We spend so many hours reading, researching and talking to people about what to expect during pregnancy. Many people begin their deep dive into all things pregnancy as soon as they begin to think about being pregnant, We are inundated with information. We learn about each trimester of pregnancy and how our bodies are changing as well as how the growing baby inside of us is changing. We learn about what is “normal” and what to be concerned about. We learn about what we can and can’t do, what we can and can't eat. We think about what we want our delivery to look like and EXACTLY how it will go. We pack a bag, some of us weeks in advance, just so we are prepared.
We do all these things in preparation for the delivery of our baby, but how many of us spent any time thinking about and preparing for how WE would feel after? I didn’t.
In the United States the postpartum follow up generally consists of a single visit around 6 weeks after the delivery of our sweet bundle of joy.
The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology have more recently stated that, “To optimize the health of women and infants, postpartum care should become an ongoing process, rather than a single encounter, with services and support tailored to each woman’s individual needs.” YES!!!!!!!
They have stated that “All women should ideally have contact with a maternal care provider within the first 3 weeks postpartum. This initial assessment should be followed up with ongoing care as needed, concluding with a comprehensive postpartum visit no later than 12 weeks after birth.” YES!!!!!
These changes are amazing and greatly needed. Postpartum moms are dealing with issues related to sleep deprivation, hormonal changes, body changes and the increased demand of caring for a newborn, not to mention all their other responsibilities.
We begin our postpartum journey excited, elated, happy, and often overwhelmed. We are learning about our new baby and if it’s our first, we are learning about what it truly means to keep another human alive.
In addition to all the emotional, mental and physical changes that are happening we are charged with figuring out what our babies need and often don’t think about our needs. Often our first consideration of ourselves is at our first, and generally only follow up visit with our doctor at about 6 weeks.
Historically, at this follow up visit, Moms are often given the ALL CLEAR to resume NORMAL activity.
What exactly does that mean?
Well, in general, it means that their tissue has healed from the delivery and “THINGS” look good.
If you are anything like I was, being given the “all clear”, gave me very little idea of what I should be doing.
If you are anything like I was, you took that to mean. OK, now I can go run like I used to, workout like I did before and of course, return to having sex. Well, I don’t know about you, but I didn’t feel ready for any of these things. I did head out for a run on that very first day of being given the “all clear”, just to find out that it felt like my uterus was going to drop right out of my body. NOT a great sensation.
Now, fortunately for the moms of today, we have better information.
We know that for most people getting moving early, with short walks or even just walking around your home can be helpful, We know that breath work, and gentle pelvic floor muscle contractions or gentle abdominal engagement can feel good and help to improve that feeling of connection between your upper body and lower body. Stretching of the neck, upper back and chest can be very helpful to combat the postural changes that may occur due to breastfeeding or simply due to the growing chest as a mom’s milk supply comes in. All this and so much more can be done in the very early days after delivery.
For higher level activity, we now have screens that can be done by physical therapists and other providers who specialize in treating this population of people. We have return to run guidelines, impact readiness screens and musculoskeletal and pelvic health assessments that can be done. I believe that every postpartum mom could benefit from an evaluation from a physical therapist that specializes in pregnancy and postpartum. Many people don’t even know that this is an option, and it is currently not the standard of care in of country.
So, what should you do?
In general, my advice to people is to begin slowly. Test the activity out in a safe and controlled way. See how your body feels. And ask yourself these questions:
Do I have pain anywhere?
Do I have pelvic pressure, bulging or the sensation of falling out?
Do I leak urine, stool or gas when performing the activity?
Does this activity feel uncomfortable?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may not be ready for that activity, and you may benefit from consulting your physician, physical therapist, or other medical professional for specific guidance. Click below if you would like us to contact you regarding postpartum physical therapy and your specific needs.
If you are able to do the activity, and answer NO to each of these questions, then it is likely ok for you to continue. Listening to your body and progressing slowly is key. Be patient and kind to yourself, recovery is a journey.
If you would like to learn more about Viva Physical Therapy, LLC and the services we provide, you can find me at Enlighten Wellness, you can contact me at 248-318-9722 or contact us here.
