Physical therapy for those who are postpartum is so important because, not only has your body changed in almost every way, but the demands on the body have changed as well. You now have a tiny human who relies on you for everything! You’re feeding them, carrying them, putting them in the crib or on the floor, picking them up from the crib or off the floor, all while operating on minimal sleep. The new demands on your body, all without adequate core strength and endurance, can take a toll. We teach you how to place and pick up your baby with minimal stress through the low back, how to carry them, and how to “undo” the physiological effects of life with a baby to improve posture, pain/discomfort, strength, endurance, and overall function.
If you don’t go to physical therapy, you will still heal and improve because the body is smart and amazing and will do its best to support you! Especially as your hormones return to normal, you will start to feel more normal as well. However, clinically what we see is women who don’t go to physical therapy early, may end up having symptoms a year or two postpartum such as pain with sex, constipation/straining for bowel movements, urinary leakage or frequency, etc. These symptoms usually get worse without treatment. Alternatively, we see women who may not have many symptoms postpartum, but as they approach menopause their bodies go through a similar transition as far as hormones are concerned. With less estrogen, the vaginal tissue has less blood flow and support; therefore, as the tissue thins, the muscles start to atrophy and issues that have been there all along become exposed. That’s why so many women have symptoms related to pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence, and pelvic pain during menopause.
Our goal in seeing you early is to prevent these symptoms from ever showing up. We give you tools to use to support your pelvic floor throughout your lifespan and maintain your strength, coordination, and overall health!
