Recovering from pregnancy is an important process for a new mother’s health and well-being. Although recovering can be tiring, especially in the first few weeks after giving birth, it is possible to regain strength and energy through proper nutrition, rest and by gradually returning to regular physical activity. Taking the time to properly recover from pregnancy will give the new mom more energy and confidence and help her adjust to all of the changes that come with life as a mother. With patience and dedication, recovering from pregnancy can be an empowering experience rather than one that exhausts.

The journey to recovering from pregnancy can be a complicated one for many women. From the physical and mental challenges of navigating their changing bodies to dealing with the hormonal and lifestyle changes that parenthood brings – it can be overwhelming. Our women’s health physiotherapist has written an insightful article addressing common issues and offering guidance on how to navigate them. With specialist insight and plentiful advice, this article is essential reading for anybody recovering from pregnancy – enabling them to feel confident and capable in their newfound situation.

Recovering from Pregnancy – Common Issues

Difficulties with Bladder & Bowel Functions After Giving Birth

Bowel and bladder issues are one of the most common causes of distress in the early postnatal period.

Hormones, discomfort and muscle changes can make it difficult for things to return to normal. Now, a post-pregnancy physiotherapy appointment can help get things back on track with valuable advice and home management strategies to improve sensation. It is also the best time to screen for any serious cause for concern.

A women’s health specialist or GP will often ask you to complete a bladder or a bowel diary to establish whether your fluid volumes and bladder capacity have returned to normal.

Musculoskeletal Injuries Post-Pregnancy

One other reason to see a physiotherapist in the early post-pregnancy period includes musculoskeletal problems such as pelvic pain (difficulty walking, going upstairs or standing on one leg), back pain or neck pain.

These types of pain can be debilitating and can affect your ability to care for your baby effectively. Although it can be a huge effort to make a physiotherapy appointment, Mums usually feel much better after 1 or 2 visits. The sooner you address these types of pain, the better!

Sometimes musculoskeletal pain can be a result of instability and stretchiness after pregnancy. In particular, a gap in the abdominal muscles can cause poor postures and extra loading on your back. Starting the appropriate exercises and wearing effective support can assist in the recovery of your abdominal muscles. You can start this in the first few weeks following the birth of your baby.

Issues with Breastfeeding in the Early Months After Childbirth

Although the process of lactation and breastfeeding is natural, it can also be extremely complicated in the early months. There is a lot of learning and patience from both mum and baby. That learning curve is one reason mums, especially the new ones, tend to sink into postnatal depression.

Thankfully, you can get help from physiotherapists who work closely with lactation consultants and your GP to manage any breastfeeding issues during the early months. They will help you tackle common breastfeeding challenges like painful bumps or blisters on your breast, red and painful breasts, feeling exhausted, lop-sided breasts, hyper lactation and more.

If there is a suspected infection, they will request swabs to help determine the cause and initiate treatment. Positioning and attachment advice can also help improve the mechanics of feeding.

For cracked nipples, one of the treatments that might be used is the LASER (Low-Level Laser Therapy). The treatment itself is painless and accelerates the healing of damaged tissue by stimulating cellular repair and circulation, thus reducing pain levels. The treatment is quite quick, and you often only require 2-4 sessions.

Well, these are but a few common issues that can crop up in the postpartum phase as your body recovers from childbirth. Getting into healthy habits like exercise, good bladder & bowel habits, and seeking advice from a professional will help you avoid unwanted problems such as incontinence, vaginal prolapse, back pain and more.

Better even, speak to a specialist to help with your postnatal check. It will keep you and the baby healthy!

Find out about the range of women’s health services we offer at our Clapham and Wimbledon injury rehabilitation clinics.

> Abbeville Road, Clapham SW4
> Wimbledon Village, Wimbledon SW19