Postpartum MythBusting Lesson #1 – Get to Know Your Pelvic Floor

​I am starting a series of posts inspired by the amazing women I have worked with as a prenatal and postnatal yoga teacher.  After hearing countless stories, I realized there is a huge need for postpartum care conversations. 

The ‘Postpartum Myth’ we will debunk over the next few posts: Once someone has a baby, physical, emotional, and mental discomfort is ‘normal’ and does not require additional support.

My Mission:  Help every soon-to-be postpartum parent know they DO NOT have to live with discomfort.  Each post will provide a list of concerns to look for and what support is available for each one.

​Bring In The Experts: As a yoga teacher and doula I can plant seeds of awareness, but I also know when it is time to refer students to an expert when needs go beyond my scope of practice. To properly ‘bust’ each aspect of this postpartum myth, I am partnering with local experts to share critical information and solutions. 

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Today we will tackle one of the most common postpartum discomfort complaints.  It is also one that causes a lot of embarrassment. Because of that a quick warning - we will be talking about bodily functions that might make a few people uncomfortable but it is incredibly important to discuss. 

Get Ready - Let’s chat about our pelvic floor.

Our expert for the next few posts is Jessica (Jes) Davies.  I have to say, Jes is one of the most amazing souls I have ever met and a beloved mentor.  She is a well-known Tosa Yoga Center teacher/teacher trainer and she is a physical therapist with over 20 years of experience.  With a ton of letters after her name (PT, CFMT, CSCS, 500RYT) you could simply say - she knows her sh*t. A breast cancer survivor and mom of two, Jes has a passion for Women’s health. On top of that, Jes is one of the few physical therapists in the Milwaukee area that completed additional training to serve as a pelvic floor specialist.  I love her focus on helping clients return to pain free living with a high level of function.

When asking Jes about pelvic floor care, there are two approaches for a physical therapist:

• Preventative – Prenatal sessions focused on pelvic floor preparation before birth to reduce discomfort and ease the birthing process reducing postpartum recovery needs.
• Recovery – Postnatal sessions addressing pelvic floor discomfort helping clients return to normal function and pain free living.

Almost 99% of all clients reach out for pelvic floor support in the recovery stage, and some wait until years have past, not realizing recovery was possible.  (We are talking 20 or more years postpartum!)  Preventative is always a great way to go, but it is never too late to get help! 

Discomfort/dysfunction that can be addressed with pelvic floor physical therapy:

• Incontinence (both urinary and rectal)
• Painful Sex
• Any Pain/Issues With Activity (example – discomfort or pelvic floor issues while running)
• Retraining Efficient Core Function After Delivery (this includes pelvic floor strength)

The pelvic floor plays a much larger part in our core strength than most people realize.  Having a healthy core is essential, not just for those that want to return to exercise, but to support every day functions.   Babies are heavy when you hold them all day, especially in portable car seats!

Potential Reasons for Discomfort:

• Prolapse  - A slipping forward or down of a part or organ of the body.  This can include bladder, uterus, and rectum.
• Pelvic Floor Tone/Tightness – Can be the primary cause why muscles cannot properly contract.
• Deep layer of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction  - These are our deep hip rotators and support normal hip function.  When they are in dysfunction, individuals can experience sciatic nerve issues, hamstring strains, and more.

What Can Be Done:

• Preventative – Primary focus is around stretching the pelvic floor to prepare for delivery, eliminate or reduce severity of tears for a more comfortable postpartum recovery.
•  Recovery
  • Prolapse – Graded on a 1-4 scale with mild issues reversed or controlled with rehab, with others referred to a urologist to be fit for a pessary.  That may sound intense, but from my students that went from a level 3-4 prolapse to having assistance with a pessary, their lives are 10 times more comfortable!
  • Pelvic Floor Tone/Tightness – Retrain supportive contraction of muscles while working through tightness causing pelvic floor dysfunction.

What to Expect During Your Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Visit:

• First Visit - Discuss goals and symptoms (or preventative needs), learn more about the pelvic floor, complete external and internal exam.  Leave with individualized exercises/activities to address concerns and discuss follow up appointment schedule if needed.
• Frequency – For most individuals where this is a new issue (recently postpartum) most concerns can be addressed in three visits or less.  For more chronic issues that have been going on for a while, additional maintenance will most likely be required.

The Biggest Takeaway – If you are experiencing any concern listed above, help IS available and most issues are solved in just a few appointments with a physical therapist that is certified for pelvic floor care. I have personally received recovery support from my first pregnancy/preventative for my second pregnancy from Jes and she has been a blessing during my second pregnancy journey!  I feel much more confident going into the birth process after receiving her support.

If you are in the Milwaukee area and interested in pelvic floor physical therapy work (or any PT work) you can learn more about Jes here: http://www.bmechanics.com/about/meet-your-team/jessica-davies

To book an appointment, call here:  414-224-8219
Body Mechanics Physical Therapy
807 N. Jefferson 
Milwaukee, WI 53202

Do you have a great story about pelvic floor support you received either preventative or for recovery?  Have a great PT you would recommend?  Please leave a comment for our community below!