Do you think I should try the next level up of the Smartball? If not now, when will I know when I'm ready for that next level?

Question.

I just have a query...my daughter is almost 15 months old - during the 30hr labour my urethra was crushed between her head and my pelvis and I then had a third degree episiotomy.
So my pelvic floor got quite a hammering. I saw a hospital physio who tested my muscles and got me doing more pelvic floor exercises.

I've also been using the Smartball Uno (the beginner one) for about 1 hour a day, doing pelvic floor exercises regularly, and doing pilates as much as I can (which is only once a week sometimes) but I still leak or at least feel compromised during high impact exercise when it involves splitting the legs!!

I'm assuming that I will get back to where I was prior to being pregnant? Some women say that's just what childbirth does but I don't want to settle for that. I feel like I'm doing a lot. My physio said not to keep the ball in all day so I usually do it for an hour or so at a time when I'm walking. So...
Do you think I should be keeping the Smartball in all day?
Or
Do you think I should try the next level up of the Smartball? If not now, when will I know when I'm ready for that next level?

Sorry for so many questions, just got a bit down on it today at the gym when I thought I would be okay. Thanks in advance.

Pelvic Floor Answers

Thank you for your enquiry and great to hear that you are so committed to recovering your pelvic floor strength. I cannot say for sure that you will be able to return to your pre-birth state, however I do think there are still options for you to improve.

My first suggestion would be to increase the amount of time you are wearing the SmartBall for as a single ball for one hour per day is not enough time do make a difference. I do NOT recommend using the double.
SmartBalls at all at this stage as they are double the weight and would be too much of a strain on your pelvic floor muscles.

Perhaps you could speak with your physio- who definitely has the specific skills and training- and ask if you can increase the amount of time you wear the single Smartball for by 30 minutes to 1 hour each week and gradually increasing the time you can wear them for, aiming ultimately to wear them for 5 to 10 hours -but not putting strain on your muscles. It is the amount of time daily plus the long term use that makes SmartBalls effective.

We have another product- called Natratone-that we recommend over SmartBalls for women who have had significant trauma and or prolapse.
This is a device that is used actively for short period of time, so actual active exercises and has been developed by women's health physios. It works a greater set of core muscles and is very effective.

Some women choose to continue to use the SmartBalls as well. I would recommend if you are in a position to purchase it that you try the Natratone and use it for a longer period that the recommended minimum of 6 weeks. You can check out the Natratone information and FAQ's on the website.