{"id":3340,"date":"2023-02-07T12:52:45","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T12:52:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.mutusystem.com\/en-uk\/?p=3340"},"modified":"2023-12-01T13:19:16","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T13:19:16","slug":"pelvic-floor-after-a-c-section-or-vaginal-birth-possible-effects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mutusystem.com\/en-uk\/pelvic-floor\/pelvic-floor-after-a-c-section-or-vaginal-birth-possible-effects\/","title":{"rendered":"Pelvic Floor After a C-Section or Vaginal Birth : Possible Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There is some controversy around the mode of birth and the outcomes related to long-term pelvic floor health<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re often asked whether a c-section is ‘better’ for the pelvic floor than giving birth vaginally.  You may have read that a Cesarean birth is more likely to preserve the muscles in your pelvic floor, whilst a vaginal birth may cause pelvic floor dysfunction afterwards. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article is to help clue you into some possible effects of any birth on your pelvic floor. There is no \u201cright\u201d way to give birth, and of course, whether we give birth by Cesarean or vaginal birth, is often not a choice! It’s important to feel educated on your situation, however your birth experience goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little bit of preparation and awareness can go a long way<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each body is different and in the case of birth, there are (at least) two bodies at play here. This makes looking at statistics and research to tell what is \u201cbest\u201d a little tricky. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A baby with a weight on the larger size might have more of an impact in pregnancy and birth on a woman\u2019s pelvic floor than in other situations. Or, for example, a smaller baby sitting lower and for longer in the pelvic brim, or a birth with a longer pushing stage could have more of an impact on the pelvic muscles than a heavier baby born vaginally in an average amount of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, where research and statistics are helpful for setting up a gauge of what you might expect, it\u2019s far from being a crystal ball. In considering that, it\u2019s helpful to think about your pelvic floor health no matter if you have a planned Cesarean, a small baby, multiple babies, a homebirth, are planning for a second or third birth, or are high-risk. A little bit of preparation and awareness can go a long way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Impact of Pregnancy on Strength and Tone<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pregnancy itself can change the tone and strength of your pelvic floor. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As your uterus does its incredible expansion and you grow a baby in there (or a few of them at once), it is obviously going to put some added strain on the soft tissue in your pelvic floor. They are responsible for holding up your organs and experience the added pressure of supporting the weight of a baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can read more about the changes to your pelvic floor in pregnancy<\/a>, including pelvic floor exercises<\/a> for pregnancy in our pelvic floor resources section of the website.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vaginal Birth and Your Pelvic Floor : Tips for Protection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vaginal birth can cause strain to the pelvic floor in multiple ways. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long pushing stages, prolonged labor, medications and other interventions (more below), baby not being in an optimal position, and lying in a position where you are tightening or pushing up against part of your pelvic floor in labor can all cause increase the likelihood of pelvic floor damage from vaginal birth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To potentially protect your pelvic floor and perineum in vaginal birth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n