Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy is something we wish more mamas knew about. Your pelvic floor holds together a group of muscles that support your pelvic organs, like your bladder and rectum. Because your pelvis is closely located to your hips, these muscles also play a big role in providing stability to your core. 

The pregnancy journey can really exhaust your pelvic floor, resulting in a loss of strength and balance in the muscles. Seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist is one way to better understand how your pelvic floor is changing and provides you with a safe plan to rebuild your strength. By working with a Pelvic Floor Physio {PFP} from the first trimester, you’ll be able to manage changes in your body with more confidence and support. In postpartum, the guidance of a physiotherapist will help you safely reach your exercise goals.
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We sat with Lamiya Zaidi, one of our registered pelvic floor physiotherapists to share more about what you can expect on your first pelvic floor physio appointment.

What should I expect in my first appointment?

Initial PFP appointments last for an hour and are a great way for us to get to know you, and for you to learn more about Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy. 

Your appointment starts with us discussing your health history, and any concerns you may have. We’ll also review any of your birth and exercise goals. After getting to know you better, we’ll take time to talk about the anatomy and function of the pelvic area. We’ll also assess your areas of concern through special external testing of your joints, muscles, nerves, and fascia. If appropriate, we’ll perform an internal assessment of your pelvic floor muscles. Once your assessment is complete, we’ll share our feedback and a treatment plan for you right away. Your treatments actually start in this session, and we’ll provide you with a home exercise program to maintain the changes addressed.

When should I see a pelvic floor physio in pregnancy?
You should start your pelvic floor physiotherapy appointments as soon as you know you’re pregnant. Internal exams, which allows us to access the pelvic floor muscles, can be conducted as early as 12 weeks of pregnancy.

How can pelvic floor physiotherapy prepare me for labour and delivery?
As expecting mamas near labour, sessions become geared to preparation for labour and delivery. This is done through:

• Education on the different stages of labour
• Optimal positions for the different stages of labour
• Breathing techniques that are connected to the core and pelvic floor
• Pain education / coping techniques 
• Techniques on how partners/support can provide comfort measures
  
• Program for the 4th trimester

How long after the baby arrives should I see a pelvic floor physio?
You can see your pelvic floor physio at 6 weeks postpartum, depending on your delivery and healing. In some cases, I’ve seen women post-cesarean births between 4 to 5 weeks postpartum.

Is an internal exam required to see a pelvic floor physiotherapist?
An internal exam is not a mandatory requirement to see a PFP.

How many sessions are required?
The number of pelvic floor physiotherapist sessions you’ll need are based on individualized treatment plans for each patient. A typical plan may consist of 6-9 visits, but this varies depending on your personal goals.

February is Psychology Month so we reached out to our counselling team for recommendations on mental health books specific to new and expecting parents. 

Becoming a new parent can be joyful, but the journey is also filled with hills of both highs and lows. In addition to aches and pains, sleepless nights and other common new parenthood hurdles, many are faced with pregnancy and postpartum mental health issues including stress, anxiety and depression.

Prioritizing maternal mental health is important, especially in the early postpartum days. Our team of registered psychotherapists at Yoga Mamas have put together a handful of expert-approved titles you should read if you're a new parent.

The past nineteen months have been challenging on so many levels for human beings around the world. The Pandemic is responsible for unleashing a lot of feelings from parents, elders, single folks, youth, and caregivers. For me, 2020 was also a year of raising a new baby during the early days of a global pandemic (while homeschooling a kindergartener) and adjusting to a new lifestyle with two kids at home. On top of worrying about what this scary virus meant for adults and kids alike, I was also worried about forgetting everything that comes with having a baby: how to take care of him, how to respond to his needs, how to figure out what he’s feeling, how much to feed him, and how to let myself recover from a c-section when all I wanted to do was move… but it turns out that:

1. Every baby is different,
2. Recovery is extremely important, and
3. Parents just figure it out, over and over again. Human beings are smart, intuitive, adaptive and resilient.

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Despite all the challenges faced this year, I did discover something to make my mama-life much easier: I discovered milk-duct therapy and c-section scar release therapy at Yoga Mamas in Toronto. 

I had never heard of these innovative release sessions while in the postpartum period after my firstborn, and am always excited to try something new within the wellness sector to release pain and/or tension. It turns out that Yoga Mamas is the only clinic in Ontario specializing in c-section scar release therapy, so I feel lucky to have stumbled upon the news when they launched! New mamas have it hard enough, so having options like these treatments, among other innovative therapies offered at Yoga Mamas, help us cope and get healthy so we can focus on being the best mamas we can be.

I wanted to share my experience about my c-section scar therapy in today’s blog post because I think all women who experience the major surgery should consider treatment afterwards.

Ellie was hands-on, friendly and welcoming. She explained how we would work on releasing the tension, pain and tissue behind the scar. In addition to a traditional physiotherapy assessment and treatment, Ellie uses a set of two devices called the Dolphin. The Dolphin is a non-invasive, painless procedure that “bounces” a current between the two Dolphin devices. This creates an electrical “sewing needle” effect throughout the scar, and the entire length of the scar is treated during this procedure. 

After my first session with the Dolphin, I felt an immediate release I didn’t know I needed. What I had initially thought were tiny, permanent knotted muscles or scar tissue underneath my point of incision, have now completely loosened and vanished. It was so strange to touch my lower abdomen and not feel a tightness I hadn’t known I had been holding on to. I was so happy I could cry.

​The next appointment was just as successful. Ellie used the Dolphin on my scar once again, and the release was immediate. Ellie also gave me some great suggestions on how to work on building up my lower abs again, as a many parts of my body were overcompensating for the weakness caused by the surgery.

I am not the expert in this field, however, I am someone who believes in therapy and trying different methods to improve my health, and was open to this novel treatment. I am a patient and I’m forever a student. So, to help provide education for all c-section mama’s out there, I wanted to ask Ellie some questions directly about the treatment in hopes that it will give you some technical insight into the therapy.

​Kelly: Ellie, you made me feel so comfortable and at home as soon as I arrived at Yoga Mamas, so I have to thank you again for that. We talked about my scar and the impact it has had on my body. What areas do you notice are most impacted from c-sections that women may not realize?

Ellie: I am glad you felt comfortable and at home! 

A lot of women don’t realize c-sections can cause fascial adhesions, which can produce body-wide chronic pains, most notably in the low back and shoulder. It is not uncommon after a Dolphin Neurostim session, women will report an improvement in their back or shoulder symptoms as well! Furthermore, c-sections scars cause sympathetic up regulation (our fight and flight system) and hold emotional trauma, which is why some women I see have a difficult time even touching their scar. Releasing the c-section scar can help with calming your nervous system down and balancing out your emotions. 

K: What are the techniques you use to release the scar? Above, I talk a bit about how the Dolphin works, but as the professional, feel free to add any other insights around this amazing device! 

Ellie: I start by placing one unit at the acupuncture point SP (Spleen) 6 which is 4 fingers above the medial ankle bone just behind the tibia bone, and the other unit above the scar. I repeat this for the other leg. This helps reconnect the scar electrically with the lower half of the body and helps improve lower lymphatic and circulatory movement. Then, by placing one unit above the scar and one unit below the scar, I “sweep” along the entire length of the scar three times. I end the treatment with “plugging both ends of the scar” by placing one unit at one end of the scar and the second unit at the other end.

K: Lastly, what is something you would say to a mom that was debating trying c-section Dolphin Neurostim scar therapy?

Ellie: I would say you have nothing to lose! Dolphin Neurostim is a safe, effective alternative to manual c-section scar release therapy, and delivers great results! A lot of mom’s I speak to have a difficult time releasing the scar themselves, so this is a faster, and great alternative!

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Is acupuncture safe during pregnancy?
Receiving acupuncture treatments by a qualified registered practitioner is safe throughout all stages of your pregnancy. Acupuncture works be regulating your body’s energy systems, thereby working with your body towards achieving greater health and well-being. 

What conditions can acupuncture help with during pregnancy? 
Acupuncture can support your health during your pregnancy by addressing these trimester symptoms:

• First trimester - Sets the foundation for a healthy pregnancy. It can alleviate morning sickness, vomiting, fatigue and headaches.
• Second trimester - Offers relief from common complaints. It helps to alleviate heartburn, hemorrhoids, stress, sleep problems, edema, elevated blood pressure and weight gain.
• Third trimester - Prepares the body for labour and delivery. It helps to alleviate sciatica, hip, joint, pubic and back pain.

When should I start and how often should I go?
If you are feeling any discomfort or presenting with any symptoms, acupuncture is an ideal treatment to help you feel better throughout any stage of your pregnancy. The frequency and duration of treatment varies with each individual. 

Can acupuncture help induce labour?
If your due date has passed, acupuncture can be used to help encourage your body to go into labour through gentler means than traditional Western labour-inducing treatments and medications. Acupuncture and acupressure can also be used to help control pain, calm the mind and reduce stress during delivery.

After delivery of the baby, should I keep getting acupuncture? Are there benefits?
It's important to recover properly after childbirth. Acupuncture can help you heal and regain your strength and vitality. It will help you rebalance your energy, boost your body's defences and help address concerns such as pain, fatigue, and postpartum depression.