5 Reasons to see a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist After You've Had Your Baby

Written by Lamiya Zaidi, Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist at Yoga Mamas

With all of the excitement surrounding the arrival of your newborn, it's easy to forget the changes that have occurred in your body-particularly when it comes to the pelvic floor muscles, as this is often an area that is affected the most. Once you consider this, recovery and returning to your normal activities may seem daunting, however a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist can do wonders through implementation of specific exercises so that you can recuperate naturally and enjoy life as a Mama!  

Here are my top 5 reasons to visit a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist after you've had your baby:

1. Recover Safely

Many women have the desire to get back to their regular physical activity after having a baby as soon as possible without knowing how to safely do so. Without proper education and support from a healthcare professional, early return to physical activity can make recovery slower, harder and in some cases, cause further problems. A Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist can help guide and empower you to return safely to physical activity by making recommendations on what activities are most appropriate, modifying activities you enjoy, using soft tissue techniques and more to help you reach your goals pain free!

2.  Prevent Leakage  

You may have heard that incontinence is very common during and after childbirth, but this is not normal and can be avoided. Incontinence indicates an issue with the pelvic floor muscles, and their inability to support our pelvic bladder. A Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist can assess the strength of those muscles and develop a plan of action to repair or prevent this from occurring

3.  Repair Abdominal Separation 

The medical term for this is Diastasis Recti. During pregnancy, as the baby and belly grow, there can be a split in the connective tissue holding your abdominal muscles together. In postpartum, a separation leads to core weakness, low back and hip pain, and incontinence. A Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist can assess the degree of separation, and provide you with education and a plan to prevent and repair any separation. 

4. Prevent Pain  

Due to the stress your body has undergone during delivery, it's common to experience discomfort during intercourse, however this too can be avoided! A Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist is able to reduce scar tissue formation and loosen tight muscles to prevent further complication and potential pain during intercourse.

5. Provide Support

The pelvic floor muscles may become weakened during pregnancy or childbirth, leading to a condition called Pelvic Organ Prolapse. This occurs when the structures designed to keep organs in place are weakened or stretched and as a result are displaced. Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy can reduce the symptoms caused by Prolapse and improve pelvic floor support through individualized treatment plans and education.