{"id":33919,"date":"2020-08-25T09:17:25","date_gmt":"2020-08-25T15:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/?p=33919"},"modified":"2023-06-23T10:36:08","modified_gmt":"2023-06-23T16:36:08","slug":"pelvic-floor-health-after-pregnancy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.uchealth.org\/today\/pelvic-floor-health-after-pregnancy\/","title":{"rendered":"Pelvic floor health after pregnancy"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>
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Exercise, posture and body mechanics, which includes the pelvic floor, can make a big difference in how a woman feels and functions after pregnancy. Photo: Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pregnancy affects a woman\u2019s body in a variety of ways. But there\u2019s one change women may not consider: the impact to the pelvic floor.<\/p>\n

The pelvic floor muscles sit within the pelvis and support a woman\u2019s bladder, rectum and reproductive organs. They play an important role in core stability, bladder function and more.<\/p>\n

While the strain of pregnancy and delivery may cause issues in the pelvic floor, the good news is that most of those issues can be resolved.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of women assume that things will never feel the same after pregnancy, but pelvic physical therapists do not agree,\u201d said Cheryl Tenpas, a physical therapist specializing in pelvic health at UCHealth SportsMed Clinic<\/a> in Steamboat Springs. \u201cThere are a lot of things we can do with exercise, posture and body mechanics that can make a big difference in how you feel and function.\u201d<\/p>\n

Below, Tenpas outlines the most common post-partum pelvic floor issues she sees.<\/p>\n

Low back pain<\/strong><\/h2>\n

About 40% of women report low back pain even six months after delivery. Often, that pain is due to a weakness in the abdominal muscles and pelvic floor.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe abdominal muscles and muscles along the spine are antagonists to each other,\u201d Tenpas said. \u201cIf you\u2019re weak anteriorly, this can translate to dysfunction posteriorly. The body works as a unit, and we need to think about the pelvic floor when we think about strengthening the core.\u201d<\/p>\n

Along with core strength, Tenpas works with patients on improving posture and body mechanics when doing everyday activities, such as lifting and carrying a baby.<\/p>\n

Pelvic floor weakness<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This condition is often described as a feeling of heaviness in the pelvis. \u201cSome women feel that after using the bathroom, things don\u2019t return to where they should be,\u201d Tenpas said. \u201cOr during intercourse, they may feel pain or that something just isn\u2019t right.\u201d<\/p>\n

This weakness may impact the bladder, causing leaking or frequent urination at night.<\/p>\n

As with low back pain, the appropriate exercises can help rebuild strength in the pelvic floor.<\/p>\n

Separation of abdominal muscles<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Also known as diastasis recti, this issue may result from mechanical stresses in the body during pregnancy, including the widening of the pelvis, stretching of ligaments and the change to the center of gravity.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou could see coning of the skin between the edges of your abdominals, or an issue with more tissue around the naval that you didn\u2019t notice before,\u201d Tenpas said.<\/p>\n

The issue makes it difficult to manage pressure within the abdomen, which can cause leaking of urine, as well as bowel issues.<\/p>\n

Though the condition impacts about a third of women up to one year after childbirth, it can be addressed with specific exercises. Tenpas advises to skip the planks and crunches, which should be avoided until the muscles have approximated, or come closer together.<\/p>\n

Pelvic floor pain<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Pregnancy and delivery can result in scar tissue and overactive pelvic floor muscles, and may damage nerves in the pelvic floor, all of which may result in pain.<\/p>\n

\u201cSome women think this pain is just something they have to live with,\u201d Tenpas said. \u201cBut over time, it can affect how the whole body functions, and can keep you from participating in activities you want to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Specific movements and exercises can help relax overactive muscles and decrease scar tissue, helping to reduce symptoms.<\/p>\n

For any pelvic floor issue, a pelvic physical therapist can help create an individualized exercise plan.<\/p>\n

\u201cA specific pelvic floor muscle assessment is so important in determining which exercises are the right ones for each patient,\u201d Tenpas said.<\/p>\n

Tenpas likes to remind patients that it\u2019s never too late to work on the pelvic floor, that no problem is too small, and that taking care of yourself is also a way to care for your baby.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can be years post-partum, and exercise can still make a big difference in function,\u201d Tenpas said. \u201cAnd if something is bothering you, it\u2019s worth addressing.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember that you\u2019re doing something for your baby, too,\u201d Tenpas said. \u201cYou\u2019ll be more able to be active in your child\u2019s life if you spend a little time on yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

This story first appeared in the Steamboat Pilot & Today.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pregnancy affects a woman\u2019s body in a variety of ways. But there\u2019s one change women may not consider: the impact to the pelvic floor. The pelvic floor muscles sit within the pelvis and support a woman\u2019s bladder, rectum and reproductive organs. They play an important role in core stability, bladder function and more. While the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2163,"featured_media":33920,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[110,9187,212],"class_list":["post-33919","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthy-living","tag-physical-therapy","tag-readysetco","tag-womens-care"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nPelvic floor health after pregnancy - UCHealth Today<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Pregnancy affects a woman's body in many ways, including their pelvic floor health. 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