The Cost of Admission Into Motherhood
Pelvic floor symptoms commonly develop during and after pregnancy. They are also commonly normalized by our medical system and society as the “cost of admission” into motherhood.
Have you ever noticed there's an entire incontinence aisle at the grocery store? 🤔
The good news is, there are better solutions! Read on to learn how to take (pelvic) matters into your own hands.
Pelvic Health is Family Health
When Mom continues to experience pelvic floor symptoms, it takes a serious toll on her and her relationships...
🤸♀️ She pulls back from playing with her kids because it hurts
🏃♀️ She stops exercising because she’s afraid of leaking
🫦 She struggles to be intimate with her partner because sex is painful
And all of this creates emotional exhaustion and anxiety because it’s embarrassing to talk about and she thinks this is just her new normal. So why do so many moms get to this point?
Postpartum Care Misses The Mark
Postpartum care begins and ends with ONE appointment, which is why so many moms continue to have pelvic floor symptoms for the rest of their lives. The 6-week checkup can look something like this:
Doc: “Your stitches healed up well and there’s no signs of infection. Congrats, you’re all clear to resume exercise and sex.”
Mom: “I’m still leaking a bit and have some pelvic pain.”
Doc: “No worries, that’s normal at this point and should get better. Just ease back into activities and listen to your body..”
Fast forward 1 year and the pelvic floor symptoms have continued to interrupt her life so she seeks help…
Mom: "It's been a year since I had my baby and I'm still leaking during exercise and pain with sex hasn't gotten better.”
Doc: “Hmm...Let’s send you to the urologist. You might have overactive bladder. Have you tried doing Kegels? Also, a glass of wine to help you relax before sex can be helpful.
These are actual stories from my patients.
Unfortunately, most physicians are still not being taught about the pelvic floor or that pelvic floor specialists like myself even exist. Heck, my own medical training didn't even include the pelvic floor! I had to seek out this education after getting my doctorate degree.
What this illustrates is a larger failure of medical school education (and is a product of what insurance gets to define as "medically necessary" but I'll save that for another month). Ultimately this leaves mothers ping ponging around the medical system, wasting time and money, not ever getting the care they need and deserve.
So what's the solution?
Ask Your Doctor To See A Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
If you (or someone you love) continue to suffer with pelvic floor symptoms, I encourage you to take ownership of your pelvic health and reach out directly to a pelvic floor physical therapist near you. In many US states you can start seeing us directly without a referral. Here are a few of the many ways we can help:
🤰 During pregnancy (yes, we help before birth!)
We take the guesswork out of what exercises are safe
We teach you how to build strength in your core, hips & pelvic floor muscles so you’re prepared for the heavy lifting of motherhood
We address symptoms like leaking, pelvic pain & low back pain so you don’t have to “just deal”
We teach you pushing techniques that reduce your risk of pelvic floor injuries during birth (see my YouTube video)
💪 Want to birth like a boss?!
Check out my Pelvic Floor Birth Prep Program
👩🍼 Postpartum
We teach restorative movements & breathing exercises to accelerate early healing for both vaginal & C-section deliveries
We address pelvic floor symptoms & manage scar tissue healing
We teach you how to lift & carry your little ones with confidence (see the links for my YouTube videos on this topic)
We guide you safely back to exercise & activities with a plan
💪 Want to get strong for motherhood?
Check out my Postpartum Strength & Education Program
⏰ And no matter how old your kids are, there is no expiration date for when you can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy.
To learn more about how you can be supported through each trimester and your postpartum journey, see my pdf handout.
Thanks for Reading! Please forward this newsletter to a friend and help spread the word on pelvic health! Questions, comments, requests for future newsletters? Send an email to info@pelvicsavvy.com.
Your pelvic health matters,
Dr. Chris
Find me on Instagram & YouTube
I want you to have the knowledge & tools to make great health choices for yourself. Ideas shared in this blog do not constitute medical advice.
