Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a simple word that we use to summarize the complex and extraordinary changes that a woman undergoes to create a new life. Every system in her body is affected and transformed, totally devoted to supporting the being in her womb. The metamorphosis is perfectly choreographed.
Yet, sometimes women experience pain during this evolution. And while common, it is never normal to have pain during pregnancy. That is her body signaling that it needs help. As a pelvic floor physical therapist, Erica Holland has expert training to support a woman’s changing body, abolish pain, and prepare for labor, delivery, and postpartum healing.
Physical therapy can aid women during their pregnancies in a prospective or supportive function. When you hurt, physical therapy can help. Common, but not normal, pain syndromes during pregnancy include: low back, rib, abdominal or hip pain, pubic symphysis pain, numbness or tingling in arms or legs, tailbone pain, pain or heaviness in the vagina or rectum, incontinence (of gas, urine, or stool), and abdominal bulging (diastasis recti abdominus), and are all comfortably treated by a knowledgeable pelvic floor physical therapist. If you are having any of these symptoms, call us today to schedule for rapid relief.
Prospectively, physical therapy can help you plan and train your body to limit your chances of pain, help you continue to do your normal life activities, and prepare for labor and delivery. With wellness tracks designed to educate, strengthen, and empower you throughout your pregnancy, pelvic floor physical therapy is a great addition to your medical and support team during this exciting, but vulnerable time.
Read more about Erica Holland and Pelvic Health Physical Therapy
Common, but not normal, pain syndromes during pregnancy or postpartum include:
- Low Back Pain
- Rib Pain
- Abdominal Pain
- Hip Pain
- Pubic Symphysis Pain
- Numbness or Tingling in Arms or Legs
- Pelvic or Tailbone Pain
- Pain or Heaviness in Vagina or Rectum
- Incontinence (of gas, urine, or stool)
- Abdominal bulging (Diastasis Recti Abdominus)
- Cesarean Scar Pain
- Pain with Sexual Activities
- Other Injuries Sustained During Delivery
Postpartum
For eons, the birth of a baby caused the gathering of the community and local women who would assist each other with the transition of being pregnant to being a mother. Most cultures around the world still practice these traditions and the postpartum period has rituals and practices that are meant to support the baby, the mother, and the family. This is because a mother’s body doesn’t “bounce back”; it heals. Just as the baby requires love and attention to grow and thrive, so does a mother and her repairing body. Every part of her has been transformed.
Just as pregnancy is an intuitive process, a mother’s body will also knit itself back together. But, sometimes it needs help and it will tell us through things like pain, heaviness, and incontinence. Pelvic floor physical therapists are specifically trained in postpartum care to abolish pain and incontinence.
If you are having pain or discomfort after having a baby, pelvic floor physical therapy can help. Common, but not normal, symptoms postpartum include: leaking urine, gas, or stool; vaginal or rectal heaviness, abdominal bulging (diastasis recti abdominus), low back, tailbone, abdominal, hip, or rib pain, cesarean section pain, pain resuming sexual activities, or other injuries sustained during delivery. If you are having any of these symptoms, call us today to schedule for rapid relief, whether you are a new mom or a veteran mom of an older child.
Sometimes, those symptoms occur immediately after delivery and sometimes they do not manifest for years afterwards. The current scientific data suggests that early interventions can proactively and prophylactically mitigate these syndromes.
Pregnancy and postpartum programs offered:
1st and 2nd Trimester: Weeks 1 through 27
- 4 visits
- Individualized exercise plan that grows and changes with you
- Deep core and pelvic floor assessment and coaching
3rd Trimester: Weeks 28 through 40
- 3 visits
- Instruction for comfort measures for sleep, travel, etc.
- Perineal strength and stretching
- Individualized exercise plan that grows and changes with you
- Deep core and pelvic floor assessment and coaching
- Coaching for labor and delivery position guidance
4th Trimester: Postpartum Weeks 1 through 8
- 3 visits
- Healing of perineum and/or abdomen
- Post-cesarean movement strategies to limit pain and promote healing
Well Woman Care
- 6 visits (or as needed)
- New and veteran mothers
- Gentle strengthening and restoration of movement
- Pelvic floor and deep abdominal muscles
- Scar management
- Diastasis abdominus training
- Incontinence management
- Conditioning for return to exercise
***Each individual will have different needs during each phase of pregnancy. These programs may be personalized according to the patient and her conditions.