Prioritizing Pelvic Health In Postpartum Care
Key Takeaways:
Targeted Concerns: Prioritizing pelvic health during the postpartum period is crucial for new mothers, as it significantly impacts overall well-being and recovery.
Essential Support: Personalized Pelvic Floor Therapy, as offered by Blair Mauri, provides tailored, in-home support to help women regain strength and function.
Professional Benefits: Addressing common pelvic health issues with expert guidance promotes healing, empowerment, and a more fulfilling postpartum experience.
At Blair Mauri Pelvic Health, I understand the importance of postpartum care and the profound changes your body experiences during and after pregnancy. Led by Blair Mauri, a licensed Occupational Therapist specializing in Pelvic Floor Therapy, the mission is to help you navigate the postpartum journey with care, strength, and confidence. Offering personalized, in-home therapy sessions throughout Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, Blair combines evidence-based practices with compassionate support to meet you exactly where you are. Together, we’ll work to restore your body’s strength and function, empowering you to feel your best for yourself and your family.
The postpartum period is a time of immense joy, transformation, and challenges. Amidst the demands of caring for a newborn, it’s common for new mothers to overlook their own health—especially pelvic health. Yet, this is a critical time to nurture your body as it heals from pregnancy and childbirth, laying the foundation for a strong, healthy future. Addressing pelvic health is not only about recovery but also about reclaiming your sense of well-being and strength for the years ahead.
In this article, we’ll delve into the importance of prioritizing pelvic health after childbirth, explore the physical changes that occur during this time, and uncover how tailored Pelvic Floor Therapy can support healing, strength, and long-term wellness. Let’s navigate this essential aspect of postpartum care together.
Common Pelvic Health Issues After Childbirth
The pelvic floor, a set of muscles that support the organs in the pelvis, go through many changes during pregnancy and childbirth. Pelvic health issues, although common after childbirth, can significantly impact a woman's quality of life, affecting everything from bladder control to sexual function. It's important to recognize and address these symptoms, and realize that there is help available for you. Knowing what exactly is causing you discomfort is the first step towards finding the right treatment for you.
Let’s go over some of the pelvic health issues many women experience after childbirth:
Pelvic Floor Muscle Weakness: Childbirth can stretch and weaken the pelvic floor muscles, contributing to feelings of heaviness or bulging in the vaginal area, a condition known as pelvic organ prolapse. This can also lead to urinary incontinence (leakage) during activities such as coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising.
Pelvic Girdle Pain: This involves discomfort and pain in the pelvic area, including the hips and lower back. Pelvic girdle pain can make it difficult to perform daily activities and care for your new baby.
Diastasis Recti: This condition occurs when the abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy, leaving a gap that can lead to a protruding belly postpartum. It can also contribute to lower back pain and pelvic instability.
Perineal Pain: For women who have had a vaginal delivery, perineal pain stemming from tearing or episiotomy (a surgical cut made during childbirth) can be challenging to manage. Healing from these wounds can take time and may be accompanied by discomfort and sensitivity in the perineal area.
Sexual Dysfunction: Changes in sexual desire, arousal, and satisfaction can occur postpartum. Painful intercourse, also known as dyspareunia, is a common issue due to hormonal changes, pelvic floor muscle tension, and healing from childbirth injuries.
Cesarean scar symptoms: Discomfort, pain, decreased range of motion, and changes in sensation around your cesarean scar are all common after birth.
Address Pelvic Health Issues With Personalized Support
With the right guidance and support, healing and improvement are possible. Pelvic Floor Therapy, offered by professionals like Blair Mauri, MS, OTR/L, is a specialized treatment focusing on the rehabilitation of the pelvic floor muscles. Blair provides personalized support for postpartum women, which includes thoroughly going over your symptoms and unique anatomy. She utilizes an evidence-backed, holistic approach, including 100% optional external (e.g., perineal observations of the tissues, patterns of movement of the perineum, and gentle palpation of the bony landmarks, vulva, and vulvar structures) and internal exams (e.g., testing the strength, coordination, and muscle integrity of the pelvic floor muscles and testing for pelvic organ prolapse). Additional observations, such as a postural assessment and examining movement and breathing patterns, are available and may be necessary.
With Blair, you won’t feel rushed. She is more than happy to go into detail and discuss the pros and cons of treatment with you while answering any questions you may have. Even if she doesn’t have an answer for you, she will do her best to find it or refer you to another skilled practitioner. Blair recognizes every woman’s postpartum journey is different, and her tailored, personalized approach is the perfect fit for anyone seeking postpartum care from a practitioner who genuinely cares for your health.
With Blair's support, postpartum women in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan can navigate their recovery with understanding and kindness toward their bodies. Through a combination of evidence-based practice and a deep respect for each woman's unique postpartum journey, Blair empowers her clients to take an active role in their recovery and reclaim their pelvic health. This includes a deep understanding of the body's innate healing abilities and empowering women to take charge of their recovery and wellness. Remember, experiencing any of these conditions is both common and treatable. With the right support and care, you can heal and regain strength, empowering you to fully enjoy this special time with your new baby.
Pelvic Floor Therapy For Recovery
During the postpartum period, many women find that the health of their pelvic floor isn't quite the same as it was pre-pregnancy. This can manifest through discomfort, reduced control over the bladder or bowels, and a sense of weakness or tension in the pelvic region. It's an experience that, while common, is often shrouded in silence due to the intimate nature of these symptoms. Recognizing and addressing these concerns is crucial, as they can significantly impact one's quality of life and overall well-being.
Restore Your Pelvic Health With In-Home Pelvic Floor Therapy
Enter Pelvic Floor Therapy—a specialized form of care designed to restore strength, function, and confidence in your pelvic floor muscles. Under the guidance of licensed Occupational Therapist Blair Mauri, you can restore your pelvic health through her personalized therapy sessions. These sessions are more than just exercises; they are a comprehensive approach to healing that encompasses education, manual therapy, and tailored exercises that fit seamlessly into your daily life.
Holistic Care For Your Pelvic Floor
Blair Mauri's approach to pelvic floor therapy is holistic and compassionate. Understanding that every woman's body and postpartum experience are unique, Blair customizes her care to meet your specific needs and concerns. Whether it's tackling incontinence, pain during intimacy, or simply guiding you in reestablishing control and strength in your deep core , each in-home session is conducted with care and respect for your comfort and privacy.
Receive Practical Pelvic Health Advice
Moreover, in the safety and convenience of your own home, Blair offers an in-depth education on how the pelvic floor functions and how certain realistic lifestyle changes can enhance your recovery and prevent future issues. This education serves as a powerful tool, empowering you with knowledge about your body and fostering a deeper connection to your recovery process.
Don’t Forget Your Mental Well-Being!
Pelvic floor therapy for birth recovery not only addresses the physical symptoms but also supports your emotional and mental well-being. Recognizing that the postpartum journey can be as challenging mentally as it is physically, Blair provides a supportive, compassionate space where your concerns are heard and your progress is celebrated.
In choosing to prioritize pelvic health, you're taking an important step towards reclaiming your body's strength and your own sense of normalcy after childbirth. Serving clients in Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan with at-home visits, Blair seamlessly blends her expertise in Pelvic Floor Therapy with her warm and caring approach, making it easier for you to integrate pelvic care into your routine postpartum care. With Blair, your therapy is not just about exercises; it’s about building a deeper understanding of your body's changes after childbirth and developing personalized strategies that fit into your daily life as a new parent.
Final Thoughts
By taking care of yourself, you are taking an essential step towards holistic postpartum recovery. Prioritizing your pelvic health with postpartum care is not just about healing; it's about reclaiming your strength, confidence, and comfort in your own body. Blair Mauri Pelvic Health is here to guide you through this process, ensuring that you feel supported, empowered, and understood every step of the way.
Whether you're navigating the challenges of the postpartum period for the first time or looking to address long-standing issues, Blair’s personalized, in-home Pelvic Floor Therapy offers the support and care you deserve. Remember, it's never too late to seek help. Embrace the journey towards a healthier pelvic floor with the compassionate, skilled support of Blair Mauri. By understanding the unique needs of your body and empowering you with the knowledge and resources to foster healing, Blair helps illuminate the path back to enjoying the most meaningful areas of your life.
Frequently Asked Questions About Postpartum Care
What is pelvic health, and why is it important in postpartum care?
Pelvic health refers to the proper functioning and wellness of the pelvic floor muscles and the organs they support, including the bladder, bowels, and uterus. In postpartum care, prioritizing pelvic health is crucial because childbirth can strain or injure these muscles and tissues, potentially leading to discomfort, incontinence, and other issues. Focusing on pelvic health helps ensure a smoother recovery, enhances overall well-being, and supports your body's ability to heal and strengthen after delivery.
What are the common pelvic floor issues faced by postpartum women?
Postpartum women may experience a range of pelvic floor issues, including but not limited to pelvic pain, urinary and fecal incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, scar tissue discomfort, and dyspareunia (painful intercourse). These conditions can result from the stretching or tearing of the pelvic floor muscles during childbirth, common pregnancy or postpartum movement patterns, or from the hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and after delivery.
When should I start focusing on pelvic health after giving birth?
It's advisable to begin focusing on pelvic health as soon as you feel comfortable after giving birth. However, it's important to consult with a healthcare provider, such as an occupational therapist like Blair Mauri, who specializes in Pelvic Floor Therapy, before starting any exercises or treatment, especially if you had a complicated childbirth or are experiencing significant discomfort. She can assess your specific needs and recommend the best time to begin focusing on your pelvic health based on your individual recovery process.
Can pelvic floor exercises help in postpartum recovery?
Yes, these exercises may incorporate relaxing and/or strengthening the pelvic floor muscles, depending on how they are functioning after giving birth. Recommendations are customized to each client’s personal needs. Exercises are important for recovery, but only one component to a successful treatment plan.
Can I go to Pelvic Floor Therapy if I’ve had a cesarean birth?
Yes! Recovering from a major surgery should always warrant an evaluation from a rehab professional. Treatment may look like scar massage, core restoration, as well as treating any discomfort or symptoms such as incontinence or pelvic pain.
What type of professional can help with postpartum pelvic health?
A licensed occupational therapist specializing in Pelvic Floor Therapy, like Blair Mauri, is a professional who can offer significant help with postpartum pelvic health. She is specially trained to assess and treat a range of pelvic floor issues. She can also provide customized exercises, manual therapy, and other treatments tailored to your specific postpartum recovery needs and wellness goals.