Post-Natal Care and Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Post-Natal Conditions are Common, but are NOT Normal!
POST-NATAL SYMPTOMS​
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Carrying a child for nine months and giving birth - either vaginally or through a C-section - is one of the most traumatic things the body will experience. While it's common for new mothers to experience these symptoms, it's not normal, and certainly not something you just have to live with. Common symptoms include:
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Low Back Pain (77% of new mothers)
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Incontinence (49% of new mothers)
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Diastasis Recti (50% of new mothers)
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Painful Intercourse (24% of new mothers)
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Prolapse (30% of new mothers)
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Chronic Pelvic Pain (17% of new mothers)
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Painful Scar Tissue (C-section, episiotomy, or tear)
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HOW DOES PELVIC PT HELP?
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In many other developed countries, pelvic floor physical therapy is the standard of care after childbirth. Physical therapy can begin as early as 4-6 weeks after delivery, but can still address symptoms months, years, or decades later.
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Recovering is far more than orders to 'just Kegel.' In fact, the majority of women who were instructed to Kegel weren't able to do it correctly, and may even be causing more harm than good. Many times the pelvic floor is tight and strained after the trauma of delivery, so the first priority is actually to relax the muscles to allow them to function normally again.
Even when strengthening is needed, Kegels aren't usually the answer. After all, before the baby you weren't Kegeling all day long to hold back your urine or support your pelvic organs - it just happened unconsciously! The pelvic floor and core muscles are a complex system, and a good physical therapist works on the entire system - both internal and external - to restore normal function.
"My life has truly been changed since my first treatment at PelvicSanity. I have been taken care of in the most kind, professional, and beneficial manner. I never knew I could feel this great!"
The entire core - abdominal, back, glutes, hamstrings, quads, and pelvic muscles - needs to work together to restore normal pelvic function.
THE PELVICSANITY DIFFERENCE
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At PelvicSanity, your physical therapist will be a specialist in the field and an expert in dealing with post-natal recovery. Many of our patients have been to multiple doctors for their symptoms before finding success here at PelvicSanity.
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We believe full-length sessions are crucial to success with pelvic PT, so all appointments at PelvicSanity are an hour in length and spent entirely with a pelvic floor specialist. You’ll never be hooked up to electrodes, see an aide instead of a physical therapist, or be told to ‘just do your Kegels.’ We create a positive, calm environment for healing in private treatment rooms.
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We also believe the pelvic floor can’t be treated in isolation, so your treatment will address both the pelvic floor and the external muscles that connect and influence the entire pelvis for optimal results.
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YOUR INITIAL EVALUATION​
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Your initial evaluation will be an hour in length, and have three major components:
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Consultation: Most of our patients have been to multiple doctors, but have never really felt listened to in their appointments. In your initial evaluation you’ll have a chance to go through your medical history with your physical therapist. We’ll listen to you and ask about your personal goals for physical therapy.
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Assessment: Next your physical therapist will do a complete assessment. They will look at your posture, hip and pelvic alignment, fascia, scar tissue, and anything else influencing your pelvis. Then they will do an internal evaluation, looking for trigger points and dysfunction within the pelvic floor muscles.
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Treatment: We also want to know how your body responds to treatment, so your initial evaluation also includes targeted treatment. You’ll also leave with ‘homework’ that you can be doing in between your visits to build on the improvements with physical therapy.
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RESOURCES
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The second I walk through the door at Pelvic Sanity, I instantly feel better. The environment is wonderfully calming, and I know I'm always in good hands.
After delivery, many muscles are tight and strained. These need to be massaged and stretched out to their normal length.