New Mothers Assessment
Are you a new mom struggling with taking care of your baby because you have pain? You are not alone! There are a couple avenues of treatment.
Pelvic Floor Assessment
Pregnancy and child-birth change a woman's body. Because the pelvic floor muscles work so closely with the abdominal muscles, and the abdominal muscles are stretched during pregnancy, dysfunction in one muscle group can lead to dysfunction in the other. Delivering a baby vaginally greatly impacts the pelvic floor. C-section surgery interrupts the abdominal myofascial ring and this leads to avoidance of contracting the abdominal muscles due to pain. This pattern of movement may not return to normal once the pain has resolved.
Incontinence, frequent urination, low back pain, groin or pubic pain, and weak core muscles are all common complaints after giving birth. Using Real-Time Ultrasound technology and internal pelvic examination, Lois can accurately assess what is happening and work with you to return your body to its full strength and function.
It is strongly recommended that all post partum women should be checked for abdominal and pelvic floor muscle function prior to returning to sport or exercise. It is also recommended that new moms be assessed for abdominal and pelvic floor issues around the 8 week post-partum mark. This allows natural healing to occur.
Visit our Perinatal and Post Partum Health page for more information. Book a Pelvic Floor Initial Assessment appointment with Lois.
New Mothers Ergonomic
Many new moms experience pain in their neck, shoulders, elbows, low back, and wrists due to the demanding challenges of caring for their new baby, along with trying to recover from delivery.
A physiotherapist can help by treating your symptoms so that you feel better but they can also help decrease the risk of symptoms occurring in the first place. This is called practicing good ergonomics! For example, we can recommend safer ways to bathe your baby, lift him/her out of the crib or car seat, and to breast feed in a position that puts less stress on your body. Book a Comprehensive Initial Exam appointment with Karen to learn more.