Postpartum PT 101: What to Expect at Your First Visit
What to expect from your postpartum physical therapy visit
– Core separation and activation
– Abdominal separation is expected postpartum as your muscles had to stretch to make room for baby during pregnancy. Your PT will assess if your abdominals are beginning to come back together and if you can appropriately activate each layer of your core muscles.
-Tissue mobility
-C-section scars and perineal tears can cause pain or dysfunction. Your physical therapist will assess whether your scar has healed well, whether the scar is sensitive, whether the scar is moving well, and whether the tissues surrounding your scar are moving well.
-Pelvic floor weakness and tension
-During your postpartum visit, your PT may assess your pelvic floor strength and tension. Just like any other muscles, your pelvic floor muscles can be weak or tight. Some level of weakness postpartum is expected, but your PT will assess if you are healing appropriately. They will assess your strength, endurance, coordination, and ability to fully relax your pelvic floor muscles.
-Baby care posturing
-Caring for your baby and feeding can cause postural asymmetries and muscle tension. There are often tips and modifications that your physical therapist can offer to make these activities more comfortable for you and for your baby.
-Return to activity
-Your PT will help to guide you as you return to your regular daily activities, to improve your mechanics with childcare activities, and to slowly return to physical activity. They may offer a slow ramp-up to activity, activity modifications, or specific exercises to train your body to return to activity.