The initial 6 weeks after your baby has been born can speed past you in a flash! You have more than likely been incredibly busy adjusting to having your newborn at home. You may also be feeling quite sleep deprived, as well as adapting to your babies changing needs on a daily basis. This is the time that most women visit their GP or obstetrician for a check-up, it’s also a good time to have a postnatal review with your Physio.
How can your Physio help you after the birth of your baby?
Most women experience abdominal separation after childbirth, this changes during the first 6 weeks after the birth of their baby. Your Physio will examine your abdominal separation and let you know how it has been affected after the birth of your baby. They will then prescribe some exercises that will help you to strengthen and restore your stomach muscles.
Your Physio Will Find Out How Childbirth Has Affected Your Bladder And/ Or Bowel
Your Physio will want to know if you’ve been suffering from constipation due to any medication that you’ve been taking after the birth of your baby. They will also want to know if you’ve been suffering from leaking, incontinence or pelvic floor weakness. If this is the case, they will be able to make some suggestions and let you know what you can do that will help to improve this. Your Physio may recommend some pelvic floor exercises and/or constipation management and will let you know which exercises
Getting Back Into Your Exercise Routine
6 weeks after the birth of your baby is a good time for you to get back into your exercise routine. Your Physio can let you know the types of exercises that you need to be doing and can give you an
- Urinary incontinence
- Abdominal doming
- Vaginal prolapse (a heavy feeling in the vagina)
- Lower back or pelvic pain
If you happen to experience any of these symptoms, you may have worked your pelvic floor a little too hard. This means that you may need to take a short rest and remove the amount of pressure that you’ve been putting on these areas.
Your Physio may recommend an internal exam
The best way for your Physio to examine your pelvic floor is with an internal exam. This will allow them to work out the strength, capacity, and coordination of your pelvic floor muscles. They will then be able to determine if you’ve been suffering from any pelvic floor dysfunction and the most effective way of treating this. You don’t need to have an internal exam however, if your Physio is examining your pelvic floor with just an ultrasound and/or feeling your muscles, they may not be able to work out as accurate an understanding of your pelvic floor strength. An internal exam will let your Physio know exactly what has been happening.
Throughout your