Even though discomforts during pregnancy are thought to be normal, they are not. If you suffer from neck pain, back pain, pelvic pain, hand pain, heel pain, or any other musculoskeletal pain during pregnancy, know that physiotherapy can treat them. Every woman embraces the journey of pregnancy and childbirth despite the changes her body goes through.
Not only antenatal discomforts but physiotherapy and a qualified physiotherapist can help new mothers in their road to recovery after childbirth in their postpartum phase.
Changes In Women’s Body During Pregnancy
A mother’s body goes through some major changes during pregnancy and these are
- Changes in the hormonal secretions
- The overall increase in body fluid
- Laxity of joints and ligaments due to relaxing hormone
- Changes in the curvature of the lumbar spine
- Stretching of the abdominal muscles to accommodate the growing fetus.
- Changes in the skin
- Weight gain
How Physiotherapist Helps New Mother To Recover?
The body begins to return to its pre-pregnancy state shortly after childbirth when these changes tend to reverse. However, the phenomenon of bounceback depends on several factors, including the type of pregnancy, the risks and complications, and the method of delivery. As a result, a new mother needs care, attention, and most importantly time to recover.
Difficulties Faced by New Mother in Post-Pregnancy
Every new mother can be addressed by a physiotherapist. the major concerns are
- Pain around the sutures
- Back pain
- Difficulty in resuming daily activities like bed mobility- especially after a cesarean section
- The loose abdomen
- Poor posture while breastfeeding causes neck and hand pain
- Confusion and questions regarding returning to exercises
How New Mother’s Issues Are Concerned?
- Poor posture, tight back muscles, weak abdominals, and a lack of mobility soon after birth are the primary causes of back pain in new mothers. Beginning mothers with backaches may benefit from lower-level exercises to strengthen the appropriate muscles and correct posture.
- Poor posture practices can harm your joints and muscles in a variety of ways; learning the correct postures to sit and breastfeed, lift the child, and change the diaper can prevent muscle stiffness and joint malalignment.
- Difficulty moving in bed is accompanied by pain around the sutures. Learning correct techniques, such as rolling, pushing through the upper body, sitting, and getting in and out of the bed, helps the body distribute pressure uniformly and avoids pressure at the suture site.
Allow your body to heal for about four to six weeks if you are unsure whether or not to resume your exercise routine after childbirth.
Within minutes of giving birth, begin basic exercises for muscle activation and mobility.
