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Pregnancy and PostNatal Recovery – How Can a Physio Help? with AARON HARDAKER
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re you pregnant and suffering with back pain? Have you just had a baby and unsure about how to help your body recover? Are you wanting to get back to exercise and not sure when it’s safe, or whether your pelvic floor is up to it? Pelvic health physios are an integral part of the healthcare team through pregnancy and the postnatal period. But what exactly can they help with? We caught up with Sarah Brown, pelvic physio at Mid North Coast Physio in Woopi, to find out more. What can pelvic floor physio help me with during my pregnancy? Pregnancy is a time of enormous physical change in the body. Pelvic physios are full of information about the changes that occur and what it means for you as you progress through pregnancy. We have post-graduate training in the ways pregnancy affects the various systems in your body- particularly the impact of pregnancy and childbirth on your pelvis, pelvic floor muscles and pelvic organs.
We can guide you through the role of the pelvic floor muscles, help you prepare for labour and delivery, assist in managing pain such as Pregnancy-Related Pelvic Girdle Pain and Low Back Pain AND help you manage any symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction (e.g. urinary incontinence). When should I see a physio during pregnancy? It’s a great idea to have a chat with your pelvic health physio and run through some birth preparation as you progress through your second and third trimesters. It’s also helpful to check in at any time if you have specific questions about exercise in pregnancy, have a history of pelvic floor dysfunction prior to pregnancy or are experiencing any aches and pains. What about after I give birth? After either a vaginal delivery or caesarean, you should see a pelvic health physio at the 6-week mark as you do your midwife/GP/obstetrician. This is where pelvic health physio can address any birth injuries (perineal tears, pelvic organ prolapse,
C-Section scars), assess the function of the pelvic floor muscles and help you get back to physical activity safely. Pelvic physios will be able to provide advice, guidance, and a plan for rehabilitation after giving birth. What services do you offer at Mid North Coast Physio? ALL OF THE ABOVE! I work with women through pregnancy offering birth prep consultations, 1:1 exercise sessions, hydrotherapy in our heated pool (which is great for relieving pain, reducing swelling and offloading pressure as bub grows in pregnancy) and mums & bubs Pilates groups. I also provide individual postnatal reviews from the 6-week mark where we discuss any concerns you have after giving birth and start to work towards your goals! Thanks Sarah. To book your pregnancy assessment, post-natal review, or Healthy Mums Post-Pregnancy Pilates class with Sarah, call the friendly admin team at Mid North Coast Physio on 1300 273747.
COFFS COAST
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