Suddenly, You Just Love Doing Your Kegels

They call it rééducation périnéale
après accouchement (perineal retraining
after childbirth) -- and it's part of
the standard 10 week postpartum rehab
program prescribed for new mothers in France.

While promoting perineal fitness is nothing new -- heck, even guys are working on their pelvic floor muscles these days -- what's captured the attention of readers of the UK newspaper The Guardian, which reported on the trend a few days ago, are the weekly perineal electrotherapy sessions that have become part of the standard postpartum regime for new moms.

"The prescription was for a post-birth tradition in France, a procedure known as la rééducation périnéale après accouchement (perineal retraining after childbirth)," Janine Di Giovanni wrote in The Guardian. "I am far too puritanical and squeamish to discuss in detail what is actually involved, but it's a ritual nearly every French mother goes through. Let's just say it's like an extended course of gymnastics for the pelvic area, which also involves electric devices being used to strengthen the birth canal muscles."

Electro-stimulative perineal treatments are an established therapy for urinary and anal incontinence in both men and women. And, over the past few years, articles such as this one in the French journal Perineology (.pdf) ) have highlighted the potential benefits of electro-stimulative perineal treatments during the postpartum period.

But does that mean they should become a standard postpartum therapy for every new mom?

No one knows. The most recent Cochrane Review on this subject -- update in 2007 -- has been withdrawn.

Comments

[Andrea Joyce]

Ann, thanks for pointing out this article! I think it's a fantastic regime and one that we need in Canada. Assessing diastasis and pelvic floor stength after childbirth is critical to a mom's rehabilitiation.
- Andrea (www.afterbabybody.com)

[Ann Douglas]

Thanks for your comment, Andrea. Great to have your perspective.
- Ann

[Amaranta]

Yes, I am visiting in France and here it is the norm. No wonder why you see less adult incontinence products in the ailes of the supermarkets here... The French have no taboos for the perineum. It is what it is... I went to a therapy session and they use a vaginal cone with electrodes to stimulate the muscles of the perineum (You buy your own at the pharmacy for approx $30. It is not the most comfortable procedure but I feel more strenght in the perineum after just one session!...I live in Toronto and if it helps anyone out there, I found a clinic that does this kind of theraphy in North York (I have never been there...but I will try it on mu return) Ladies: we don't have to setle for the pain or the incontinence... the French ladies know that reeducation of the perineum works; even many years after child birth.
Here is the link to the physiotheraphy site in Toronto.... http://www.physiogenics.com/home.html
there is another group in Quebec too http://www.physioroussillon.com/content/view/10/15/lang,en/
Good luck!