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This is a good thread! I only remember to do them once in a while. I wanted to ask for those who do kegels how often do you do them?
Sometimes I'll be good and will do them several times a day and then I wont remember to dthem for 3 weeks!

Going to prenatal yoga helped me remember to do them. I also felt many times that I wasn't doing them right (!), but I think it gets easier the more you do them (like with any exercise). Did they help? I guess so... hard to say. For what it's worth... with both births (both vaginal: one with epidural, one natural), I had pretty uneventful labors, and I recovered both times within a week.

ETA: oh one tip from yoga that I learned was to do them as if an "elevator" is going up 4 floors and release them as if the elevator goes back down 4 floors. Maybe that will help! Hope it makes sense... don't know how else to describe it

I don't do them - I don't like the way it feels! I'm 16 weeks. Maybe I should start...

So this is a silly question. And I could google, but I trust you ladies not to giggle (it's totally fine if you do).

But I know they recommend Kegels to tighten up (anytime or after delivery), so how do they help prior to? I'd be afraid that having the muscles being tighter would almost make it worse?

@sorrycharlie: I copied and pasted this from the american pregnancy website. Kegels are NOT just for tightening muscles but more for excercise and control

"Absolutely! Kegel exercises, also called pelvic floor exercises, strengthen all the muscles in your pelvic floor. These muscles support your uterus, bladder and bowels. Your vaginal muscles are also strengthened by Kegel exercises. In fact, Kegel exercises are considered one of the most important exercises for a healthy pregnancy!

Strengthening your pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy can help you control your muscles during your labor and birth. Kegel exercises also help minimize two common problems during pregnancy: bladder leaks and hemorrhoids. After pregnancy, Kegel exercises can help promote perineal healing and help you regain bladder control. Your pelvic floor muscles have the hard job of supporting your baby for many months, so it is always beneficial to do your Kegel exercises! "

I do them when I remember. like now, since I'm reading about it, haha. but definitely not consistently.

I did them with DS, and they do help. I am trying to remember to them now, but I hardly ever :S I used to do them while I was driving. Every time I would get to a red light I would do one till the light turned green. Since I am a SAHM right now though, that doesn't work out so well this time!

It's always so weird to do Kegels in my prenatal class. I can't help but thinking, "I'm sitting in a room full of pregnant women squeezing their vaginas."

I do them in yoga class and when I remember. Sometimes I'll do them on my commute

If you do them, don't start until a month before your due date... doing them early on is like exercising your abs a year before you have to wear a bikini-- nice, but not necessary. I did them religiously every night and I'm convinced it's the reason why I didn't have a regular tear-- RJ's head was 99th percentile and he never crowned, had to be pulled out via vacuum and I tore only upwards (not downwards where I had done my kegels). Also, afterwards no matter what I had to do them again-- I would pee every time I coughed, sneezed, laughed, or even stood up suddenly.

@Mrsbells: i like that info you posted! kegels may explain why i didn't get any hemorrhoids at all with my second baby! no stress incontinence issues either... ever!

I've done them before, but I don't do them during sex because Hubs says it's uncomfortable. Apparently it also hurts if I sneeze or laugh while he's in me.

Does anyone else feel like they're just clenching their butt when they try to do Kegals?! I used to be able to do them... then all of a sudden... its like I can't not clench my butt. (Really hoping I'm not outing myself as a total weirdo right now...)

@pastemoo: that's reason enough to start doing them. also i sneezed yesterday and peed a little. maybe it's kegel time for me after all.

@winniebee: go for it!