How physical therapy at Beyond Therapy and Wellness in Bedford can help you find relief during the postpartum period
Carrying a baby is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. However, with all of the significant physical and emotional changes, pregnancy takes quite a toll on a woman’s body. Postpartum depression and physical challenges are extremely common among new moms, and it’s important to take the healing process seriously following your delivery.
Fortunately, our therapists at Beyond Therapy and Wellness in Bedford are experts in the areas of pregnancy and postpartum and can help you overcome pain, discomfort, and limited functions.
To set up an appointment, call our practice today!
Postpartum conditions
Throughout pregnancy, a woman’s body is subjected to many physical stressors. These include:
- Weight gain: Over the course of nine months, you gain weight gradually, which increases the stress on the joints in your spine, pelvis, and legs.
- Ligament malfunctions: Pregnancy can also frequently have an impact on the body’s ligaments. This is because, in order to prepare for childbirth, a woman’s body secretes hormones that are intended to make ligaments more flexible.
- Pelvic issues: During the delivery process, trauma can take place in the pelvic or reproductive areas. This can cause pelvic floor dysfunction in which women experience pelvic muscle spasms, incontinence, painful intercourse, and overall discomfort in the pelvic region.
- Urinary incontinence or leakage: Also known as an overactive bladder, urinary incontinence is the uncontrollable urge to leak urine. This is a common issue that many women deal with during and after pregnancy.
- Low Back Pain: A woman’s center of gravity shifts dramatically during pregnancy, often causing persistent pain in the lower back.
- Diastasis Recti: Diastasis recti is a condition in which the abdominal muscles separate and remain in that position after pregnancy. Nearly every woman will experience diastasis recti during their postpartum period.
- Pelvic Pain or Dysfunction: Damage to the pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy or during delivery can result in a number of issues after your baby is delivered. Sexual discomfort or dysfunction, pelvic pain, pubic symphysis bone separation, or even prolapse or bulging of the pelvic organs through the vagina are all possible problems.
Common symptoms
There are several symptoms that accompany the common postpartum conditions listed above. After pregnancy, you may notice one or more of the following:
- Uncontrollable urinary leakage
- Increased urinary frequency
- Pelvic, abdomen, or lower back pain
- Pain during intercourse
- Pain in the tailbone area
- Sexual dysfunction
- Low back pain
- IBS or irritable bowel syndrome
It’s important to share any current symptoms with your physical therapist so they can arrange a treatment plan that targets every ongoing issue. Physical therapy is the best way to treat postpartum conditions without harsh medications or medical procedures.
Treatments and what to expect during therapy
Our team at Beyond Therapy and Wellness in Bedford has all the tools available to help relieve postpartum pain. Depending on your specific needs, we will incorporate a treatment plan that includes one or more of the following:
- Exercises: Kegel exercises teach you how to engage and strengthen the muscles beneath your bladder, big intestine, and uterus. A biofeedback device may also be used by your physical therapist to help you visualize your muscle contractions and improve your ability to activate these structures.
- Pelvic floor manual therapy: Your therapist will likely practice manual, hands-on therapy to pinpoint any tense areas that could be causing pain. Manual therapy helps with stress incontinence, chronic pelvic pain, sexual disorders, and more.
- Patient Education: Education plays an important role in the healing process, as patients can learn more about themselves, their condition, and the healing techniques they can practice to further advance their recovery.
You will be matched with a physical therapist who can help reduce your symptoms and achieve your recovery goals. We will begin with a comprehensive assessment of your condition, any underlying factors, and current symptoms. Then, you will receive a customized treatment plan that is tailored to your individual needs.
Request an appointment today!
Our outstanding team at Beyond Therapy and Wellness in Bedford is committed to helping our patients in their postpartum recovery, so you can finally focus on enjoying motherhood. To set up a consultation, call our clinic today!
