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You have probably heard some people say, “Oh it is normal to leak after having a baby, that is just what happens.” While it is common to experience leaking, this shouldn't become your new normal. As a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic health, I am trained to help new moms overcome incontinence. I also work with moms who have been dealing with bladder issues for many years. It's really never too late to get started.
One of the functions of the pelvic floor is bladder control. Many women discontinue exercise after having a baby due to leaking. There are two main types of urinary leakage: stress incontinence and urge incontinence. Stress incontinence is leakage without an urge and occurs with increased intra-abdominal pressure such as when sneezing, coughing, laughing or jumping. Most impact activities will create stress incontinence. Urge incontinence, on the other hand, is leakage with an urge and can have triggers such as hearing running water or “key in the door” (feeling like you can't make it to the bathroom in time).
The pelvic floor consists of superficial and deep muscle layers. The superficial layers act to close the openings while the deep layers do more of the support. Both layers need to be working properly for optimal bladder function. During pregnancy, our bodies change to adapt for the growing baby and to prepare for the birth of the baby. After birth, whether cesarean or vaginal, our pelvic floor muscles need to re-learn motor control and coordination as well as pressure management specifically related to stress incontinence.
So where do you start? Begin by seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist at Activcore. We are able to assess the body as a whole in order to determine positional faults and muscle imbalances through a movement screen performed on and off the Redcord suspension system. We will also conduct a pelvic floor exam to determine tissue mobility and coordination. Our treatments are tailored for each individual since our bodies are different from one other.
If you have additional questions about postpartum rehabilitation or urinary incontinence, contact us to schedule a phone consultation or an appointment.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are based on the opinion of the author, unless otherwise noted, and should not be taken as personal medical advice. The information provided is intended to help readers make their own informed health and wellness decisions.
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