“My body has given me the greatest gift of my life.” – Hilary Duff
If you are experiencing any of the following after pregnancy 6 weeks post-partum, consult with a physiotherapist:
- Tenting of your abdominal muscles (diastasis recti)
- Difficulty with activities of normal living
- Urinary or fecal incontinence when you cough, sneeze, laugh, exercise, etc.
- Pain with intercourse
- C-Section scarring, episiotomy or tearing
- Any bulging at the opening of the vagina
- Heaviness or pain in your back, hips, abdomen, pelvis, rectum or vagina
- Pelvic Girdle pain (difficulty walking or transferring)
- Difficulty emptying your bowel or bladder
- Constipation
The first 6 weeks post-partum, sometimes called the 4th trimester is a time to get plenty of rest and allow your body and nerves to recover from birth. This is not a time to get back to high-intensity exercise. We generally recommend booking a 2 week virtual postpartum appointment to address any discomfort or concerns. Although we do not do an internal vaginal exam until 6 weeks post-partum, we can assess externally.
What does the research show?
- 50% of women have some degree of prolapse after giving birth (Hagan et al, 2011)
- Pelvic floor physiotherapy should be the first line of treatment for women with urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse
- Virtual consult 2 weeks after delivery
- Discuss early post partum health
- Reassess movement, abdominal wall for DRA
- Address/treat any musculoskeletal symptoms
- Begin gentle post partum exercise
- Discuss labour and concerns
- Discuss any concerns with positions for feeding baby, etc
- Post partum follow up 6-8 weeks after delivery
- Reassess movement abdominal wall and pelvic floor
- Movement strategies for otherhood
- Address/treat musculoskeletal symptoms
- Review body mechanics with lifting baby, in and out of car, etc
- Begin gentle post partum exercise
- Ongoing support 12 weeks – ongoing
- Set goals for return to sport activity/occupation
- Individualized home exercise program
- Reassess pelvic floor strength and progress as appropriate
- Scar mobilization perineum or c-section (6 months for c-section needs more time)
Recent Posts from our Blog
Visit our About page to learn how our physiotherapists can help you.
Download the Pelvic Health Pregnancy and Beyond brochure for more information.
Love yourself enough to set boundaries. Your time and energy are precious. You get to choose how you use it. You teach people how to treat you by deciding what you will and won’t accept.
– Anna Taylor
