24/09/2023
"Pelvic injuries are a common outcome of childbirth. Why are women left unprepared for the risk?".
https://www.abc.net/news/2023-08-13/more-support-for-women-birth-pelvic-injuries-needed/102719364
This is a great question! Why? In this day and age, when sports and orthopaedic injuries are managed so well, is giving birth not treated the same way? The research is there. Good quality evidence to say that there are things we can do prenatally to decrease the risk. You can find out more about this in our video series that we're currently posting on Instagram, and our website, about pelvic floor muscle training, perineal massage and birth education.
The research is also building to support post-natal management. Pelvic floor training post-partum rapidly decreases the symptoms of urinary leakage which 1 in 3 women suffer after giving birth. Bladder symptoms (and all pelvic health symptoms) are closely linked to poor maternal mental health, so why aren't we seeing our women as standard?
The pelvic floor muscles stretch approximately 250% to allow us to give birth. This is phenomenal. We love pregnancy and birth hormones! Our abdominal muscles have also been stretched for months on end. Although this is a natural process, approximately 50% of women are left with some residual physical changes after giving birth. 50%. That's 1 in 2. Traditionally we've been told it's normal, and expected, and yes it is BUT, and this is a big BUT, why aren't we treating our women and helping them to recover fully if they haven't done so automatically? Why are we leaving our women vulnerable to further problems (which we know have a huge impact in later life) when help is readily available?
Oh goodness, I get really frustrated about this, and I'm so glad that articles such as these are appearing more and more regularly in the main stream media. I'm also really glad that our Obstetricians are starting to really encourage support from Pelvic Health Physio's during and after pregnancy. The Government needs to come to the party though and make this access equitable for all through medicare.
If you would like to know more about how to train your pelvic floor muscles before giving birth, or how to optimise your recovery after giving birth, please get in touch: www.beachespelvic.physio ; hello@beachespelvic.physio ; 0435 150136 ; 02 8964 5579
