Prenatal and Postpartum Experience, Knowledge and Engagement with Kegels: A Longitudinal, Prospective, Multisite Study.

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Urinary incontinence (UI) increases during pregnancy and continues into the postpartum period. Continued UI impacts women's comfort and affects aspects of their everyday lives. Kegel exercises have been found to decrease the incidence and severity of UI. The purpose of this study was to describe severity of UI, how women gained knowledge about Kegels, influences impacting Kegel exercises during pregnancy and postpartum, and characterize women's performance of Kegels. Methods: A longitudinal, prospective, multistate study was undertaken at four sites across the United States. Postpartum women completed the Pelvic Floor Control Questionnaire that incorporated the Sandvik Severity Index. At 3 and 6 months postpartum the women's UI, performance of Kege

SUBMITTER: Yount SM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8336225 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature