Postnatal period
This is the time during which the pelvic organs return to their normal condition. Most of the physiological and anatomical changes of pregnancy are reversed. Recovery time varies considerably from woman to woman and depends also on the fitness of the mother, her general medical condition and the kind of birth she has experienced. Recovery from instrumental and surgical delivery takes longer as the body has to deal with the surgery as well as the physiological changes. Unfortunately in this modern time with the increasing demand for mothers to return early to work, the woman has no time to look after herself, which might reflect on her long-term health.
Possible health issues in the postpartum:
Urinary stress incontinence
Bowel problems
Haemorrhoids
Perineal pain and pain during intercourse
Backaches, headaches, depression and fatigue
Parts of Treatment: Consultation form (at first session)
Posture awareness
Bodywork (optional breast massage for healthy breastfeeding)
Exercises, homecare or other useful information
Treatment time: 1-1,5 hours depending on client’s needs.
Position of the treatment: Prone, supine, semi reclined, side lying and sitting on massage chair or birth ball. The therapist is working with the client when choosing positions to provide her comfort. Forward leaning is avoided in early stages due to pressure on abdomen.
Benefits of the treatment: Anatomical and Physiological changes of pregnancy and birth reverse. It can result in many ailments. The treatment is able to help with improving health. Some of the health issues are listed bellow.
Headaches
Migrains
Depression
Backaches
Fatigue
Muscle spasm
Arms weakness
Carpall Tunnel
Joints stiffness
Tension in shoulders
The Massage also improves circulation, helps to prevent breast infection and Mastitis. Also promotes relaxation, which is often needed.
CAUTION: Possible contraindications to the treatment:
Bodywork may be continued to support the healing process after medical diagnosis.
Fever, burning, blood in the urine or inability to urinate, reddened painful area on the breast, foul odour to vaginal discharge, vaginal soreness and itching = symptoms of infection
Opening of caesarean incision, foul-smelling discharge, blood = infection of caesarean incision
Increase in pain in episiotomy, foul-smelling discharge, bleeding = infection, reopening of incision or tear
Swollen, red, painful, hot area on leg = risk of Thrombophlebitis
Red clots, pieces of tissue or bright red vaginal bleeding (lochia) after flow has decreased and changed to brownish, pink or yellow = infection, overexertion or retained fragment of placenta
EXERCISES
If the weakened abdominal wall and pelvic floor muscles are not exercised, then this may lead to a lack of support for the internal organs or problem with lower back due to weakness in the pelvic area. 14% of women complain of backache post delivery, which lasts more than 6 weeks. Some women have backache even 1-9 years later. The reason may be largely due to postural stress (lifting and carrying the baby) and household tasks, combined with weak abdominal and pelvic floor muscles.
Pelvic floor exercises help to improve blood circulation to the area and aid healing and recovery. Strengthening pelvic floor muscles may also help in resuming sex that is, in turn, good for the pelvic floor as well.
First week
Abdominal muscles: They need to be checked for recti muscle separation before doing the corrective exercises (avoid when caesarean section).
Pelvic Floor: Gentle exercise in the supine (lying on the back) position to avoid the forces of gravity. As the pelvic floor begins to recover, the muscles will tighten more readily and you can hold the exercise longer in the upright position.
Second to fifth week
Exercises depending on recovery and pre-pregnancy levels of fitness.
Stronger versions of exercises could be done
Pelvic tilts while standing
Squatting is probably still too strong for most women
Postural awareness, including holding and lifting baby
CAUTION:
Forward leaning exercises such as cat or fours and inverted position are less advised, certainly during bleeding because they encourage lochial discharge to flow inwards rather than be discharged.
Week 6 to 6 months
Exercises can gradually begin to get stronger and regular for the rest of the woman’s life.
Focus on strengthening the abdomen, pelvic floor, lower back and releasing tension from the hips and shoulders
Depending on recovery, gentle cat and forward leaning exercises could be done.
Breast Massage:
Self-massage of the breast may help prevent blockage of milk in ducts and reduce risk of mastitis developing.
GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE FOR ALL TREATMENTS
Ready to find out more?
I wish you good health and will be looking forward to welcoming you personally at my practice. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions.