Pelvic Floor Recovery After Birth

This helps to increase circulation to the area and reduce swelling.

Pelvic floor recovery after birth. Start gentle pelvic floor contractions day 1. Daily pelvic floor exercises help you to regain control of your bladder and bowel after your baby s birth macarthur and ismail 2014. We zig zag dip and dodge as we reconnect with our bodies rebuild strength care for a newborn adjust to new motherhood and all the new normals that come along with it. But the medical definition often states postpartum refers to the mother and postnatal to the baby.

A key strategy to maximizing pelvic floor recovery is starting gentle pelvic floor contractions the day after giving birth even if you have had stitches. Regular pelvic floor and deep stomach muscle exercises can help to reduce the size of the separation between your stomach muscles. The gp can refer you to a physiotherapist who will give you some specific exercises to do. Your body needs time to recover before you begin intensive exercise and your pelvic floor is vulnerable to lasting damage if you leave it for too long.

Your pelvic floor has just had to stretch up to three times its normal length. How do i find my pelvic floor muscles. The pelvic floor muscles elongate during pregnancy and they are stretched with birth. During a vaginal birth your pelvic floor will experience the biggest load ever placed on it.

If your baby s head presses on your pelvic bones a certain way during childbirth it may create a gap between two bones at the front of your pelvis. Don t fall into this trap. A pelvic floor pt s guide to recovery after birth january 23 2020 at every mother we know first hand that postpartum recovery is not a straight line. Often the terms postpartum and postnatal are used interchangeably.

Having a well toned pelvic floor also enhances feeling in your vagina making sex and orgasm more satisfying sacomori and cardoso 2015. But your recovery after childbirth can involve months or years of recovery. So it s no wonder that studies show an average of 25 35 reduction in pelvic floor strength following birth. If the gap is still obvious 8 weeks after the birth contact the gp as you may be at risk of back problems.

Pelvic floor recovery after childbirth after your pregnancy and childbirth you may be thinking you need a nap followed by an intense workout to shift the baby weight.