Children really do change everything!
There are a lot of changes that come with having a child. A new daily routine, less sleep for a few years, carrying more bags and toys with you, packing snacks every time you leave the house, and a new normal in your body, especially in your pelvic floor.
About 50% of women experience incontinence, prolapse, pelvic or back pain, or other symptoms due to pelvic floor dysfunction, sometimes even before childbirth.
Pregnancy changes a lot of things in a mother’s life, including her pelvic floor.
During pregnancy, the human body shifts and adjusts to growing a human. With rapid hormonal changes comes many changes in physiology as well. As your heart grows with love, your physical heart capacity changes as well, with an increased heart rate, stroke volume, and cardiac output, your cardiovascular system enhances itself to carry a new life. The body’s digestive system changes, slowing down to ensure maximum nutritional absorption for both mom and baby. This slower transit time can increase changes of acid reflux, along with constipation. The human body changes and adapts to growing a new life due to the hormonal changes that are occurring.
During pregnancy, the placenta produces hormones, such as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). As hCG increases in the body, it stimulates an increase in progesterone. The placenta also releases additional thyroid hormones, necessary for brain and thyroid development of a growing fetus. Relaxin, a peptide hormone, is also released during pregnancy. It’s role is to allow connective tissues to soften and prepare the birth canal for delivery. As the birth canal prepares for delivery, the pelvic floor shifts and relaxes, all while supporting the growing fetus, and shifting digestive organs. Sometimes the pelvic floor becomes uncomfortable under these circumstances, understandably.
A lot of the body’s physical changes during pregnancy impact the pelvic floor. Weight gain to support a growing fetus, slow digestion and constipation, muscles and tissues relaxing, increased flexibility, and instability in the body – these all influence the functions of the pelvic floor. During delivery, the pelvic floor’s resilience is really put to the test as it endures contracting, stretching, pushing, and additional stress. The human body truly is amazing in its ability to survive and recover from such an experience.
You may be thinking, but I had a C-Section so I’m good. The reality is that regardless of how you deliver, your body still goes through the same preparations for delivery. So, your pelvic floor, core, hips and uterus don’t get the memo about having surgery! Which means you are just as likely to experience pelvic floor dysfunction even if you had a C-Section.
While it can be more normal to experience pee leaks and urgency during pregnancy, while a fetus plays soccer with your bladder. These symptoms should dissipate within the first few weeks post delivery.
Pelvic floor dysfunction is treatable and preventable with the right knowledge, exercises, and support. Even with all the changes that occur during pregnancy and in postpartum healing, your new body normal does not have to be in pain, leaking, or disconnected from the pelvic floor. Seeking a professional examination from a pelvic floor physiotherapist is an amazing first step to prevention and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction. Ensuring muscular connection and strength in the pelvic floor is also key. This is where using a tool like Emsella can help to increase your pelvic strength! Joining a pelvic floor focused fitness class is also an amazing way to support your pelvic floor, such as our OM your Core weekly class. When it comes to nutrition, focusing on fiber rich foods, protein, and staying hydrated can help support your hormones and pelvic floor.
As a final note, it doesn’t matter how you birthed your babies you deserve a functioning, happy pelvic floor - and it is never to early, or too late to get started!
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