Did you have a C-Section? A Pelvic Physical Therapist Can help!
This post is all about c-sections, recovery, and how a pelvic PT can help you fully heal after birth! Did you know that over 30% of women have cesarean births, but are given little to no information on proper recovery?! There is a lot of misconception that c-sections are an “easier birth” or that your pelvic floor is completely “spared”, but often times no one is educating us on the facts of how a c-section affects our bodies.
Think about this scenario: when you elect to have a knee or hip surgery, you are often getting both prehab AND rehab physical therapy to help prepare, recover, and strengthen so that your surgery can have the best outcomes. Unfortunately, it is still really uncommon for mamas who have c-sections to get any preventative or post-surgical care. Did you know that in some European countries, such as France, after a c-section you get a referral for Pelvic PT to help you heal. This is how it should be! Think about all of the things we can do to heal and prevent. This is why Dr. Hannah at Awake Pelvic Health is so passionate about educating birthing people about the benefits of pelvic PT prior to and after a cesarean birth.
COMMON SYMPTOMS – POST C-SECTION
Scar pain and sensitivity, or lack of sensation around your scar
Difficulty bend, lifting, twisting
Low back pain and core weakness
Reduced flexibility and mobility in hips and low back
Pelvic pain with sex
Trigger points in the abdominal wall or referral pain to clitoris and urethra
Urinary frequency, urgency, and incontinence
How does Pelvic PT Help?
Check c-section scar mobility and scar tissue
Scar massage and teach you how to do this on your own
Teach you strategies to decrease pain and sensitivity at your scar
Core muscle assessment and exercises tailored to you to improve core strength and resiliency
Retrain the deep core and pelvic floor
Check for diastasis recti and treat it
Assess and treat any associated back pain, urinary issues, or hip pain
Help you safely return to running, weightlifting, HIIT, etc.
When should I start PT after my C-section?
Great question! At Awake Pelvic Health & Wellness we typically recommend seeing you around 3 to 6 weeks postpartum or anytime beyond. This allows us to do a thorough evaluation earlier on to help jump-start healing, recovery, and optimize your movement patterns. It is NEVER too late to see a pelvic PT after your c-section, whether you had your baby 3 weeks or 3 years ago (or beyond!) Give us a call or email us to see if Pelvic PT is right for you!
