Pregnancy 39 – BumptUp

Why PT for your Pelvic Floor?

A Women’s Health Physical Therapist (WHPT) is a licensed healthcare clinician trained to evaluate and treat neuromuscular conditions related to pregnancy, postpartum, incontinence, and pain. We commit ourselves to learning and caring for women in all phases of life.

PRENATAL/PREGNANCY

Your body is supporting and growing a child. It is essential you are at your best in order to carry to term, deliver, and care for this life. A WHPT understands the needs of women and the changes that occur during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and postpartum. During pregnancy a WHPT can help address the pains associated with your changing body. These include but are not limited to lower back pain, , pelvic pain/pressure, neck/shoulder pain, bladder and bowel issues (leaking, constipation), and abdominal wall concerns (e.g. diastasis recti). Although many attribute these as “normal” conditions, these are issues that are not normal but ARE manageable and treatable! A women’s health specialist can improve your quality of life through the pregnancy, prepare you for delivery, and prepare you to care for your new baby postpartum

POSTPARTUM

You have taken care of yourself to deliver your baby. Now, let’s talk about how to take care of you! Your body has changed over the last 9 months and will continue to change over the next 6-18 months. While many physical changes are very common after pregnancy and delivery (for example, leaking urine), they are not normal and you do not have to live with them! Urinary incontinence (leaking urine for any reason) is considered normal for 2 weeks after delivery, as well as some pelvic heaviness and pressure (prolapse).

If these problems persist after 2 weeks, a WHPT can help with exercises and lifestyle/behavioral modifications to reduce and potentially reverse your issues. They can also help with the aches and pains associated with childcare activities including: neck and back pain, wrist and hand pain, prolonged or painful postures, and/or numbness and tingling in arms, legs, or pelvic area. Other issues that can occur are diastasis recti (separation of abdominal muscle), swelling in the legs or pelvis, and pelvic pain with vaginal penetration. It is important to address these problems early so you may return to your previous activity level and care for your baby without interference or pain.

Cesarean Recovery Tips

Whether your cesarean section was planned or a result of a birthing complication, it’s important to remember that you’ve had a major abdominal surgery that requires eight to ten weeks or more for recovery.

Although you may not feel like doing much the first few days post-surgery, specific exercises should be started right away to help speed recovery after anesthesia, and stimulate muscle function, and promote circulation.

Check with your healthcare provider before doing any of these exercises to make sure it’s safe for you to get started.

Cough five times each hour to help clear your lungs following anesthesia. You should support your tender abdomen by holding a small pillow or rolled towel against your tummy over the incision as you cough. If you are in the hospital, you can ask the nurse for an incentive spirometer. This is a special tool designed to help with breathing after a surgery. The nurse will show you how to use it.
Log roll to get in and out of bed. Log rolling is a technique that helps to decrease pressure on your belly. Start your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the bed. As you roll to one side, use your top arm to help roll and grab the side of the bed (or at least put the hand on the bed for balance support). Once on your side, knees still bend, use your top hand to help push you up as you gently swing your legs over the side of the bed with your body moving as a single unit or a “log”. Once you are up far enough, you can use your bottom hand to help push you up. Breath the entire time. If you need help with this technique, as the nurse to teach you or request a visit from a physical therapist in the hospital.
Lie or sit in a comfortable position and slowly pull your belly in towards your spine. Use your breathing by exhaling as you draw inward and inhaling as you relax. Work up to a set of five to ten repetitions every hour.
Lie on your back with the knees bent and arms out to the sides. Imagine that your tummy is the face of a clock, and gently press down at 12 o’clock, then to the side at 9 o’clock, down to 6 o’clock and then to the other side at 3 o’clock—reverse direction and repeat. Try and work towards a smooth movement of circles in each direction.
Once your anesthesia has worn off try walking a few steps with support. You can ask for a physical therapist to come see you in the hospital if you think you may need help or if you think you may need a walker for balance. Make sure you have someone holding you as you move as you may feel dizzy or unstable. You’ll prevent fluid retention and speed the return of bowel and bladder function by getting up and walking a few minutes every hour.