POSTPARTUM RELATED PAIN

Postpartum refers to the period of time right after childbirth.

During this period, physiotherapists are essential in preventing and managing pain and complications that may develop after delivery.

Other than pain relief and benefits of physiotherapy postpartum include:

• Prevention of urinary incontinence
• Keeping fit.
• Boost immunity
• Stress relief
• Improving exercise endurance

Causes of postpartum pain

• Poor posture 
• Leaning over while breastfeeding may lead to development of neck and upper back pain.
• Slouching while sitting and poor ergonomics around the home such as bending and lifting heavy objects; may lead to low back pain.
• Muscle weakness
• Weakness of the gluteal muscles due to tension on back muscles would lead to development of pain with walking.
• Weakness of core muscles especially after a C-section leads to low back pain especially when moving from sitting to standing.
• Postpartum oedema

Oedema is the medical term for swelling. 

Often after childbirth, some women experience swelling or oedema of their feet. This may come along with pain.

• Diastasis recti

This is a condition in which the abdominal muscles separate during and after pregnancy.

During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles are stretched to create room for the growing baby. Diastasis recti occurs when the connective tissue between the abdominal muscles doesn’t come back together.

It often presents as a bulge that protrudes right above or below the belly button and is noticed during the postpartum period.

Presence of this diastasis recti would lead to difficulty in lifting objects, walking, hip and or low back pain.

Physiotherapy Interventions

• Low back Strengthening and Stretching exercises

These exercises are essential in relieving the pressure off the low back muscles to relieve pain.

• Pelvic floor exercises

These include kegel exercises that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. This helps in preventing stress urinary incontinence.

Stress incontinence is  involuntary leaking of urine with activities that increase abdominal pressure such as sneezing, coughing, laughing or sneezing.

• Breathing exercises 

Deep breathing exercises are essential in building core stability.

• Core strengthening exercises

These help in building the core to correct diastasis recti and ease difficulty of lifting objects and low back pain.

• Posture education

A Physiotherapist teaches a patient correct body mechanics when; lifting heavy objects, sitting, breastfeeding, and activities of daily living such as toileting and washing the baby.

This is essential in preventing and managing low back pain.