Why Would I Need Pelvic PT After a C-Section?
The rate of cesarean delivery in the United States is about 33%. There are many different reasons for a cesarean delivery and it can be a life saving procedure for both mom and baby. Unfortunately, too many women are not provided with adequate education following their cesarean to help them manage both short and long term symptoms following the surgery. Pelvic floor PT should be a staple in all pregnancies and postpartum experiences and cesarean deliveries are no different.
Women Who Have Had a C-Section Deserve Specialized Care and Attention With Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy to Ease Their Recovery Process.
A cesarean involves cutting through 7 different layers of tissue – skin, fat, fascia, muscle, peritoneum, uterus, amniotic sac – to get to the baby. When those layers are stitched up and healed, scar tissue forms. Restrictions in the mobility scar tissue are linked to long term challenges with bladder leakage and bladder pain, low back pain and pain with intercourse. A pelvic PT can teach you how to safely mobilize the scar tissue to improve mobility and pain.
Abdominal muscle weakness is always present following delivery due to the stretching of the abdominal muscles during pregnancy. Additionally, an incision through several abdominal muscles can further negatively impact abdominal strength. In pelvic PT, we work to improve diastasis recti (muscle separation) and overall abdominal muscle strength and coordination for safe return to activity and exercise.
Just because a baby did not move through the vaginal canal for delivery, does not mean that the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus and rectum) did not have increased pressure and stretch on them for many months during pregnancy. This can contribute to difficulties with bladder and bowel or a vaginal heaviness postpartum after a cesarean. A pelvic PT can help you relearn coordination of the pelvic floor muscles to provide improved support from below to the pelvic organs.
The postpartum period is too often met with a lack of education and guidance. Women are told things are normal and just part of being a mom when there are really so many things we can do to improve your function and quality of life.
