What is Kegels exercises and when do I start doing it?

Known as Kegels, ‘elevators’ or ‘exercises for the Yoni’ (the Sanskrit word for the sacred temple we call the vagina), pelvic-floor exercises are the correct postpartum remedy to prevent: urinary sphincter incontinence (such as peeing when you cough, sneeze, jump or jog); urinary frequency (having to pee a lot); flaccidity (weakened vaginal muscles affecting sexual enjoyment, or your tampon falling out); and to tone up the anal sphincter muscle (to reduce accidental farting and make you your old self at pooing). After childbirth, the delicate sensitivity within your genitals can feel numbed, and physiologically it actually is for a while. Within say 7–10 days of childbirth it is a very wise idea, even if your vaginal delivery ended in a Caesar, to re-start your pelvic-floor exercises — the increased blood supply to the area through exercise is also very beneficial for healing. If, three weeks after childbirth, you can stop your urine flow mid-stream (but don’t do this too regularly because it causes bladder infections), or hold a Kegels contraction for 3–4 seconds, then you’re on track and doing really well. It can easily take several months to restore things to their former strength.