Kegels are exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor which supports the bladder, uterus, and bowels.  They are named after gynecologist Arnold Kegel.  Many women don’t want to do kegels during pregnancy because they believe that the exercises tighten the pelvic floor and make delivery more difficult.  But that is not actually what kegels do.  Kegels, done properly, allow you to understand how to tighten, relax, and generally control those muscles, which is extremely useful during labor and delivery.  Kegels are also said to help increase bladder control after pregnancy and decrease hemorrhoids during and after pregnancy.  Some say that doing kegels during pregnancy can shorten your labor - this is unclear, however it can’t hurt to do them for the other benefits they provide…