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Pregnancy and Postpartum

Home Treatments & Services Pregnancy and Postpartum

Pain and other issues during or after pregnancy is common, but it’s not normal. Don’t let these problems take away from the wonderful experience of your new arrival.

When a woman goes through a pregnancy and delivers a baby, her pelvic floor muscles, fascia and nerves are put through the wringer.

Pelvic floor physical therapy can easily treat many birth-related issues – even if it’s been years since the birth.

Symptoms
Treatment Options
What to Expect
Success Story
Symptoms
Pain during pregnancy:

  • Low or mid back pain
  • Lower belly or groin pain
  • Pubic bone pain
  • Pain in the vaginal muscles/pelvic floor muscles


Pain after pregnancy:

  • Pain at the location of any tearing, C-section or episiotomy scar
  • Back, groin, or tailbone pain
  • Abdominal/pelvic pain
  • Pubic bone pain


Diastasis recti:

  • Bulging of the abdominal contents due to separation of the abdominal muscles


Other issues related to pregnancy and post- partum:

  • Pain associated with c-section or episiotomy scars
  • Bladder and bowel issues following delivery
  • Pain with intercourse following delivery
Treatment Options

During pregnancy and delivery, your pelvic floor muscles, fascia and nerves are put through the wringer.

These muscles are important for continence, sexual health and support of your pelvic organs and joints.

Vaginal tearing or an episiotomy during delivery can cause future issues with your pelvic floor muscles.

C-section scars can affect your bladder and abdominals.

Just as a hamstring tear or rotator cuff tear needs physical therapy to heal, your pelvic floor muscles will also need proper rehabilitation.

Pelvic floor physical therapy can easily treat many of these issues – even if it’s been years since you gave birth.

Ideally, however, if a problem has persisted for two months postpartum, it’s time to get help.

Our physical therapists are trained in “baby mechanics” and can help you take care of your baby without injuring your back or other body parts.

Treatment Sessions may include:
  • General education on condition and on how physical therapy can help
  • Manual therapy to reduce tension and trigger points in the pelvic floor and surrounding musculature
  • Manual therapy to improve alignment and segmental mobility of the spine
  • Learning how to find and isolate the pelvic floor musculature
  • Pelvic floor relaxation or strengthening
  • Posture training
  • Relaxation training
  • Learning to coordinate the pelvic floor muscles at rest and with functional activity
  • Breathing exercises
  • Biofeedback to help strengthen or relax pelvic floor muscles
  • Specific exercises to improve s/s with pregnancy issues
  • Stretches
  • Home exercise programs
  • Education on everyday activities that worsen pain and improve incontinence if these are your problems
  • Exercises to specifically reduce pain and improve frequency and leakage
  • Education on supports for back pain or diastasis recti
  • Recommendations for those experiencing pain with sitting
  • Specific exercises tailored to your individual problems
  • Body and “baby” mechanics to help protect parents from hurting themselves while caring for baby
  • Ideas and avenues to return to exercise after baby
  • Electrical stimulation protocols to reduce spasm and improve blood flow
  • Ultrasound

What to Expect

At your first visit, you’ll receive a thorough evaluation including questions about current and past medical history.

Your physical therapist may ask past surgeries, deliveries and any childhood bowel or bladder issues. She will ask you many questions about your bladder, bowel and possible sexual pain.

If you have yet to deliver, she will ask about your due date and your birth plan.

If you have already delivered, she will ask about how long you pushed, what type of delivery you had and if there were any complications.

After this (and with your permission if it relates to your issue) your therapist will evaluate your pelvic floor muscles. As with any other muscle group, she is looking for pain, tightness, strength and coordination.

She will also look at your posture and overall mobility, and check your strength, range of motion, reflexes and sensation.

Lastly, she will look for trigger points in the muscles attached to the pelvis and your breathing.

Success Story

Postpartum Stomach Muscle Rehabilitation

March 16, 2014Athena
After the birth of my daughter I noticed a big gap in the middle of my stomach. You could see my guts coming out. I really thought it would resolve on its own, but at my first check up with...
Read More
  • Programs & Services
    • Bladder and Bowel Conditions
    • Physical Therapy after Breast Cancer
    • Orthopedic Program
    • Osteoporosis and Osteopenia
    • Pelvic Pain & Pain with Intercourse
    • Pre and Post Botox Program
    • Pre and Post Surgical Programs
    • Pregnancy and Postpartum
    • Prolapse Treatment Program
    • Success Stories
    • Teen & Young Adult Program
    • TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorders)
    • Vestibular (Vertigo)

Make an Appointment

Call today for a consultation (425) 392-8611 or request an appointment via our online form and we will call you within one business day.

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About Our Practice

Located in Issaquah, Washington, our physical therapy practice is a part of EvergreenHealth Urology & Urogynecology Care (formerly Athena Women’s Health). We provide expert diagnoses and compassionate, innovative programs of care to restore wellness from pelvic-related health issues for women and girls of all ages from all over the United States including Seattle, Bellevue, Redmond, Renton and out of state.

Contact Us

6520 226th Pl. SE, Suite 207, Issaquah, WA 98027
425-392-8611
425 392-9012
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© EvergreenHealth 2016-2019. All patient images are for illustrative purposes only and do not attribute medical conditions to models.