The “Magic” of 6 Weeks
As you are leaving the hospital with your new baby, you get a packet of quickly explained instructions from the nurse about your recovery - what symptoms to call about, restrictions on activity, etc.
You are feeling a little overwhelmed and confused about what to expect in recovery, and how you can get back to running, strength training, and sex.
You are eagerly anticipating your 6 week OB (or midwife) appointment to get more clarity on your recovery process.
The appointment comes and your provider looks at your healing stitches (or c-section scar), feels your uterus to make sure it is healing well, educates you on birth control options (and that yes, you can get pregnant while breastfeeding!), checks in on your gestational hypertension or diabetes, and has you fill out a postpartum depression screening questionnaire.
At the end, you are told you are “all clear.”
And now you are feeling more confused, wondering things like:
Am I ready to have sex?
Does “all clear” mean I can go for a run?
Why am I peeing every time I sneeze? Is that normal?
What can I do about this low back pain that feels like it’s getting worse?
The real goal of the 6-week postpartum OB appointment
The goal of your 6 week OB appointment is to assess the medical status of your recovery - healing of stitches/incisions, resolution of bleeding, birth control prescription, and management of medical conditions.
Nothing magical happens at 6 weeks postpartum - 6 weeks is NOT the expected timeline to be fully recovered.
Being medically cleared does not consider:
Pelvic floor mobility, strength, and endurance
Coordination of abdominal and pelvic floor muscles
Hormone levels: if applicable, lactation will decrease estrogen, which has a significant impact on pelvic health
Recovery time for the stressors on your body throughout 9 months of pregnancy and the delivery process
Common but not inevitable symptoms you may be experiencing such as incontinence, prolapse, pelvic pain, pain with sex, constipation, or hemorrhoids
Stressors on your body - (lack of) sleep, emotional stress around pregnancy, delivery, parenting, and transitioning into parenthood (or parenting 2+ kids)
That getting back to exercise has many wonderful benefits - and exercise is a stress on the body. A good one, but still a stress.
Your nutrition, hydration, sleep, and mental health
Pelvic floor physical therapy and postpartum recovery
Pelvic floor therapy can help guide you through recovery beyond being medically cleared, diving deep into things like:
Bowel and bladder symptoms
Any pain that may be occurring - back, hips, pelvis, wrists, etc.
Abdominal and pelvic floor muscle function and coordination
Overall functional movement patterns
Troubleshooting activities that are causing symptoms
Scar tissue mobility
Current activity and goals for exercise and activity
Check in on your sleep, mental health, nutrition, and provide referrals as needed
Pelvic floor therapy can provide you with the tools to be calm, strong, mobile, leak-free, and pain-free throughout your postpartum and parenting journey.
If you are looking for guidance in your postpartum recovery, Root to Bloom is here to help.
Click the button below to schedule a pelvic floor physical therapy assessment.
