Let’s get real mommas…The journey to becoming a parent does not end with labor and delivery. There are not only a lot of physical changes that your body goes through, but you are also learning what a whole new normal is for your life and new bundle of joy. As exciting as this journey can be, it can also be a rollercoaster of change. The physical changes our bodies experience after having a child also come with emotional changes, social changes, and relationship changes. Many times your friends, family members and even physicians will prepare you for the changes you will go through when it comes to taking care of your new baby, breast feeding and sleep deprivation, but rarely are you prepared for what to expect from your body after you have a baby. This time period is referred to as “postpartum”. If you are talked to about your new postpartum body, the conversation usually leaves you feeling like you should expect these things to be your new normal.
What if I told you that the separation in your abdomen does not have to be your new normal?
What if I told you that the accidental peeing in your pants does not have to be your new normal?
What if I told you that the low back pain or tailbone pain you feel does not have to be your new normal?
What if I told you that you don’t have to manage all these things on your own?
A Physical Therapist is the golden ticket to your postpartum journey. A physical therapist can help you with the physical changes you experience after having a baby and get you on a great path to feeling better.
You may consider seeing a Physical Therapist after having a baby if you experience:
Remember although many of these symptoms are common after having a baby, that does not mean they are normal, but the good news is you can get relief with the care you receive from your Physical Therapist. Be sure to start your postpartum journey on the right path by contacting your Physical Therapist. Schedule a free phone call consultation, or call 1-888-THERAPY to schedule your postpartum appointment today.
Jackie Giese, LPTA
Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc.
PTC_therapy December 5th, 2018
Posted In: General
Tags: diastasis recti, physical therapy, postpartum, stress incontinence
Do you deal with incontinence on a daily basis? Urinary incontinence is the unintentional loss of urine. Stress incontinence happens when physical movement or activity — such as coughing, sneezing, running or heavy lifting — puts pressure (stress) on your bladder. Stress incontinence is not related to psychological stress.
Stress incontinence differs from urge incontinence, which is the unintentional loss of urine caused by the bladder muscle contracting, usually associated with a sense of urgency. Stress incontinence is much more common in women than men.
If you have stress incontinence, you may feel embarrassed, isolate yourself, or limit your work and social life, especially exercise and leisure activities. With treatment, you’ll likely be able to manage stress incontinence and improve your overall well-being.
Symptoms
If you have stress incontinence, you may experience urine leakage when you:
You may not experience incontinence every time you do one of these things, but any pressure-increasing activity can make you more vulnerable to unintentional urine loss, particularly when your bladder is full.
Stress incontinence occurs when the muscles and other tissues that support the bladder (pelvic floor muscles) and the muscles that regulate the release of urine (urinary sphincter) weaken. The bladder expands as it fills with urine. Normally, valve-like muscles in the urethra — the short tube that carries urine out of your body — stay closed as the bladder expands, preventing urine leakage until you reach a bathroom. But when those muscles weaken, anything that exerts force on the abdominal and pelvic muscles — sneezing, bending over, lifting, laughing hard, for instance — can put pressure on your bladder and cause urine leakage.
Some methods of treating female incontinence through physical therapy include:
Kaitlyn Grell, LPTA
Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant
Physical Therapy Consultants, Inc.
PTC_therapy November 21st, 2018
Posted In: General
