Why should you see a pelvic floor PT after giving birth?

I get asked a lot what the benefit of seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist post-partum. Some of the more common symptoms that women can have after birth include pelvic pain, incontinence, sexual dysfunction, prolapse and feeling generally weak.

However, those are not the only reasons to seek help. During pregnancy the body needs to make room for the baby to grow. This results in organs being crammed and pushed around while your pelvis expands to make room for the baby to get settled before it descends. 

With pelvic floor physical therapy I work on restoring the position and mobility of the organs and tissues in your body. This can include releasing the ligaments that attach to your uterus, restoring position of the small intestine, increasing mobility of the bladder and uterus, and relaxing the diaphragm to improve posture and stability. 

Also, I assess the pelvis to make sure the bones are in a neutral position and aren't stuck in what we call an “open birthing pattern”. This means that sometimes our pelvic bones stay in the position that was needed for birthing but don't go back to their original position after giving birth.

All of these things can be contributing to pelvic pain, urgency, incontinence, back pain, sexual dysfunction and postural deficits.

I hope this gives you a little insight as to what you can benefit from when coming in to see a pelvic floor physical therapist. If anything, a little reassurance that if you feel “out of whack” after giving birth, there is likely a reason for it, and I can help.