Caring for the perineum during and after pregnancy
Get back to your best
Here is some advice for preventing and treating problems involving the perineum both during pregnancy and following delivery.
Pregnancy and delivery may be complicated by:
• urinary incontinence
• bowel incontinence
• constipation; haemorrhoids
• pain and sexual problems
• poor wound healing or infections
• prolapse ("descent" of organs)
These problems are not at all unusual and are easy to treat.
Speak to your gynaecologist/obstetrician or your midwife, who will be able to advise you.
Think prevention
Drink enough water!
Drink large glasses of fluids, avoid carbonated drinks, coffee and black tea, which can irritate the bladder wall.
• Avoid "preventive peeing"
• Avoid pushing
• Avoid lifting or carrying heavy loads
Follow a healthy diet
Follow a healthy and varied diet, rich in fruits and vegetables, to limit constipation and excessive weight gain.
Undertake regular and appropriate physical activity
such as walking or swimming to help your pregnancy go smoothly.
Did you know?
Perineal rehabilitation and abdominal breathing exercises can reduce incontinence problems and even help your pregnancy go more smoothly. While it is important to know how to contract the perineum, it is just as important to know how to relax it.
Following delivery:
Mothers often benefit from a specific programme to help regain perineal and abdominal function. This can usually be started 6 to 8 weeks after giving birth, even if you have had a caesarean section. Introducing healthy daily habits helps prevent disorders from developing in the future. Avoid exercise until the pelvic floor has reactivated and any scars have healed. It takes 3 to 6 months for the ligaments and tendons to strengthen again following delivery.
Take action when the first symptoms appear
Waiting only makes things worse, so don't hesitate to speak up. This will reduce the amount of treatment you need and will noticeably improve your quality of life.
A precise diagnosis involves careful listening, investigation of specific symptoms, and a medical examination of the perineum.
Additional examinations are sometimes required and may be performed at a specialist centre or by your gynaecologist.
Effective treatments are available:
• Physiotherapy for the perineum: Your doctor can recommend therapists in your area. You can also find physiotherapists on the website www.aspug.ch in the menu "Our members".
• Specific medication
• Minor interventions
Then it is just a case of monitoring the course of the condition and preventing or treating any relapse.