Guest Blog: 6 Reasons Every Birthing Person Should Have a Postpartum Physical Therapy Evaluation (other than the fact that you simply deserve it!)
A note from Kathleen:
I am a huge proponent of pelvic floor physical therapy, and all my clients hear me talking about its importance. Today I’m delighted to share a guest blog written by Dr. Savannah Carlson, PT, DPT, RYT, a St. Louis-based pelvic floor physical therapist who specializes in working with women and children. Read on for a great explanation of why every birthing person deserves to have a postpartum physical therapy evaluation.
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First of all, if you have given birth to a baby: Excellent work! You’re basically an Olympic athlete! Creating another life is a remarkable journey, and bringing that life into the world—no matter how you delivered—is truly incredible. Part of my job as a pelvic floor physical therapist is to never let you forget what an amazing feat you’ve accomplished and to remind you that you deserve the same level of care and attention that your child receives. This is the truth, and yet, the healthcare system in the United States tells a different story. Once that baby has arrived, it seems that all of the attention shifts to the infant, while the person who birthed that little human is usually given no more than a 6 week follow up visit. This is in stark contrast to peer nations, such as France, where every new mother automatically receives twelve postpartum physical therapy sessions.
You read that right. Twelve PT sessions. Automatically.
Don’t get me wrong, the health and development of your newborn is critical. I’m not saying infants shouldn’t get all of those doctor’s appointments. I’m saying that you—the person who birthed the baby—should have all of that care also. Our medical system should be taking care of both of you, and yet, it is leaving moms behind.
While our system has a lot of catching up to do, you can take your postpartum recovery into your own hands by asking your provider for a pelvic health physical therapy referral (depending on where you live, you might not need a referral at all). You can seek PT anytime during pregnancy or after delivery. Whether you have pelvic floor problems or not, a postpartum physical therapy evaluation is essential to starting your healing process. You may think that leaking a little when you sneeze or having pain with intercourse is “just the way it is” now that you’ve had a baby, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. While those issues, and many more complaints of postpartum people, are common, they are not normal. It doesn’t have to be that way. Pelvic health PT can help.
Still on the fence? Here are six reasons why every birthing person should see a pelvic health physical therapist.
Your PT will screen you for pelvic floor problems that you didn’t even know you could have. You may believe that those annoying things you’re dealing with after childbirth are your “new normal.” However, symptoms like bladder leaks, difficult bowel movements, or pressure in your pelvic area are legitimate concerns that warrant immediate attention. If you seek care for those problems now, rather than waiting for them to get worse, you can reverse those issues and prevent them from becoming lifelong burdens.
They will help you heal your scars on your perineum or your abdomen. Pelvic floor PTs specialize in numerous aspects of postpartum recovery. This includes healing the scars you may have acquired during delivery. They can help you mobilize and heal those scars so that they don’t become painful or restrictive in the future.
They will teach you ways to move, hold your baby, and do activities that optimize your healing and minimize stress on your body. Physical therapists are movement experts. We are trained to analyze how you move and then optimize your movement patterns so that you can heal, get stronger, and prevent future problems.
They will help you safely return to your favorite fitness activities, including running, cycling, and lifting weights. Your body is different than it was prior to pregnancy! As a pregnancy and postpartum expert, your pelvic floor PT will help you safely navigate the needs and challenges of your new body. There is no reason why you can’t get back to the activities you love with the right support and training!
They will screen you for other common postpartum challenges, like depression, and refer you to the right providers. It’s challenging becoming a parent. Whether you’re a new parent or you’ve done this before, it can be overwhelming, stressful, and exhausting. It is likely that your pelvic floor PT will be the provider who sees you most often and knows you best after pregnancy. If it seems like you would benefit from seeing a mental health therapist, a specialized physician, or other provider, they will be able to get you the referrals and resources you need.
They will help you overcome pelvic floor dysfunction that you may have had prior to pregnancy, such as painful intercourse. If you’ve been living with pelvic floor problems for years, now is an excellent time to start solving those issues instead of suffering through them. You deserve to live your life to the fullest; your freedom shouldn’t be hindered by pelvic pain, bladder problems, or bowel issues.
The bottom line is you deserve quality care to support your healing process postpartum. Don’t wait for our healthcare system to come up to speed. Seek pelvic health physical therapy right away, even if you aren’t sure that what you’re experiencing warrants an evaluation. It’s better to see a PT and learn that you don’t need any therapy than to pee your pants every time you sneeze for the rest of your life. You deserve better.
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Dr. Savannah Carlson, PT, DPT, RYT, is a pelvic health physical therapist who is dedicated to helping her clients overcome pelvic floor dysfunction so they can reach their full potential at home, work, and play. She is the owner of Rhea Physical Therapy LLC, which provides home-based pelvic health PT to women and children in the St. Louis, MO area. The opinions in this blog post are solely her own and intended for educational purposes only. If you are interested in working with Savannah or want to learn more, visit rheaphysicaltherapy.xyz or call/text 314-940-1334.
