The Trials and Tribulations of Pregnancy
As the mother of 4 children, I know firsthand many of the challenges women face while pregnant, in fact I feel like I have experienced them all! The transformation that happens in a woman’s body is quite remarkable. As your belly grows, your center of gravity changes causing muscles to behave in new ways. It is common to see a pattern of muscle tightness developing at the front of the shoulders and hips in response to the increased weight of the belly. It is beneficial to begin a daily stretching program to prevent loss of motion in these joints and to maintain good posture.
Every pregnancy is so unique that even the same person can experience different challenges with each one. Common areas that develop pain are the upper back, the lower back, and the SI joints. A physical therapist can use support belts, soft tissue mobilization and targeted strengthening and stretching exercises to help manage this pain. Sleeping with pillows placed to maintain a neutral pelvis and support for your growing belly can also help to alleviate your pain.
After delivery, physical therapy can be beneficial to:
- Help you restore proper abdominal activation to support your back and pelvis
- Teach you how to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles that have been stretched and strained from the weight of the pregnant belly and from the birth process
- Use muscle energy and strengthening exercises to realign joints
- Address any postural changes that have resulted from the weight of the baby
Women who don’t receive any therapy after childbirth often experience back pain, SI pain, pelvic pain or bowel or bladder leakage. This could be prevented with proper intervention. It’s never to late to get the help you need. Whether you had a baby six weeks ago or 60 years ago, muscles can always be strengthened and retrained. The right time to start is NOW!
