We all know that having a baby puts a lot of stress on the body. Pregnancy alone is 9 months of stress and strain – mentally and physically. And then labor and delivery is like the grand finale! We often seek out medical care to prepare for pregnancy and birth, but what comes after that?
Most women are sent home from their birth with instructions for how to care for their new baby, but almost no guidance for how to care for themselves.
“Just work back into normal activities as you feel ready to do so.”
Sound familiar? It’s the most famous statement heard by new mothers at their 6 week postpartum checkup. But what exactly does that mean? How does one do this? What’s too much vs. too little? What’s too fast vs. too slow? What are good vs. bad things to do?
the best kind of mother is a healthy one!
And in this case it’s best to ask for backup. A Women’s Health (WH) specialized physical therapist will help you answer each of these questions in way that directly applies to your needs. They will take your full medical history, consider your pregnancy & birth story, evaluate your body’s strengths and weaknesses, and provide you with a full recovery PLAN specialized just for you!
Think about this for a moment…if you were a competitive runner and you broke your leg, would you go see a physical therapist to help get you back to running? Yes of course. So you grow a tiny human in your belly for 9 months, push it out of a small, painful space (vaginal or c-section applies here!), and then you have to raise that tiny human (not to mention any other responsibilities of caring for other family members, a household and possibly a career). Your entire body has endured quite the trauma throughout this process. Don’t you think you ought to go see a specialist to help you get your body back to tip top shape the right way? We think that as a busy mother, you deserve it! You don’t have time to feel crummy and defeated. You have a family to run!
Unfortunately many women who come through our doors waited months or even years before seeking the proper care for their bodies, and are already suffering from very preventable issues such as pain, leaking, muscle weakness, abdominal separation, fatigue and overwhelm. None of which developed suddenly overnight. We highly encourage new mothers to seek consult with a WH physical therapist right away at 6-8 weeks postpartum…to hit the ground running and optimize recovery time!
What we recommend:
- Seek out a Women’s Health (WH) physical therapist (PT) PRIOR to having your baby. Ideally it’s great to have a session or two with a local provider during your pregnancy to establish a plan of care and expectations after birth. They also are a great resource to help your body prepare for birth and manage any pregnancy pain issues.
- Schedule a phone or virtual consult with your WH physical therapist at 3-4 weeks postpartum. Many different scenarios can occur during labor, delivery and recovery. This is a great way to touch base with how you are feeling, answer any questions, and create a plan for your first official visit.
- Schedule your first physical therapy visit at 6 weeks postpartum. This is where the magic happens! Your PT will be able to help you learn more about your body, it’s needs, and discuss the plan that will help you recover the way that YOU want to!
At fit pt
Our passion is helping women in this special phase of life. We specialize in helping postpartum mothers learn to navigate their way back to normal LIFE safely, efficiently, and effectively.
Most importantly, we want to inspire you to honor the postpartum healing and recovery process. No two journeys are the same when it comes conception, pregnancy, or postpartum Let us help you find the care and process that works best for you! Schedule your consult today!
