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Do you feel supported and empowered on your postpartum healing journey?
Most people hope that when they have postpartum pelvic, back, or hip pain, or issues with incontinence after childbirth, that the issues will simply go away on their own.
While this is the case for some women, for many others postpartum can be a time of frustration and discomfort, and many of these issues can persist long after childbirth.
It could be that you are experiencing bladder or bowel issues, pelvic pain, hip pain, or sciatica. Or, you may be fortunate not to be experiencing these postpartum issues, but are wondering whether you are safe to return to the activities you love. Soft tissue takes approximately 6 weeks to heal, and this is a good time to seek out Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy to ensure you are heading in the right direction. Even if you are not experiencing pelvic floor issues, your pelvic floor and abdominal tissues may need additional support before getting back to activity. By getting a complete assessment and customized exercises, you are being proactive. You may otherwise inadvertently be creating a worse issue in the long run, and preventative strategies are supported by the literature to prevent long term pelvic floor, abdominal, lower back issues, and pelvic girdle issues.
Often those who have incontinence are told to do kegels without any guidance. Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy has been established by research to be the gold standard for incontinence and pelvic pain.
Have You Been Given These Exercises Without Support?
It is also common to be given different advice from different people about what your issue is and how to solve it. The pelvic floor plays so many crucial roles, and a problem that appears in one area may actually be originating elsewhere. Conflicting information often leaves people at a loss for how to solve their Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. In frustration, many people end up accepting these issues as though they are normal.
While postpartum Pelvic Pain and Dysfunction are common, they are not normal beyond the early postpartum stage. Although the awareness of Certified Pelvic Health Physiotherapy is on the rise, many people still don’t realize there is a solution.
If You Have Postpartum Pelvic Pain or Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Here Are 5 Reasons Why It Could Persist:
- Friends and family members told you that pelvic issues are normal after having a baby so you thought you needed to accept it.
- You sought help from other Healthcare Professionals or another Physiotherapist, but they only looked at your pelvic floor. The pelvic floor is often the “victim”, and there may be other “criminals” causing your symptoms.
- You saw another practitioner who was not familiar with the current research on pain, using the whole-person or “biopsychosocial approach”. This has been shown to be key to treating pelvic pain and dysfunction.
- You were given too many exercises to do and you did not have time to complete them while looking after your new baby.
- You have heard that doing kegels might help recover your bladder control after childbirth but you haven’t noticed any change and you aren’t even sure whether you’re doing them properly (hint: most people aren’t)!
If any of these sound familiar, book a call with us so we can tell you what can be done. The fact that you’ve tried any or all of these things shows your dedication to improve and is actually a GOOD THING! When you know what doesn’t work, you are closer to finding out what does!
Talk To A Pelvic Health PhysiotherapistClick this button above to book a free call to get helpful advice tailored to your postpartum concerns. There is no charge for the call and there is no obligation to book any appointments after the call. Our goal is to help you make the right decision about what to do for your postpartum healing.
This consultation is offered to people who are unsure about Pelvic Physiotherapy. They may want to make sure we are a good fit before they book an appointment. If this sounds like you, please start with a call at no charge so that we can discuss your specific situation, without any commitment on your part.
What Can I Do To Optimize Postpartum and Get Active Again?
Here are 6 ways to get started:
- Start by Making a Decision – Waiting is what causes most women’s issues in postpartum to get worse. Many women hope that it is “just a phase” and that their body will adjust, but by staying on top of issues as they come up, you are setting yourself up for a more enjoyable postpartum and fewer issues down the road.
- Get To The Root Cause – One of the best things to help you solve your postpartum discomforts and pelvic floor issues is to find out why they are happening in the first place.
- Do The Correct Exercises – It is a common misconception that pelvic floor issues must be due to weak pelvic floor muscles. An overactive pelvic floor can be to blame and is more common than you’d think, even postpartum. By having a thorough evaluation by a Certified Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, you can determine the best exercises to recover from childbirth and prepare your core and pelvic floor to get back to the activities you love.
- Avoid Sitting In A Slouched Position – We were not designed to sit for long periods, and the postpartum period is no exception. Have you ever tried to get up from the couch after resting for a while, and then your pelvis feels painful and tight? When you sit for too long, especially in awkward positions, the joints in your back, hips, and pelvis stiffen. These can have a strong impact on your pelvic floor. Spinning Babies recommends the “flashlight test”, where you imagine a flashlight coming out of your belly button. If the flashlight points up, you are slouching in a position that is not ideal for helping take pressure off your pelvis as if heals. Keep those flashlights pointed down (with the front of your pelvis/hip bones tilted down), to help with healing.
- Stay Hydrated – Many new moms women find it difficult to drink enough water, and if they’re suffering from incontinence they may be worried about drinking too much. When we are dehydrated, our urine is more concentrated, which irritates the bladder. This in turn can worsen incontinence! We should be drinking half our body weight in ounces each day. In pregnancy, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends 8-12 glasses of water a day, and when breastfeeding you likely need to drink this much. Proper hydration helps with energy levels and mental functioning, aids in digestion, and helps prevent constipation (and straining on the toilet increases the chances of developing a prolapse).
- Get Customized, Hands-On Physiotherapy – Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy is proven to support new moms and parents with pelvic pain, core issues, and pelvic floor dysfunction. Real-Time Ultrasound helps get to the root cause of your issue. It gives you feedback about how your pelvic floor and core muscles are working to ensure you’re doing your exercises properly and to monitor your progress. If you are being held back from enjoying your postpartum period, we can help get you back to living the life you deserve as quickly as possible.
How Can Glow Physio Improve Your Postpartum Experience In the Next Few Weeks?
Here are some of the ways we can help:
- Pelvic, back, and hip pain and dysfunction can interfere with restful sleep, which is already compromised as a new mom. We can help you resolve your symptoms in order to have more energy each day.
- We will help you understand what changes occurred due to your specific childbirth experience and how to move forward safely.
- We will provide you with customized exercises for your postpartum stage, tailored to the specific activities and sports you want to get back to.
- We can help you sit and relax more comfortably and enjoy walking again without your pelvis feeling painful and weak.
- The stress and anxiety of living with pain and discomfort postpartum can strain relationships. We can help you to manage postpartum discomforts and enjoy being intimate with your partner again, however that looks for you.
We are here to get you feeling strong and confident throughout your postpartum journey.
This Is Your Chance To Enjoy Your Postpartum. Your Future Self Will Thank You. Read What Others Are Saying About Glow Physio…
Client Testimonials
Lauren has provided me with outstanding care and support over the past several years. As an active younger person, she helped me to continue being goal oriented and helped me get back to training and competing at my best. More recently as a mom to two kids, she has guided me through the pre and post-natal periods as I prepared for birth and returned to exercise. Lauren is able to help get you back to where you want to be, even when you are busy! She is kind, respectful, and extremely talented. I love that she’s an athlete and a parent herself as well!Nikki, 30's Prenatal, Postpartum, Sports Injury
Lauren went above and beyond helping me throughout my pregnancy. I experienced acute SI joint pain and lower back pain starting in the second trimester and my mobility was compromised. Being a freelance photographer my body is essential to my work and I immediately sought out Lauren’s expertise to help with the pain. I was able to speak with her right away and she walked me through all of the exercises and guided me through each step along the way back to a strong and capable pregnant body. The relief I felt after following her plan was enormous and I was able to keep working right up until I gave birth. I would highly recommend her for any and all physio needs!Emily, 30's SI Joint Pain, Lower Back Pain, Prenatal, Postpartum
I have had the pleasure of working with Lauren for many years. Lauren has worked with me for a number of different challenges and through a number of different stages of life. She is incredibly supportive of my activity goals and finds ways to help me achieve them. She is passionate about pregnancy and postpartum care and getting you back to where you want to be physically! Lauren’s client centered approach always has me feeling empowered and well cared for!Kati C Prenatal, Postpartum
As a seasoned physiotherapy patient, I was impressed by the treatment I received from my latest physiotherapist, Lauren Lozinsky. Anybody who has been troubled by back spasms knows it often is not a quick fix. This time I required half a dozen visits. After each one I felt better, was more comfortable and -- armed with a series of exercises I'd never seen along with a hard rubber ball to massage the "hot spots" -- able to enhance the improvements that Lauren initiated. She is innovative and thorough and, almost as importantly, available by email to answer any questions concerning the self-treatments. Fortunately, there isn't a test to see if you remember her highly scientific analysis and diagnosis! An added bonus was that she also helped with my plantar fasciitis even though that was only something I mentioned in conversation. Nobody recommended her to me -- it was simply my good fortune to find her by searching the Internet -- but I'm obviously happy to endorse her with my five-star rating.Bob, 50's, Squamish Back Pain, Plantar Fasciitis
I saw physio Lauren Lozinsky and was amazed at the service she provided. She was professional and a great listener to my experience. She was able to problem solve and treat using her IMS skills and I was on my way to recovery after a couple visits. Highly recommended!Jamal, 40's, Squamish Sports Injury
After having an unexplained sciatica nerve problem I tried several other treatment options with not much change. Lauren was able to cure the issue with a combination of procedures.Roy, 60's, Squamish Sciatica Nerve Problem