Physiotherapy & pregnancy-related conditions

 

Pregnancy is a joyful, spiritually awakening experience but does not come without a few bumps along the way. There are many conditions that may arise within the first few months with your newborn ~ the good news is, we can help you!

 

young mother does fitness exercises together with kid boy isolated

As physiotherapists there are many pregnancy related conditions that we treat. Our most common conditions that we see include cracked nipples, mastitis, incontinence, C-section scars and pelvic floor weakness.

Cracked nipples usually occur when your baby is not latching correctly during breastfeeding. This will result in redness followed by small cracks on the nipple that can lead to a small (or larger!) sore. One of our most effective treatments we use for this condition is low level laser therapy which promotes tissue regeneration alongside a few other benefits. We also use nipple massage as well as chatting about self-care tips at home and checking that your latching technique is effective.

Mastitis is a redness and swelling of the breast that is usually by blocked milk ducts. This results in an infection of the breast tissue and if severe, you will have a general feeling of unwellness with fatigue and fevers. It is a very uncomfortable ordeal but fortunately we have many treatments that are known to be highly effective for mastitis – these include ultrasound, nipples massage, self-care tips and latching technique correction.

Incontinence affects most pregnant women at some stage of their pregnancy, whether it be during, after or both. If you do experience incontinence, it is important to get it treated before it worsens. As physios, we assist with individualized pelvic floor exercises both during and after pregnancy. We also use a treatment known as percutaneous tibial nerve stimulation which is a minimally invasive procedure that has shown excellent results.

Many women who have undergone a caesarean section often forget about their scar and may end up with complications further on in life as a result. Proper care of your C-section scar is vital in preventing thickening of the scar tissue. We will teach you effective scar massage to ensure your scar looks beautiful both inside and out. Another effective treatment we use is low level laser therapy to break down the scar tissue further and promote new cell formation in the area.

Last, but not least, a huge part of what we do both during and after pregnancy is pelvic floor strengthening. If a weak pelvic floor is left untreated, it may lead to incontinence, painful intercourse or even organ prolapse. Our treatment includes not just everyday superficial strengthening, but extremely vital deep core strengthening.

So be proactive – if you suffer from any of the above problems, see your physiotherapist. Both you and baby will be thankful for it!