Postpartum Physical Therapy
Pelvic health physiotherapy tailored to those who are postpartum and looking for support after having their baby in the Durham, NC community and beyond.
Whether you are newly postpartum or it has been year since your last baby was born, postpartum physical therapy can help support you get back to feeling and performing at your best.
These sessions focus helping you recover well after birth and get back to whatever activities you enjoy. We can also address any symptoms that you may be experiencing - you do not need to live with symptoms just because you’re a mom.
What we can address in postpartum physical therapy:
Pain you may be experiencing: lower back pain, hip pain, abdominal pain, shoulder pain, neck pain
SI joint pain/instability and feeling generally “unstable” in your hip region
Diastasis and abdominal separation
Incontinence or constipation with activities, laughing, coughing, sneezing
Safe strengthening postpartum and returning to running, pilates, yoga, CrossFit, and more
General pelvic pain and discomfort
Prolapse and feelings of heaviness in the pelvic region
C-Section scar healing
Pain with returning to intercourse
…and more
To get started, click the button below to book your FREE discovery call with me. On the call, you can ask any questions you have as well as get a general idea of what treatment for you may look like.
Navigating your new body after pregnancy and birth is an experience you deserve support for and I’ve got you.
You don’t need to guess when it comes to healing after birth and returning to activities that you enjoy. Pelvic PT postpartum women can help you avoid prolonged pain, return to activities without pelvic symptoms like leaking, heaviness, and pain, heal your body in the best way after birth, return to intercourse without pain, and provide a space for you to get your questions answered about the experience you are having.
What to expect at Durham Pelvic
My approach is designed to give you the best results in the most efficient way. Each session is 60 minutes long and one-on-one with me. You will not be passed off to a different therapist each session.
This means that we’re able to develop and refine your specific treatment plan. This way, what we’re doing in therapy is always helping you get to the goal that we’ve set together. No sessions or time wasted and always time to discuss any changes and updates that need to be made.
My approach is a blend of manual techniques and exercise and is tailored to your needs, always.
Have more questions or want to get started? Schedule a FREE 15-minute discovery call with me to chat about what symptoms you’re having and how Durham pelvic can help you.
Postpartum Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Breakdown
After birth, returning to pelvic floor physical therapy can help with recovery, general wellness support, and returning to exercise safely. When it would be best for you return to pelvic floor physical therapy in your postpartum journey can be determined and planned prior to birth.
Once you’ve had a baby, you’re always postpartum. Postpartum physical therapy is for those who are newly postpartum or those who had a child or children years ago.
Here are some of the most common things that I treat and help my postpartum patients with:
Diastasis recovery: Even though abdominal separation is necessary, sometimes it takes a little targeted therapy to help the muscles return to a resting position without an excessive gap down the middle, between the muscles.
C-section scar recovery: If you have a cesarian section, we can work on scar mobility, decreasing scar sensitivity, strategies for going about daily living tasks without aggravating the area, decreasing pain, and return to exercise safely.
Prolapse: Sometimes patients will be diagnosed with a prolapse after they give birth. In pelvic therapy, we can work on decreasing the prolapse severity as well as mitigating symptoms like heaviness and pain.
Leaking: While it is very common to leak post-birth due to excessive relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles and poor coordination of the abdominal muscles and core region as a whole, leaking during coughing, sneezing, laughing, jumping, running, lifting, and more is something we can work on in therapy so you can go on living without feeling like you need to avoid trampolines, running with your kids, and jump roping.
Pelvic Pain: It’s not uncommon to have some pelvic pain after birth. While time will help with this recovery, there are techniques we can utilize in session to decrease the pelvic muscle sensitivity and pain.
Return to exercise: Whether you are an avid runner, lifter, cyclist, or weekend warrior, know that returning to exercise postpartum can be a journey that we can collaborate on so that you do so safely and with maximal control and coordination. During pregnancy, your body undergoes a lot of changes and the postpartum period can be a super difficult relearning period while your body recovers. With that, it’s important to focus on figuring out where your current limits/boundaries are and then slowly progressing back to what you were doing pre-baby.
Pain with intercourse: If you are experiencing pain with intercourse after birth, we can determine new strategies to make intimacy enjoyable again which may include pelvic floor muscle relaxation, manual techniques to help with muscle tone, and positional strategies to avoid areas that are sensitive with a goal of getting back to pain-free intercourse.
Frequently Asked Questions about Postpartum Pelvic PT
-
Common reasons to see a pelvic PT during pregnancy or after baby:
Urinary leakage or urgency
Pelvic pressure or heaviness
Pain with intercourse
Lower back or pelvic pain
Constipation
Diastasis recti (abdominal separation)
Preparing for birth
Recovering from childbirth (vaginal or cesarean)
Scar tissue concerns
Pelvic organ prolapse symptoms
-
You can begin at any time during pregnancy.
-
Learn how to relax your pelvic floor to prepare for birth
Proper pelvic floor strengthening
Prepare for labor and delivery
Prevent potential issues during birth like tearing and prolapse
Learn techniques for pushing and delivery
Address strength and mobility issues that may contribute to typical pregnancy-related symptoms like back pain, hip pain, foot pain, and more.
-
Common indicators include:
Urine leakage when coughing, sneezing, or exercising
Persistent back or pelvic pain
Difficulty controlling bowel movements
Feeling of pressure or heaviness in the vagina
Pain with intercourse
Difficulty emptying bladder or bowel
Separation of abdominal muscles that isn't improving
Scar pain or restricted mobility
Any pregnancy-related pain like back pain, hip pain, pelvic pain, SI joint pain
-
Of course. Your baby is always welcome during sessions.
