QuestionHi Anne
I have a 3 month old baby, am exclusively breastfeeding and am now having my second menstrual cycle.
I am getting leakage when using a tampon (quiet alot) - whereas before I was pregnant I had no problem using them.
Could the cause of this be that I need to do more pelvic floor exercises, or does it take a few cycles to get back to normal?
Many thanks
AnswerHi Jennifer,
The birth canal stretches a great deal to faciliate delivery of your baby, and over a period of time it returns to close its original size. I say close because as you've surely discovered by now, no woman's body is exactly the same after pregnancy and birth.
Yes, pelvic floor exercises such as Kegels will help speed up the tightening process, but if after 6 months it still feels slack to you and the leakage continues, I would talk to your doctor about other possible treatments. In the meantime, it might be more comfortable and convenient to use pads during your cycles, at least during the heavier days.
Congrats on the birth of your child!
Ann S
