Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional and highly recommend your seeking advice from your own doctor(s) to determine what’s best for you!
Fact: The female body navigates quite the journey during and after pregnancy.
…And while I don’t need to harp on that journey too much, the range and laundry list of short-term and long-term effects on our body and wellbeing are much wider and longer than I realized! Pain in places you didn’t anticipate, healing you didn’t realize you’d be trying to make time for, and strength that suddenly took a back-door exit, ha.
Don’t take this the wrong way, as I don’t mean to conjure negative energy or generalize the postpartum period as less than stellar — It’s incredible and beautifully life-altering!
I’ve recognized that while every mother’s situation is different, we all share the need for a resource. I discovered pelvic floor therapy to be widely unknown but incredibly helpful to friends who had sought it out. However, with a smooth C-section delivery and fourth trimester with Hudson, I didn’t think pelvic floor therapy applied to me, honestly. My scarring and tissue seemed to be healing fine; I wasn’t experiencing too much pain, and I was mentally in a good place.
Lower back pain at the 20-week mark while pregnant with Ava prompted me to message MOJO Pelvic Health at 2 am out of desperation. I saw co-owner Amy Moses for an evaluation the next day and experienced the craziest reality — that because I had had a C-section, my pelvic floor did not recognize I had delivered a baby! Pretty wild, right? With some adjustments to literally and mentally let go of pregnancy pressure (which can encompass both an external and internal exam!), we rebalanced, and I walked away with relief and breathing guidance.
Note: If you aren’t local MOJO is still here to help! Check out their virtual birth prep program with video and exercise resources to try from afar.
This round after giving birth to Ava, my 8-week postpartum appointment was one of the first things I scheduled after delivery. It was such a clarifying mental and physical check-in. I learned methods to optimize C-section scar tissue healing, realigned my hips and pelvic floor (which I can confirm made intercourse not as painful), and practiced some exercises to slowly retrain and regain my core strength. I even learned how to use small cupping exercises to help with shaping my abdominal muscles and smoothing scar tissue.
So, here’s the point: Add pelvic floor therapy to your checklist to explore. In my opinion, it should be on the same level as a doctor’s appointment. In other countries, it’s part of the process. Here, it’s an unknown add-on. I don’t think you’ll regret making the time for it.
