New Mums

For some women their pelvic girdle pain can start after they have delivered their baby possibly due to a traumatic childbirth.

This can be due to:

• The increasing weight of your baby during pregnancy, weakening the muscles that help to support your back and pelvis (pelvic floor muscles and deep abdominal muscles).
• The hormonal changes that take place during your pregnancy, this can result in reduced joint stability around your pelvis and lower back and an increased risk of pain. Although your body is no longer releasing these hormones, it will take approximately 5 months before the changes to your body’s tissues return to normal.
• Difficulty during pregnancy and or childbirth.
• The additional demands on your life following childbirth.
• Previous injury or existing pelvic floor and/or abdominal weakness.

So, why come to see a physiotherapist?

As specialists in muscle and joints problems, physiotherapists use their skills to identify your areas of weakness. With this knowledge, you and your physiotherapist are able to formulate a treatment plan specific to your needs and goals. The resulting muscle strength and joint stability will improve your pain management and mobility, putting you back in control.

So, why see a Women’s Health Physiotherapist

Sally, our Women’s Health Physiotherapist, has additional qualifications, training and experience in women’s health. She will work with you using her traditional physiotherapy skills and her specialist knowledge of the changes that take place during pregnancy and as a result of childbirth. Together you will formulate your individual treatment plan, you will be given the tools to improve your movement quality, muscle strength and posture and therefore manage your pain, giving you the confidence to take on the new challenges that an increasing family brings.

Physiotherapy can help with other problems that you may be experiencing after your delivery

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, pins and needles in the arms and hands. It can affect one or both arms. The pain is usually worse at night
• Rib pain, pain on either or both sides of the ribs
• Neck and mid back pain
• Rectus Abdominis Divarication, as your baby grows your rectus abdominis (six pack muscle) moves apart, this is normal, however for some women this gap can be greater than 3cm. Often pain free, however it can lead to abdominal pain and contribute to joint instability.
• Pelvic floor muscle weakness, leaking from the bladder or bowel with coughing, sneezing and or exercise.
• Bladder problems, an urgent desire to empty your bladder, an increase in the number of times you need to empty your bladder during the day.
• Bowel problems, difficulty controlling wind, difficulty controlling bowels.

If you are experiencing bladder, bowel or prolapse problems, you will be able to speak to Sally in absolute confidence. Many of these problems are caused by muscle weakness resulting from pregnancy and delivery. All muscles can be strengthened by exercise; the muscles damaged during childbirth (pelvic floor muscles) are no different. Following your appointment with Sally you will be confident that you have been given a specific regime that addresses your problem. The knowledge that you are taking control of your problem will help your progress to stress free activity.

For your information Sally our Specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist has compiled the following information sheets: Post Natal Postural Tips
Post Natal Sport and Exercise
Pelvic Floor Exercise