Pelvic floor exercise, also known as Kegel exercise, consists of repeatedly contracting and relaxing the muscles that form part of the pelvic floor, now sometimes colloquially referred to as the “Kegel muscles”. The exercise needs to be performed multiple times each day, for several minutes at a time, for one to three months, to begin to have an effect.
Exercises are usually done to reduce stress incontinence (especially after childbirth).
Toning these muscles with Kegel exercises will help the mother push during delivery and recover from birth. It also will help her control bladder leakage and lower her chance of getting hemorrhoids (due to excessive straining).
The pelvic floor muscles are the same ones used to stop the flow of urine. Still, it can be hard to find the right muscles to squeeze. She can be sure she is exercising the right muscles if when she squeezes them she stops urinating. Or she can put a finger into the vagina and squeeze. If she feels pressure around the finger, she has found the pelvic floor muscles. She should try not to tighten her stomach, legs, or other muscles while doing this, to isolate the muscles.
Kegel exercises
Tighten the pelvic floor muscles for a count of three, then relax for a count of three.
Repeat 10 to 15 times, three times a day.
Start Kegel exercises lying down. This is the easiest position. When her muscles get stronger, she can do Kegel exercises sitting or standing.
For more info
womenshealth.gov (pregnancy)
medlineplus.gov (pelvic floor exercise)
.Kegel exercise. (2016, August 29). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 00:40, August 29, 2016, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kegel_exercise&oldid=736659050