm

Affirmations and Birth - 6/22/2008 10:53 pm

Inductions and the Bishop Score - 6/14/2008 5:03 pm

Pelvic Floor Muscle Myth - 6/8/2008 12:01 am

Mom, the Ultimate Multi-tasker - 6/3/2008 10:00 pm

Mommy and Baby Separation - 5/29/2008 10:00 pm

Open Blog - 5/18/2008 4:30 pm

How long to exclusively breastfeed? - 5/15/2008 4:56 pm

The “Business of Being Born” Review - 5/13/2008 8:32 am

The Name Game - 5/11/2008 10:02 pm

full archive »

Pelvic Floor Muscle Myth

Posted by mamas

Posted: June 8, 2008 - 12:01 am

So you’ve heard it said that vaginal birth is the culprit of urinary or bowel incontinence later in life….but is this true? As it turns out, there are other contributing factors to pelvic floor problems, many of which have nothing to do with childbirth. It is true that some interventions commonly seen with pregnancies, can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction in certain circumstances where there was injury to the pelvic floor muscles.

Many women are now thanking Dr. Kegel’s research which concluded that a person could train the pelvic floor muscles by doing simple exercises. Kegel exercises are often recommended for women who are pregnant to strengthen their pelvic floor muscle group in advance. Some incontinence in later pregnancy is expected, however this does not mean that a women will have a life long problem.

Because of the myth that vaginal birth is linked to incontinence, many mothers have opted for costly and risky cesarean sections instead. However, new research states that incontinence is not a by-product of vaginal delivery, and that a normal delivery is the healthiest method of giving birth.

When a women finds out that she is pregnant, she will inevitably be told myths by well-meaning individuals who believe that they are indeed speaking facts. The truth of the matter is that a mom must do her own research to separate fact from fiction. She must not allow inaccurate information to assist her in formulating her opinions and in making childbirth choices.

Click here for more information on preventing pelvic floor dysfunction childbirthconnection.org


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  1     July 3, 2008 - 4:14am | aksurfmom

"You kids ruined my bladder!"

My mom always blamed us kids for "ruining her bladder". My grandma said the same thing. I expected the same when I had mine but curiously my bladder was not affected. After doing some asking around I figured out that my mom was forced to birth laying on her back which puts tremendous pressure on the pelvic floor. My grandma was knocked out, cut open (episiotomy), had forceps shoved inside while a nurse pushed down on her belly to force the baby out. Talk about trauma to your delicate parts! Anyway, I am grateful I was able to work with a midwife and birth naturally and gently push my babies out in the best position for my body.

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