How Soon After Having A Baby Can I Resume Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

As a pelvic health physical therapist, a question I get often is, "When should I come back to physical therapy after my baby is born?" Typically there's no clear answer to this. While our society dictates 6 weeks as the "normal" recovery period; in reality, we should address the body (especially the pelvic floor) both before this period and far after it. The short answer is: you can come in whenever you need it!

‍

Generally speaking, pelvic floor physical therapists will wait to do an internal pelvic floor assessment until your 6-week follow-up appointment to ensure everything has healed appropriately. But that does not mean you can't return to pelvic floor PT sooner. If you are having pain, dysfunction, or want professional guidance, you may return to physical therapy before the 6-week mark.

‍

During the first 6 weeks postpartum, a pelvic floor physical therapist can assess the bones and muscles surrounding your pelvis to optimize function and reduce your pain. Your physical therapist can prescribe initial exercises for postpartum including abdominal and pelvic floor activation, as well as diaphragmatic breathing exercises. You may also review breastfeeding posture, lifting techniques, and posture. Strategies for improved bowel and bladder functioning can also be implemented very soon after delivering your baby, whether it is a vaginal delivery or cesarean. All of these things can be hugely beneficial before the routine 6-week follow up.

‍

If you are struggling with knowing what to do and what not to do in the first weeks postpartum, do not hesitate to reach out to a pelvic floor physical therapist for guidance and support.

‍

Need help? Contact me at Activcore Littleton for a free phone consultation to learn if pelvic floor physical therapy is right for you.

_‍

‍Disclaimer: The views expressed in this post are based on the opinion of the author, unless otherwise noted, and should not be taken as personal medical advice. The information provided is intended to help readers make their own informed health and wellness decisions.

BLOGS BY SAME AUTHOR

Is This Normal? Bladder Functioning Clarified

When it comes to your bladder, have you ever wondered, is this normal? Most of us have asked ourselves that at some point in our lives, especially after having a baby, surgery, or any injury. As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I've been asked that question countless times. So here's a breakdown of urinary habits and functioning: what is normal, what is not, and what we can do about it.

How Do I Know If My Child Is Constipated?

Constipation plays a big role in bladder and bowel functioning. So ruling it out should be one of the first things to do. But how do you know if your child is constipated? You may think of constipation simply as having difficulty pooping or having to strain significantly. While these can be indicators of constipation...

Are Laxatives Safe?

Medications can be a vital part of constipation management in children. There are several different kinds of medications including stool softeners, osmotic laxatives, stimulant laxatives, and options such as suppositories and enemas. Miralax, an osmotic laxative, is one of the most common and discussed options. While these medication methods can be very beneficial with constipation management, they can also be intimidating to use with children.

Let's Talk About Sex: What Is Dyspareunia and How Can Physical Therapy Help?

Dyspareunia is the medical term for painful sexual intercourse. The Mayo Clinic defines this as “lasting or recurrent genital pain that occurs just before, during, or after sex”. Dyspareunia is more common in women than men, and can happen at any age. Symptoms of dyspareunia include pain with initial penetration and/or deep penetration which may include burning, aching, and throbbing sensations.

After Having A Cesarean, Do I Need Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

So you had your baby, congratulations! As a pelvic health physical therapist, I often get the question, “If I had a c-section, do I still need pelvic floor physical therapy?”. The answer is that pelvic PT is not just for those who birthed vaginally, it's also hugely beneficial for those who underwent a c-section. No matter how you gave birth, pregnancy affects the pelvic floor muscles.

What is Pediatric Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?

Many people do not even know that pelvic floor physical therapy is an option for children. Here, I will highlight some reasons why kiddos are in pelvic floor PT and how it can help.‍ At Activcore, a few common diagnoses that we see for pediatric pelvic floor physical therapy are enuresis (bedwetting), encopresis (fecal incontinence), urinary incontinence, and constipation.