10 Benefits of Postpartum Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Every Mama Should Know
You gave birth, and we think that’s a big deal! Welcoming a new life into the world is undoubtedly one of the most joyous experiences a mother can have. However, the postpartum period comes with its own unique set of challenges, both physical and emotional.
If you’ve recently had a baby, you know that pregnancy and childbirth change your body. You don’t feel the same, and your body probably doesn’t look the same. And you know what? That is ok and perfectly normal. The most important thing is to be kind to yourself and give yourself time to recover and adjust to your post-baby body.
Postpartum recovery looks different for every mama. As you heal, it’s important to prioritize your pelvic health. Your pelvic floor may not be on your radar, but it should be! Pregnancy and childbirth put a lot of pressure and stress on your pelvic floor. These essential muscles must support your organs and the increased weight of your uterus and baby—plus, they have to prepare themselves to be stretched during labor. All of these dynamics can contribute to a pelvic floor that is weakened, injured, or restricted after pregnancy.
How Do I Know if I Have Postpartum Pelvic Floor Problems?
As you heal from pregnancy and childbirth, here are some specific signs or symptoms to look out for:
You experienced perineal tearing during childbirth
You experience leaking or urgency issues
You feel restricted in moving and exercising
You have pain in your back, hips, pelvis, ribcage, and diaphragm
You feel a pressure or “falling out” in your pelvic floor
You notice a “doming” or “caving” in your abdomen
You find it difficult to reconnect to your core strength
You experience Cesarean scar sensitivity after six weeks
You have to change your clothing choices because of your C-section scar
Sex is painful or uncomfortable
How Can I Strengthen and Heal My Pelvic Floor Postpartum?
It’s common to experience pelvic floor dysfunction after childbirth, ranging from mild discomfort to pelvic conditions such as bowel or bladder incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, diastasis recti, or uncomfortable sex. Postpartum pelvic floor physical therapy can help resolve many postnatal complications and safely guide you back to healthy exercising and enjoying all the activities you love.
What Are the Benefits of Postpartum Pelvic Floor Therapy?
The pelvic floor is part of a complex system, so many moms find they need a variety of treatments and techniques to address their symptoms fully. This is where a pelvic floor therapist really shines. By nature, these specialists are problem solvers. They will assess your unique needs and work with you to strengthen and restore normal pelvic floor functioning.
Let’s explore ten benefits of seeing a postnatal pelvic floor physical therapy:
1. A Personalized Approach with a Pelvic Floor Expert
Picture this: a one-on-one session with a pelvic floor therapists who listens to what’s going on and then tailors their approach to fit your unique needs. At your evaluation, you can expect a comprehensive assessment to evaluate the strength, flexibility, and coordination of your pelvic floor muscles, as well as a personalized treatment plan that offers a variety of techniques to address your needs.
2. Heal Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pelvic organ prolapse, also referred to as POP or “prolapse” for short, occurs when the pelvic organs (such as the bladder, uterus, or rectum) descend into the vaginal canal due to weakened pelvic floor muscles. There are various types of prolapse, but almost all people with symptomatic prolapse describe it as a feeling of heaviness or achiness on their pelvic floor. This feeling is often accompanied by a sensation of a tampon falling out. Sometimes, there is a visible lump or bulge as well. It is also typical for pelvic organ prolapse to show up many years after childbirth, with the risk going up after multiple births. If you are concerned you may have pelvic organ prolapse, it’s important to see a postpartum pelvic floor therapist. These specialists can assess your pelvic floor muscles, determine your type of prolapse, and provide strategies to manage symptoms and improve pelvic support.
3. No More “Oops” Moments
Urinary incontinence, or loss of bladder control, is one of the most common issues postpartum moms experience, but it’s treatable! It’s a myth that leaking or peeing in your pants when you laugh, cough, sneeze, jump, or run is just something we have to live with after having a baby. No matter how many children you have, you should always be able to control your bladder. Seeing a pelvic floor specialist can help you regain your pelvic strength and take back control of your bladder.
4. Assess and Treat Diastasis Recti
Diastasis recti refers to the separation of the ab muscles, specifically the rectus abdominis muscles, or six-pack ab muscles, which run vertically along the midline of the abdomen. It is common for these muscles to separate during pregnancy due to pregnancy hormones and your expanding uterus. This separation causes a gap in the abdominal wall muscles that looks like a “mom belly,” “bulge,” or “pooch.” You may also notice a “doming” in your abdomen when you’re straining (coughing or sitting up, for example) or a “caving” when lying down. If your ab separation does not resolve itself after pregnancy, a pelvic floor physical therapist can help! They can assess your degree of abdominal separation and provide targeted exercises, breathing techniques, visceral manipulation, dry needling, massage, and other modalities to address it.
5. Support Cesarean Recovery
Almost one-third of births result in Cesarean surgery, which is considered a major abdominal surgery. With that comes a healing process that looks different for each mom. Pelvic physical therapy can be tremendously beneficial in optimizing the healing process and helping you recover from a C-section. A pelvic floor PT can help with scar tissue mobilization, reduce adhesions and pain, and improve mobility, function, and quality of life. These specialists can also assess the health of your pelvic floor, which was still affected by pregnancy even if you didn’t have a vaginal delivery.
6. Enjoy Intimacy Again
Let’s talk about the S-word: sex. For many mothers, childbirth can impact their sexual function, leading to issues such as pain or discomfort during intercourse and decreased sensation. If things aren’t feeling quite right in the bedroom post-baby, pelvic floor therapy can help you reconnect with your partner and restore intimacy and pleasure.
7. Safe Return to Exercise
Feeling like yourself again after giving birth means you want to start doing all the activities you enjoyed pre-pregnancy—from running or training for a race to joining workout classes or just having fun with your kids at the playground. But sometimes, inconvenient symptoms keep popping up as you try to exercise again. You may find yourself leaking during your run or pausing your workout to race to the bathroom. Or perhaps you notice your abdomen doming while attempting to strengthen your core. Thankfully, pelvic floor physical therapy can help safely guide you back to healthy exercising and enjoying all your favorite activities again.
8. Relieve Persistant Pelvic Pain
Some moms experience pelvic pain or discomfort post-baby, which can interfere with daily activities and quality of life. Pelvic pain includes discomfort below your belly button and between your hip bones (including lower abdominal pain and lower back pain). The pain can also radiate up your back, around your rib cage and diaphragm. Many of us find that the pain is intensified while walking, running, using the stairs, sitting, getting up from a chair, having sex, and inserting a tampon. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help ease and even alleviate pelvic pain and discomfort so you can get back to feeling like yourself again.
9. Education and Awareness
Many moms are unaware of the importance of their pelvic floor and how to properly care for these muscles. A pelvic floor physical therapist will educate you about the anatomy of the pelvic floor, its function, and strategies for maintaining its health. Even after just a few visits, you’ll better understand how to heal your post-baby body and prevent further pelvic floor dysfunctions down the road.
10. Emotional Support
Motherhood can be a rollercoaster of emotions. Sometimes, you just need a shoulder to lean on. Pelvic floor physical therapists offer compassionate support and guidance, helping you navigate this transitional phase with confidence.
So, there you have it, mama! Postpartum pelvic floor physical therapy might be the best-kept secret of motherhood. By addressing pelvic floor issues and promoting optimal function, you can feel more comfortable, confident, and empowered in your body as you embrace motherhood.
About Pelvic Health & Wellness
Pelvic Health & Wellness was built with you in mind. We practice whole-person, individualized pelvic floor physical therapy in a caring and safe environment. Our therapists specialize in treating pelvic health concerns such as fertility, pain, incontinence, prolapse, constipation, and various pregnancy and postpartum-related conditions.
We understand that being ready to talk about and address your pelvic floor wellness concerns comes from a place of strength. We are here to support and encourage you on your journey back to pelvic health so you can return to doing what you love! If you are ready to take the first step in reclaiming your pelvic health and wellness, contact us today.