Beyond Birth

Incontinence is perhaps the most common postpartum condition. Carrying a child puts tremendous stress on your pelvic floor muscles. Over as many as nine months, those muscles stretch, and that usually causes both urinary and fecal incontinence. We’ll teach you a variety of muscle strengthening exercises that you can do in your home, car, or while standing in line at the grocery store.

Some women have tailbone pain before pregnancy, during pregnancy, or during labor and delivery. The baby passing through the birth canal may cause an injury such as a sprained, dislocation, bruise, or even a fracture of the tailbone. If your OB diagnosed a dislocated or fractured tailbone, we will develop a physical therapy plan that reduces tailbone pain, and speeds up healing.

We’ll diagnose how your body is recovering from your childbirth, and put you on an exercise plan that slowly and safely builds your strength back to where it was prior to your pregnancy. With a little help, you should be able to return to your normal activity a couple of months after childbirth.

Nearly all individuals experience some level of hip and/or pelvic pain. This can occur before and after the birth of your child and it can happen with a variety of activities. If not treated quickly, it can quickly transfer into hip and leg pain. This pain can limit your function, including finding a comfortable position while breast feeding, sleeping, or caring for your child. Our Pelvic Health therapists receive extended education and training in recognizing and treating the causes of pelvic pain and joint discomfort.

Your belly area undergoes a lot of change during pregnancy—both externally and internally. Some people simply need some help getting their belly back into shape, while others may experience health conditions that require unique therapy—including Diastasis Recti. Regardless, we’ll get acquainted with the pain and discomfort you may be experiencing in the belly area, and develop a plan to treat belly pain and discomfort.

Almost every activity associated with taking care of your baby, from diaper changing to car seats, is done in a forward leaning position. As a result, as many as 40% of all individuals experience back pain as much as six months after childbirth—and some even longer. Knowing the best way to carry, lift and feed your baby can help keep your back in its best shape.

Pain with intercourse is very common after childbirth, especially if there has been extensive tearing or an episiotomy. You may also experience a lack of desire due to painful sex, fatigue, changes in body image related to weight gain, and/or hormonal changes with breast feeding. We’ll talk about issues you’re concerned about, and discover ways to reduce and eventually completely eliminate pain during intercourse.

Scars begin to form the day after your surgery. Research proves that the earlier you begin to manage and mobilize them the less discomfort you will have later in life. Your Pelvic Health Therapist will offer a few tips for treatment of your C-section and/or episiotomy scar.