Currently in the United States, 6 week postpartum checkups only last about 10 minutes. They often entail a brief internal exam and conversation about future birth control plans. You’ll likely get an “all clear” from your doctor to return to activity as usual. There is often no discussion of common pelvic floor issues, or about when to go to pelvic floor therapy postpartum if problems arise.
Yup, you’re good. All clear.
And that is your postpartum care.
Healthcare for moms is ripe for a revolution.
So, how do you know when to go to pelvic floor therapy postpartum?
Women’s bodies go through incredible physical, hormonal, and musculoskeletal changes during pregnancy and childbirth.
So when is it time to go to postpartum pelvic floor therapy?
We think – always. Pelvic floor therapy after birth should be standard care for everyone.
Why? Because you deserve more. Because you deserve to truly get back to “Yup, you’re good. All clear.”
Pelvic floor therapists specialize in the muscles and tissues of the pelvic floor. Pelvic floor physical therapy can provide that care, and get you a treatment plan that works.
What do postpartum pelvic floor therapy appointments entail?
Physical therapists will check for a variety of possible conditions.
#1 Diastasis Recti
Or, a separation of your abdominal muscles that commonly occurs during pregnancy.
You may feel and look like you are still pregnant. You may not know that the crunches you are doing to get your abs back after the baby could be making this condition worse.
You could also have pelvic floor problems like urinary leakage, painful sex, or pelvic organ prolapse. Diastasis recti and pelvic floor dysfunction often go hand in hand.
#2 Pelvic floor weakness or overactivity
Getting the “all clear” to get back to normal life, you may want to start working out again, after all “Yup, you’re good. All clear.”
You may go back to running and experience urinary incontinence.
You may do jumping jacks and feel heaviness in your vagina like something is falling out.
You may start yoga, which you hear is great for postpartum recovery and have embarrassing vaginal farts.
You may get on a spin bike or stair stepper and have bad tailbone pain.
You may have no idea that any of this can be caused by a tense or weak pelvic floor. Tight muscles are not normal – Pelvic floor physical therapy can address it all!
#3 Pain with sex
You will likely not talk to your doctor about returning to sex, or about painful sex postpartum.
Healing tissue from a vaginal tear or episiotomy may cause pain with penetration during sex. It can even cause some bleeding afterwards.
Your vagina may be dry, you can’t orgasm, or you may leak urine when you orgasm.
A pelvic floor PT can help deal with this. So you can truly get back to normal and enjoyable sex.
#4 C-Section Scars
You can’t wear jeans, you avoid lying on your stomach, and you don’t wear your baby in a carrier because your scar hurts.
C-Section scars can also cause:
- Bladder problems
- Groin pain
- Constipation
This isn’t your new normal. This isn’t “Yup, you’re good. All clear.” Physical therapy can help to mobilize scar tissue and address these concerns.
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapists can help get moms back to “all clear”.
When needed, seek help.
If you have leakage, pelvic pain, pain with sex, scar pain (both c-section or episiotomy), seek out a pelvic floor therapist.
As a pelvic health PT, I have worked with women during pregnancy and postpartum for over a decade. I help educate them how to care for their pelvic floor muscles, and assure them that pain, leakage, or prolapse is not normal. I guide them on a safe return to exercise, sex, and activity to meet the increasing demands of their lives.
I often hear, “I had no idea this type of physical therapy existed” or “Why didn’t my doctor tell me about this sooner?”
Postpartum care and awareness of pelvic floor PT is in desperate need of improvement.
I am baffled that medical professionals send sleep-deprived women home with bleeding vaginas, tender scars, sore breasts and a newborn baby to care for – and all they get are – Yup, you’re good. All clear.
Not sure if you’re all good? You might be, but you might not be. It’s okay if you aren’t.
The V-Hive is here to help. Chat with a virtual therapist or start a free trial of our childbirth recovery series today!
