Kegels

DISCLAIMER - I am not a medical professional, I am just sharing the knowledge I have gathered over the last 3 years with childbirth and all of my recent health issues. Please contact your doctor if you are not sure you are doing your kegels correctly or if you have further questions. Also, this topic is not your everyday comversation, so be prepared to read about body parts and functions. :)

Ok, so some of you read my first blog and were like - What is a 'kegel'??? It is such an important topic that I am going to write about it today, and hopefully save you from having to wear adult diapers when you are older- or surgery, like I am having! MEN - listen up - You need to be doing kegel muscle exercises too!!! Kegels are not just for women and pregnant women!

Kegels refer to your pelvic floor muscle. It is one big muscle that is holding up all of your innerds. If this muscle is not exercised then you will have a weak pelvic floor and this will cause slipping down of your bladder and possibly other organs, and then you could lose control of your urinary function -aka incontinence. Next time you are going to the bathroom, try and stop your urine mid-flow (just once or twice - NO giving yourself a bladder infection from not emptying your bladder!!!) This is a kegel. Make sure you are not using your rectal sphincter muscle (your poo hole). It should be relatively easy to do, and you should be able to do it while brushing your teeth, talking, driving, etc. If you cannot do it easily, then most likely you are not doing it right. Keep trying. It will be worth it.

Now that you know what muscle I am talking about, trying working on doing kegels 3 times a day, ten times per time. Gradually work up to a number that you are comfortable with, and then try holding them for 3 seconds at a time, then 5 seconds, all the way up to 10 seconds. With Logan I was doing 250-300 kegels per day (and was doing them correctly at the time), but it isn't necessary to do that many to keep the muscle in shape. Please ask your doctor or research to find a number you are comfortable with. You can make this fun and challenge yourself to do kegels everytime you stop at a stop light (my toLabor doula instructor put KEGEL on her license plate- ha!), or during every commercial, etc. Whatever works best for you. Just remember you are doing this to keep your pelvic floor in shape, and avoid wearing diapers as an adult!

A good way to find out if you are doing kegels correctly is during intercourse. Do a kegel during and your husband or wife should be able to tell you that you are squeezing those muscles, and as you strengthen them they should be able to tell that the muscle is getting stronger.

So, did you try a kegel while you read this post??? I know it's a funky subject, but I hope someday you are able to look back and be thankful that you read about it and took the initiative to take good care of your body.