Inner Strength for Pregnancy and Beyond

Getting pregnant and having a baby is one of the most beautiful milestones women achieve. This process is glorious; however, it can cause significant changes in our bodies that can last beyond pregnancy.

How can you prepare your body for pregnancy, stay fit and healthy during pregnancy, and facilitate the quickest and most efficient recovery postpartum?

Women in other parts of the world have known the answer to these questions for decades. The answer......make pelvic floor health and wellness a priority during this continuum.

Did you know that initiating an exercise regiment without addressing your deep core muscles first could cause incontinence, a diastasis rectus abdominus (a separation of the rectus abdominus/six pack muscle), and painful sex?

With the increasing popularity of cross fit exercise programs, there has been a rise in women and men leaking during intense exercise.

Let's be clear…leaking urine during exercise may be somewhat common, but it is not normal!

If you are leaking urine during an exercise, it is most likely due to a dysfunctional neuromuscular recruitment pattern of your pelvic floor muscles. Your body is not recruiting the right muscles at the right time or muscles that are not intended for that movement. This leads to an unbalanced pressure system in your deep core system causing leaking during exercise.

For all of you that are expecting or just became new moms…. CONGRATULATIONS !!!

Pregnancy, labor, and delivery is a beautiful process. It is a journey that is unique to our own personal experience.

In certain parts of the world, it is common practice for postpartum women to receive pelvic floor physical therapy to help them recover properly from the birthing experience because it is common for pregnant and postpartum women to have musculoskeletal issues, aches, and pains due to such significant postural changes in such a short period of time.

Many women also experience urinary incontinence, diastasis rectus abdominus (a separation of the rectus abdominus muscle), pelvic region pain, pubic symphysis pain, or pain with sex.

The great news is…. a pelvic floor PT can help you resolve all of these issues. Many techniques such as manual therapy, postural training, exercise instruction, bowel and bladder retraining, scar release techniques, and neuromuscular therapy can help to resolve postpartum issues.

If women are pregnant for ten months, shouldn’t we consider the postpartum period to be at least this long? So many healthcare practitioners are giving new moms the “green light” to go back to full activity after six weeks.

The reality is that our bodies need more time to recover.

Pelvic therapy should be an integral part of preparation and recovery for the birthing experience! WHY?

During pregnancy:

1. Learn joint protection, body mechanics, and proper core engagement to support you during functional tasks.
2. Ergonomic evaluation for the working mom, ensuring your workspace is right for your changing body.
3. Postural training to address your shifting center of mass as your belly grows.
4. Address any pain or discomfort (pubic symphysis, pelvic region, low back, upper back/bra line, rib, coccyx, neck and shoulder are common).
5. Addressing any bowel and bladder issues such as urinary urge and frequency and/or constipation.
6. An individualized pregnancy exercise program.

Exercise during pregnancy that is done safety has been shown to shorten and ease labor, reduce risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure, control weight gain, improve cardiovascular function, and improve mental state.

Postpartum:

1. Ensure that your pelvic floor and deep core muscles regain their full strength and coordination.
2. Assess the abdominal wall muscles and connective tissue.
3. Individualized guidance on returning to exercise properly.
4. Address any issues or pain that may have occurred as a result of birthing to ensure proper healing.
5. Education on body mechanics while caring and feeding a new baby.
6. Ensure the proper healing of scars or skin tears.

New moms, you deserve the gold standard of care; an individualized program designed uniquely for you.

Be proactive!

Be your own best advocate!

For more information or to make an appointment, go to www.pelvicorerehab.com or call 561-295-1631.