“Things just aren’t the same anymore…I just don’t feel like myself.”
“How can I get my body back?”
“Sex hurts now and I don’t look forward to it. I feel bad for my husband because I avoid it.”
“I can’t control my bladder when I cough or sneeze.”
“My stomach will never be the same.”
As women’s health physical therapists (WHPT) we hear versions of these comments on a daily basis in regards to the changes women experience during pregnancy and after childbirth. Our society focuses on the birth of the baby and all of the joys of becoming a parent. Women rarely open up and talk about the issues surrounding pregnancy and childbirth that affects their bodies and when they do, they often voice they feel guilty about asking for help. Medical providers often contribute to this feeling of guilt because when women finally make the decision to ask for help they are frequently told “you had a baby and your body has changed, you’ll have to learn to live with the changes.” The other avenue women take in an attempt to return to their pre-pregnancy weight is jumping right back into exercise routines that they were completing prior to becoming pregnant. A good majority of the time, these routines are too aggressive and over time it creates additional issues which again makes women feel that pregnancy and delivery has ruined their bodies forever. It is important to note that the muscles and ligaments affected by pregnancy will take 4-6 months for full recovery. Fortunately, many of the issues affecting women’s bodies after pregnancy and childbirth can be addressed by a WHPT.
The therapists at Restore Your Core Physical Therapy regularly treat post-partum related dysfunctions.
Postpartum Care:
It is important to note that these things are NOT considered normal 6-8 weeks after delivery:
If any of these conditions persists 6-8 weeks post-partum, you should seek care from a WHPT. Many of the issues are treatable, but if they are left untreated they can cause long term issues. You should not start a strengthening program if you have any of the conditions listed above until you have received adequate training for proper functioning of the core musculature which includes the pelvic floor muscles, transverse abdominus, multifidus, and breathing diaphragm. The therapists at Restore Your Core Physical Therapy regularly treat all of the post-partum related dysfunctions listed above.
Postpartum Physical Therapy-Health care in the United States is not addressing common issues for new moms learn why here: http://glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2012/02/did-you-know-the
Contact our Carmel & Greenwood Pelvic Physical Therapy Center for all your postpartum issues. Feel free to reach out to any of our Pelvic Pain therapists at Restore Your Core Physical Therapy. We look forward to improving your life.