Should I Go to a Physical Therapist After Pregnancy?
Bringing a baby into this world is a wonderful, challenging, and physically demanding experience. It can be tough on the body with all the physical changes that occur throughout pregnancy and childbirth.
It is critical to pay attention to your body in the postpartum period to encourage healing and gain strength back.
The last trimester can aggravate problems in the lower back as you grow to accommodate a growing baby. The weight of your growing belly can cause a strain on your lower back and your pelvic muscles. It is often a cause of a weakened pelvic floor causing problems like backaches and urinary incontinence after birth.
Physical therapy in the postpartum period can do wonders to aid recovery!
How Does Physical Therapy Help With Postpartum Recovery?
Postpartum physical therapy is a specialized form of physiotherapy to help with pelvic floor dysfunction and other associated problems to regain strength and function in these muscles after birth.
Physical therapists with this specialization can help through a series of exercises and stretches that are aimed to help train the muscles and regain functionality that was lost during pregnancy.
According to research, physical therapy has proved to be a low-risk, non-invasive, yet very effective approach to help with pelvic floor problems, urinary incontinence, diastasis recti, and backache after pregnancy.
What Is The Pelvic Floor and Why Is It Important To Keep It Strengthened?
The pelvic floor is comprised of muscles and connective tissues that support vital organs in the pelvis. The pelvic floor helps support structures such as the bladder, bowel (large intestine), and internal reproductive organs such as your uterus and ovaries.
The muscles in your pelvic floor also provide the necessary flexibility for various bodily functions like urination, defecation, and sexual activity. It also helps support the uterus when you’re pregnant.
Your pelvic floor muscles and essential muscle groups in your core absorb external pressure caused by strenuous activity (lifting or coughing). It acts as a shock absorber for your spine and organs, allowing them to stay in place.
These muscles also assist in regulating your bowel and bladder function, allowing you to maintain continence.
The weakening of these muscles can cause problems such as incontinence and spinal strains that cause constant pain.
Does Austin Area Birthing Center offer physical therapy?
We don’t offer physical therapy at either of our locations at this time. However, we have trusted community partners that we can refer you to. These are excellent therapists that we have tried ourselves and recommend.
How Soon After Birth Can You Do Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy?
You can start pelvic floor physical therapy 2-5 days after a normal vaginal birth. It gives your body time to heal and prevent complications such as bleeding.
We recommend you start with gentle physiotherapy initially and progress as healing completes. If you want to learn more about our trusted partners, send us a message or ask us in your next appointment!