Postnatal Recovery
As women, our bodies undergo some pretty amazing changes during pregnancy and birth. Its design is so incredible we are able to accommodate a growing baby for 9 months and then give birth bringing new life into this world. Wow.
While we marvel at the body’s ability to adapt and change, it’s also really important we consider recovery after birth and what this actually means. Never before have women been under so much pressure from a huge variety of different sources, including the media, to ‘bounce back’ and resume all the activities they were previously doing after having a baby, not to mention looking as they did before they were pregnant. It’s important to know what to look out for during your postnatal recovery and to know when you may need to seek out some extra help along the way.
Giving your body adequate time to recover from the effects of pregnancy and birth is the first important step, alongside some really good quality advice and information regarding when to resume different types of exercise and activity. The pelvic floor and abdominal muscles arguably undergo the most considerable change during pregnancy and birth, for some women recovery will happen all by itself but for many, there can be some delay and ongoing problems in the form of abdominal muscle separation and pelvic floor muscle dysfunction.
Separation of the abdominal muscles in a normal part of pregnancy, as your body accommodates to fit your growing baby, however some women develop a larger separation and post birth this can lead to weakness in the abdominal wall. You may notice a gap or hollow in your abdomen or even a doming or bulge when you sit up or move. Some women will also experience problems with incontinence, pelvic and low back pain as a result of their abdominal separation.
Pelvic floor dysfunction can present in a number of different ways. The effects of pregnancy and birth can lead to stretching and weakness of the pelvic floor muscles, causing incontinence from the bladder or bowel, as well as pelvic organ prolapse where you may experience a vaginal bulge, dragging or heaviness. For some women, the pelvic floor muscles can become tight leading to pain and discomfort during sexual intercourse.
Some women may have sustained a tear to their perineum during birth. These vary in their severity from Grade 1 to 4. A 3rd or 4th degree tear indicates a greater degree of injury to the pelvic floor muscles and the anal sphincter muscles have also been involved. These can sometimes be associated with an instrumental delivery (forceps or ventouse). I always recommend these women seek out an evaluation of their pelvic floor with a physiotherapist - it’s so important to address any problems or imbalance early on and be on the right road to recovery to prevent any long term problems with your pelvic floor muscle function and continence from the bladder and bowel.
At a postnatal pelvic health physiotherapy appointment, you will be offered a comprehensive assessment of your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles, as well as your posture, breathing and any discomfort you may be experiencing post birth. Your pelvic floor strength will be evaluated as well as any degree of abdominal separation and a bespoke rehabilitation programme will be designed for you. Your individual needs and goals will be taken into consideration, with a view to getting you safely back to doing what you love, whether that’s looking after your kids as a busy mum, walking the dog, running marathons or going to Crossfit.
Even if you are some years down the line after having your babies, it’s never too late to address problems that have developed since childbirth. Many women can come to accept these types of problems as normal not realising help is available. With pelvic health physiotherapy you can regain confidence you may have lost and improve your quality of life.
No matter how you gave birth whether via caesarean section or vaginal delivery, I recommend all women should see a pelvic health physiotherapist postnatally for assessment and rehabilitation. It will enable you to safely return to activity at a rate that is right for you and your body, as well as addressing any problems right away, ensuring they do not become lifelong issues.
Right now, women need support more than ever in the face of COVID-19 and a reduction in services available to help women during this time. While physiotherapy appointments in person at the clinic aren’t available currently due to government guidelines, much of our assessment and treatment advice can be done online via a video appointment from your home. Contact Bethany on info@bethanyford.com for details and bookings or Inform Physiotherapy in Silverstream on 04 527 4155. Virtual, online physiotherapy appointments are available on request.