Physical Therapy for New Moms

Congratulations on motherhood! It’s an exciting and nerve-racking time rolled up into one. While you’re all-consumed by your new bundle of joy, we want to remind you to also look after yourself between bouts of feeding, changing diapers, and nibbling on tiny toes (OK, that last part is fun).

Of course, you know this, which is why you’ve gone online to search for information about the necessity of physical therapy for new moms. We’re glad you did. Below is a breakdown of how you will directly benefit from making physio a part of your wellness regime as a new mother.

4  Ways New Moms Directly Benefit from Seeing a Physiotherapist

1. Helps Correct Physical Postpartum Conditions

The miracle of birth is often accompanied by a number of musculoskeletal conditions. The expression “like pushing a watermelon through the size of a (insert fruit of choice)” may be crude but it’s also apt, and why women are left feeling as if they’ve been torn apart inside for months or even years after giving birth. One such condition is postpartum Diastasis Rectus Abdominis (DRA). Also known as abdominal separation, DRA is separation of muscle bellies midline in the muscle and rectus abdominus along the fascial connection of the line alba. Physiotherapy can help to restore the form and function of your core system through treatments such as manual therapy (to address muscular and alignment imbalances), a progressive exercise program (to addresses breathing patterns along with abdominal and pelvic floor muscles), body mechanics, and postural awareness. Learn more about how physiotherapy can help manage DRA. Another example is pelvic organ prolapse, which is a systematic descent of a pelvic organ (uterus, cervix, bladder) pushing on the walls of your vagina and/or anus that occurs in about 50% of postpartum woman. These physiotherapy interventions can assist with pelvic organ prolapse.

2. Can Help Revive Sex Life

It’s entirely normal for women’s (and even men’s) libido to drop during the first 6-to-9 months following the birth of their child. However, for many new moms, dyspareunia (persistent and reoccurring pain before, during, and/or after sexual intercourse) can keep their sex life form returning to form. Dyspareunia can be caused by preexisting pelvic floor dysfunction, but may also result from (or become aggravated by) childbirth. Manual therapy and physio-prescribed exercise along with biofeedback and electrical stimulation can help correct this condition and make sex feel good (great?) again. View more on how physiotherapy can restore your sex life after childbirth.

3. Getting a Better Night’s Sleep (when baby lets you)

One of the biggest struggles new moms have, is sleep. While there’s nothing you can do about that when your new baby demands to be fed, cuddled, or swaddled you should most certainly take every advantage of when your bundle of joy is sawing logs. Yet despite how tired you may be, you may have trouble falling and sustaining sleep. It may be due to stress and anxiety, or the new pains, strains, and discomfort your body feels after giving birth. It’s more than likely some combination. Moreover, given that you may be breastfeeding and/or need to be alert, sleep medications are NOT an option. Fret not, because physiotherapy can help with this is as well. View the 5 ways a physiotherapist can help you achieve better sleep.

4. Will Get You Ready to Get Back in Shape (When You’re Ready)

You pride yourself in taking care of yourself. Your physical fitness regime had to be sidelined to some extent throughout pregnancy and after childbirth. However, you have your eyes on the prize and desire to return to the gym, jogging path, swimming pool, hiking trail, or other preferred recreational platform as soon as possible. That being said, you’re unsure if your body is as ready as your mind may be. This is where a physiotherapist comes to the rescue. A physiotherapy clinic that specializes in women’s health will perform a head-to-toe assessment. They will address your level of core fitness and will put you on a plan to to put you back where you want to be in a safe and effective manner that won’t compromise your health.