What is Postpartum Physiotherapy?
Postpartum refers to a new mother after giving birth to their baby. Pregnancy & delivery take a toll on a woman’s body. Postpartum women experience a number of conditions that many of them can be treated or managed by a pelvic health physiotherapist.
Having a baby affects bladder, vagina, breasts, core and postural muscles. Having pain, bleeding, constipation, incontinence, and organ prolapse are common complaints of women after giving birth. The most common conditions postpartum and after delivery includes:
- Urinary incontinence
- Low back pain
- Diastasis recti
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Pelvic floor muscle or ligamentous injury due to delivery
- Pelvic girdle pain
New moms may also experience trouble controlling their bowel movement or passing gas as well as perineal pain if they had a tear during delivery and giving birth. Pelvic pain during intercourse and weakened pelvic floor muscles are common postpartum complaints.
During or after pregnancy you should not experience:
- Leaking urine, gas or stool when you laugh, cough, sneeze, jump or run.
- Ongoing pelvic or back pain
- Feeling of pressure or heaviness in your vagina or rectum
- Experience of pain during intercourse
If you experience any of the above symptoms visit a pelvic health physiotherapist. A pelvic physiotherapist plays an important role in helping women after giving birth to manage pain, bladder and bowel problems, and other pregnancy-related complications. A pelvic health physiotherapist can provide guidance in a safe return to life and physical activities.
Physiotherapy treatment program after giving birth can be complemented by other treatments such as:
- Massage therapy
- Posture education
- Pelvic floor strengthening
- Chiropractic care
- Acupuncture
- Exercise therapy & kinesiology
- Pilates & yoga
