Women's Pelvic Health
The capacity our bodies have as women and what happens in order for a baby to grow in our womb is simply miraculous! We're not always prepared, however, for what this process does to our pelvic muscles, reproductive organs, connective tissue, and other structures.
Since having your baby, have you noticed any leaking? Does everything "down there" feel weaker than it used to? Feel pressure, pain, or bulging? Have you noticed a split in your abdomen that doesn't seem to be getting better?
These are the concerns that many moms have after birthing their little ones. It's more common that you might think! 1 in 3 women experience urinary incontinence after childbirth. 2 of 3 women will experience diastasis recti (tummy split) with their second birth. At least 50% of women who've had babies (even "just one") have some degree of pelvic organ prolapse.
There's much that can be done to heal, especially with guidance from a women's pelvic floor therapist. Your therapy program will be, first and foremost, focused on function - getting you to a place where you can engage in the activities that are most important to you. Yoga, running, climbing, crossfit, work demands that require high levels of exertion - you name it.
We will cover nutrition as it relates to healing, proper body alignment and mechanics with movement, how to incorporate important breathing techniques, and how to strengthen your core safely. You will learn how to connect to your pelvic floor and become skilled at coordinating these muscles with their "teammates". You will come to know that "doing your kegels" is not the answer to all things pelvic health.
In some cases, and always with your consent & comfort, we will closely evaluate your pelvic floor muscles and vulvar/perineal tissues to determine muscle strength, coordination, tone, & endurance; explore and address presence of trigger points within these muscles and fascia; assess and support healing of birth scars; teach methods of relaxation and lengthening to allow full range of motion of these muscles; examine health of external tissues and educate on strategies to optimize their health; and most importantly, empower you to know your anatomy, cycles, body systems, and habits to support your overall health and function.
Pain
Pain in pelvis, back, groin?
Pain with lifting, carrying, getting up from floor, caring for baby?
intimacy
Pain with intercourse?
Birthing experience impacting your drive?
Confused and conflicted about body image, function, and relationships?
bowel/bladder function
Leaking with coughing/sneezing/laughing/lifting/sex?
Can't make it to the bathroom in time?
return to fitness
Don't know where to start?
Not sure what's helpful or harmful?
Unclear on the 6-week postpartum "green light" regarding exercise, exertion, & general activity level?
Why choose She Thrives to guide your physical recovery from birth & pregnancy?
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Skilled care delivered by clinician and fellow mom with both lived experience and clinical expertise in maternal health arena. Trained in both non-invasive pelvic floor therapy and internal pelvic musculature assessment. Specially trained in maternal mental health, care is always highly sensitive to social/emotional impact of condition(s) being treated, pregnancy and birthing experience, and takes into consideration potential for past history of trauma, including possible birth trauma.
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Multi-system consideration (endocrine, gastrointestinal, neuromuscular, skeletal, etc), beyond singular focus of isolated muscle group/problematic area.
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Function is always the focus - how is this impacting your relationships? social life? participation in work, leisure, home management, childcare? What components of these activities are triggering symptoms? This emphasis on function is driven by the goal to make intervention meaningful and client-centered always.
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Occupational Therapists are skilled at analyzing all of the components that make up a given task and then modifying or adapting to allow enhanced performance (of your everyday activities) with fewer barriers and symptoms.
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Home-based care allows for optimal comfort, privacy, and individualized attention.
Trained by some of the country's best researchers and practitioners at the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute.
