Postpartum Dysfunctions

Postpartum Core Dysfunctions
Postpartum Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Postural changes in pregnancy, developing new strategies for breathing, stretching of connective tissue, over or underuse of certain muscles, birth itself and a return to activity too soon postpartum can all lead to core challenges such as pelvic floor weakness, Diastasis Recti (Ab Separation), Upper Body Postural Dysfunction and Postpartum Core Dysfunction and a general feeling that things just ‘aren’t quite the same’.

After delivering a baby your body could use some love. And the sooner you can start engaging your core the better! Remember to be gentle with yourself. Your body has just experienced more changes than you can imagine.

Dr. Lindsay will help get that “normal” body back with gentle chiropractic adjustments to get everything re-aligned and starting you on some core stabilization exercises. Never do sit ups or crunches after birth!

 

Postpartum Core Dysfunctions

Our core takes on a whole new meaning during pregnancy! But what about after the baby is born? Do the changes change back? Not without a little help and understanding.

Core dysfunctions show up as:

  • Extra padding around your midsection
  • Tightness in your arms and legs
  • Pain in hips, knees, pelvis and low back
  • Frozen shoulder
  • Difficulty doing everyday tasks such as rolling over, walking, changing positions, getting in and out of cars.

How Can Chiropractic Help?

A proper functioning nervous system and an engaged core are the most important elements of movement. Dr. Lindsay will help get that “normal” body back with gentle chiropractic adjustments to get everything re-aligned and starting you on some core stabilization exercises. Never do sit ups or crunches after birth!

Back to Top

 

Postpartum Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)

SPD during pregnancy is a condition that causes excessive movement of the pubic symphysis, as well as associated pain, because of a misalignment of the pelvis thanks to the hormone Relaxin. It affects up to one in four pregnant women to varying degrees, with 7% of sufferers continuing to experience serious symptoms postpartum.

Any activity that involves lifting one leg at a time or parting the legs tends to be particularly painful. Lifting the leg to put on clothes, getting out of a car, bending over, sitting down or getting up, walking up stairs, standing on one leg, lifting heavy objects, and walking in general tend to be difficult at times. Many women report that moving or turning over in bed is especially excruciating.

How Can Chiropractic Help?

Although the best idea may be to resolve chronic SPD pain through realigning the pelvis girdle and soft tissues with gentle chiropractic adjustments, most women have some residual pubic and low back discomfort sticking around during pregnancy and the early postpartum weeks because of hormones. Therefore, tips for coping with pubic pain tend to be a focus of many SPD websites. Many of the suggestions include:

  • Use a pillow between your legs when sleeping; body pillows are a great investment!
  • Use a pillow under your ‘bump’ (pregnancy tummy) when sleeping
  • Keep your legs and hips as parallel/symmetrical as possible when moving or turning in bed
  • Some women also find it helpful to have their partners stabilize their hips and hold them ‘together’ when rolling over in bed or otherwise adjusting position
  • Swimming may help relieve pressure on the joint
  • When standing, stand symmetrically, with your weight evenly distributed through both legs
  • Avoid ‘straddle’ movements
  • An ice pack may feel soothing and help reduce inflammation in the pubic area
  • Move slowly and without sudden movements
  • If sex is uncomfortable for you, use lots of pillows under your knees, or try other positions

Back to Top

 

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction affects women who have given birth. Pregnancy and the changes pregnancy makes to the pelvic floor can cause postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction, not the method of delivery, so you may develop postpartum pelvic floor dysfunction whether you deliver by caesarian or vaginally.

Pelvic floor dysfunction occurs when there is either too much tension on the pelvic floor muscles (high tone) or not enough (low tone) contributing to urinary incontinence, constipation, pain during intercourse or pain in the lower back, pelvic region, or rectum.

How Can Chiropractic Help?

Women who receive chiropractic treatment, both before or after the baby is born, will experience a positive response in their pelvic floor, particularly if the cause lies in pelvic misalignment. Chiropractic treatment aims to address the root cause of the problem instead of addressing only the symptoms. From the Chiropractic point of view, it is better for a woman with mild pelvic floor dysfunction to get treatment early on to prevent the problem from becoming more severe later.

Back to Top