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*A guest post from a pelvic health specialist*
You know that silly phrase, “If I had a nickel”? Well, if I had a nickel for every time a new mom or birthing person says “I wish someone had told me…” — I would have mountains of nickels to dive into, Scrooge McDuck style.
My heart aches every time I hear the phrase, “I wish someone had told me” as I sit across from a new parent–or parents many years removed from the birthing process. Each new mom or birthing person has to take time out of their busy day to get dressed enough to be presentable, drive to see their pelvic floor PT, and are distractedly rocking a stroller back and forth. Then Covid-19 hit and even that stopped. I continued to see patients virtually, but the question remains: “Why didn’t anyone tell me?” Why don’t moms and birthing people not only know what may happen in their bodies during and after birth but also, how to heal.
Here are the most common questions we get:
Why didn’t anyone tell me…
- …that my first poop after baby would be so difficult?
- …that my back and neck would ache after every feeding?
- …that I needed to work on my pelvic floor–but kegels aren’t always the right answer?
- …that hemorrhoids can be soothed? …
- …that leaking is common – but not normal – and is treatable without surgery?
- …that my abdominal muscles might be separated?
- …that I shouldn’t go straight back to crunches and planks?
- …that pain with sex is common but not normal?
- …that I can make my scar feel and look better?
- …that pelvic floor physical therapy exists?
Everything I listed here is treatable! Postpartum Essentials: Heal From (Pelvic) Floor to Core was conceived and born from the need to get all of the information pelvic floor PTs wish new parents knew before giving birth and in the following months and years. We at The Healthy Pelvis Project created the course in a format where you can pop on a video while feeding, listen to the audio while you make a meal, or try a core healing workout when you put your kiddo down for a nap. Most birth-related healthcare and education focuses on how to give birth and ensure the health of the baby. We strive to emphasize the health of the new parent. If you want to learn how to heal your body postpartum, check out Postpartum Essentials: Heal From (Pelvic) Floor to Core.
Guest Blog Post:
Dr. Julianna Allen PT, DPT, WCS is a Board Certified Pelvic Health Specialist. She has been practicing in the fields of pelvic health, lymphedema, and cancer care since 2015. She was drawn to treating pelvic health, as pelvic floor dysfunction is often not discussed and goes untreated. She aspires to empower people with pelvic floor dysfunction and reduce the burden of living with pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms. After working at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Emerson Hospital, she started Embrace PT & Wellness to improve the accessibility of pelvic health physical therapy and to provide personal and compassionate care. She offers virtual pregnancy wellness assessments and provides online or virtual pelvic floor physical therapy appointments in Massachusetts to alleviate back pain during and after pregnancy, manage constipation, reduce pelvic organ prolapse, to assess when and how to safely return to fitness, have pain free sex, stop leaking and heal diastasis rectus abdominis.
You can learn more about Julianna’s services here.
