Having a new baby is wonderful. It’s also overwhelming. You’ve done the most incredible thing – you’ve grown a human! Your body has gone through 9 months (ish) of daily changes, has gone through labour and delivery and then now you have this teeny bundle to look after. All of this places an awful lot of demand on the body, and our bodies needs can often end up at the bottom of the list in terms of recovery.
This is one of the reasons we believe that every new mum should have a postnatal check with a Pelvic Health Physio. Having a new baby places physical challenges on the body. Think how often you are sat in the same position feeding during the day / night. Or if the baby falls asleep on you and stay in that position just to help your little one rest. Your body is also getting used to moving in a different way with different loads through abdominal and pelvic floor muscles that have just been stretched and potentially had trauma to, depending on your delivery. It is important that these muscles are rehabilitated to help not only support you now, but prevent problems from occurring in the future.
So just exactly what is involved in a Postnatal Check?
First of all, we ask a lot of questions about your pregnancy, your labour and delivery, and how your recovery has been going since. We want to know if you are experiencing any symptoms or changes in your bladder and bowels, any pelvic floor symptoms, if you have any pain, how it has been returning to sexual intercourse (if you are there yet) and ultimately what you would like to return to in terms of activity. This could be simply enjoying taking the dog for a walk all the way through to running a marathon!
Our assessment can then include:
- Biomechanical assessment (movement analysis) of the pelvis and spine
- Strength assessment of the pelvis and lower limbs
- Review of abdominal separation (rectus abdominis diastasis).
- Pelvic floor assessment. This normally involves an internal examination and includes pelvic floor strength, control, tension and review of any trauma.
- Check for prolapse.
- Assessment of any ongoing postnatal pain (most commonly back, coccyx, sacrum or pubic).
Our treatment plan will then address any assessment findings and any personal goals you may have including return to exercise, sport, sex, enhanced bladder and bowel function or a return to general day to day activities pain free.
Every recovery is individual, just as every pregnancy and delivery is individual. If you are wanting to return to exercise or sport, your postpartum recovery should be managed, rehabilitated and respected in the same way it would if you were recovery from injury or surgery.
Your body will continue to go through hormonal changes as we get older which can highlight or heighten any symptoms we experience as a consequence of pregnancy and delivery. So whether you are 6 weeks, 6 months or 6 years postnatal, a Postnatal Check can help prevent future problems from occurring.
If you have any questions or would like to book one of our Empowered Mother Postnatal Checks then don’t hesitate to get in touch.
