Pelvic floor exercises help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor, which come under great strain in pregnancy and childbirth. The pelvic floor consists of layers of muscles, which stretch like a supportive hammock from the pubic bone (in front) to the end of the backbone. If your pelvic floor muscles are weak, you may find that you leak urine when you cough or sneeze. This is quite common and you needn't feel embarrassed. However, you can strengthen the muscles by doing the following exercise:

• Close up your back passage as if trying to prevent a bowel movement.
  
  
• At the same time, draw in your vagina as if you are gripping a tampon, and your urethra as if to stop the flow of urine.
  
  
• Hold for five seconds.
  
  
• Repeat this exercise in sets of five, ten times a day.