59-The Postpartum Screen or Six Week Clearance// Why It’s Crucial to See a Pelvic PT to Return to Activity Safely

Hey Momma! As you near labor and delivery, you are probably starting to think about what comes after birth.  What should you be doing and not doing postpartum? I often get questions about the postpartum period and recovery.  Unfortunately, the standard of care in the United States is to have a postpartum check up or screen around 6 weeks to get “clearance” for activity as usual.  Which leads many women, like me, to return to some sports and activities prematurely, causing issues like pelvic organ prolapse, incontinence or leaking, diastasis recti (DRA), or pelvic pain, to show up when they were never there during pregnancy.  This can be very frustrating, especially if you are trying to exercise and do the “right things”.  As you will learn and may have already in recent episodes, it is more about HOW your body is functioning and performing for you during an activity.  Not just is your pelvic floor strong or weak.  So while the routine 6 week check up is necessary for other things like screening mental health, pain and tissue healing, it is not doing our women justice to clear them to return activity as usual. It is crucial and should be standard of care to get a pelvic floor PT internal assessment postpartum to assess for things because strength like coordination, pressure management, trigger points, scar tissue, functional movement patterns and much more! Inside this weeks episode I dive into all the differences between your standard OBGYNE exam and a pelvic floor PT’s and why you should be getting both! And also why you probably shouldn't wait until six weeks to have a follow up with your pelvic PT or provider.  Also stay tuned for some tips to think about as you navigate your early postpartum recovery.  As always, if you are experiencing any pelvic floor/women's health issue like urinary incontinence/leaking, pelvic pain, pain with sex, urgency, heaviness/prolapse or any other back/hip/joint pain let's get you booked for a virtual coaching session or in person physical therapy session for a more individualized plan and one-on-one instructions so you can feel confident in your body and start healing today!!  Make Sure to reach out to> [email protected]  AND/OR Join my FREE Facebook community for ACCOUNTABILITY and a safe and supportive place to share and support each other!> https://www.facebook.com/groups/1696216757461633/    Join my VIP Insider group and receive my Newsletter full of great tips and tricks and upcoming resources! > https://newsletter.balancedmomtality.com/   Follow and get tips/tricks on:  Facebook> @thebalancedmomtality Instagram> @the_balanced_momtality   Learn > www.balancedmomtality.com