No doubt that pregnancy and childbirth changes our bodies, at least temporarily. After greeting this beautiful baby into your life, Moms are often left with feeling that their bodies have transformed, and not always in a good way. Weakness, pain, incontinence, and of course the trauma on the body from childbirth can leave Mom’s asking “Is this normal?” and “Will I ever get my former body back?”
Why Should I See a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist After Pregnancy?
Physical therapy can help postpartum women regain strength, stability, and maximize healing so that you can function the way you need and want to in life. Not only can we give the advice to meet the physical needs of recovering from childbirth, but also parenting, and how to help you return to the pleasurable aspects of your life such as exercise, socializing and of course a healthy sex life once again.
What can I expect at a postpartum physical therapy visit?
At Pelvic Wellness Center we want to learn about your challenges and what is important to you and then we individualize your treatment to meet these needs. You can expect us to listen to your concerns and goals and evaluate you to find limitations, restrictions, weakness, pain to develop a program just for you. We are skilled manual therapists with over 43 years of combined experience in physical therapy and pelvic health.
Postpartum Conditions We Treat
- Urinary and fecal incontinence
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- Diastasis recti
- Vulvovaginal pain
- Scar tissue management for pelvic floor lesion or episiotomy
- Core and abdominal wall strengthening and rehabilitation
Scarring
Scarring can result from Cesarean section (C-section), episiotomy, and perineal tears which are common during childbirth.
Pelvic Floor Weakness
Weakness of the pelvic floor musculature is a common occurrence following pregnancy and childbirth, and may result in additional complications such as pelvic organ prolapse and/or urinary/fecal incontinence.
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Like a hernia, pelvic organ prolapse is the abnormal protrusion of an organ through a weakened pelvic floor. Sometimes referred to as “dropping” of the rectum, vagina, bladder, or uterus, symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse may include discomfort of the perineum and/or low back during upright positions, visualization of a bulge seen in the vaginal area, and changes in bowel or bladder function.
Urinary / Fecal Incontinence
Incontinence, or an involuntary loss of urine or feces, can be an unfortunate and undesired result of natural processes such as aging and childbirth, or the result of medical conditions, surgery, or other health issues.
Pelvic Pain
Persons suffering from pelvic pain experience a broad range of symptoms and functional limitations. Some of the most common symptoms include pain or discomfort while sitting, pain during or after sexual intercourse, and painful bowel or bladder function.
Dyspareunia
Dyspareunia is abnormal pain that occurs during or after intercourse in the genital, pelvic, or low back regions of the body. Causes of dyspareunia can include muscle dysfunction within the vagina, poor lubrication and/or thinning of the vaginal wall, tissue adhesions, nerve irritation, and/or scarring of the perineal region.
Diastasis Recti
Diastasis recti is a condition characterized by a separation of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy, allowing for the growth of the pregnant belly. The separation of the major muscles within this area, the rectus abdominus, can cause significant muscle weakening which can lead to spine instability and back pain.
Pelvic Wellness Center is an independently owned physical therapy clinic in Eugene, Oregon focused exclusively on treating pelvic health issues through physical therapy. Contact us today!