Prenatal & Postpartum Care

Pregnancy, childbirth, and childcare are all events that result in significant physical changes and new stresses on a woman’s body. The therapists at Reddy-Care Physical & Occupational Therapy are specifically trained to meet the special obstetric needs of women. Our services are available and appropriate for all prenatal and postpartum women. Our clinic is geared towards preventive health and is capable of providing rehabilitation in the event of pre/postpartum musculoskeletal problems.

Reddy-Care Physical Therapy’s Women’s Health Program includes specialty treatment of:

• Prenatal Services
• Postpartum Services

Prenatal Services

Pregnant women may suffer from pain or aching in the back, shoulder blades, rib cage, groin area, or wrists. As a result, these women are not only more susceptible to injury during pregnancy, but related orthopedic problems may persist or begin following pregnancy.

Our prenatal services help women achieve maximum pelvic floor and musculoskeletal function to optimize delivery and prevent perineal tearing and other postpartum dysfunctions. Due to the changes in a woman’s body during a healthy pregnancy, women may experience pain and discomfort and physical therapy can help.

Common Prenatal Complaints:

• Low Back Pain. Studies have shown that 40-60% of women will experience back pain during pregnancy and as many as 25% experience temporarily disabling pain
• Neck pain and headaches due to changes in posture
• Tightness and pain in the legs due to the flattening of the feet
• Arm pain or tingling caused by nerve compression associated with an increased chest diameter
• Sciatic, hip, sacral, pubic symphysis and tailbone pain
• Urine leakage due to strained pelvic muscles

How Physical Therapy Can Help:

For each area of concern, a physical therapist can evaluate the problem and design an individualized program of care to improve your function and enable you to manage your symptoms more effectively.

Typical interventions may include:

• Exercises to stretch tight muscles, strengthen weakened ones, and/or improve posture
• Massage or soft-tissue techniques to increase circulation, relieve pain, or improve tissue mobility
• Joint mobilization to allow movement at the joints and to relieve pain
• Fitting of therapeutic supports and belts
• Suggestions for appropriate body mechanics, stress reduction, and energy-saving tips for home and work

Perineal massage and partner training for perineal massage

Perineal massage is the practice of massaging a pregnant woman’s perineum around the vagina in preparation for childbirth. The intention is to prevent tearing of the perineum during birth, prevent the need for an episiotomy or tearing during an instrument (forceps or vacuum extraction) delivery. Randomized clinical trials of perineal massage have shown its effectiveness in reducing tears.

Postpartum Services

After childbirth, women should have a follow up with a physical therapist in order to get back on a proper exercise and stretching program. Physical therapists can identify any existing impairments and to help restore muscle integrity that can otherwise lead to dysfunction and pain. All women experience significant changes in their bodies during and after pregnancy. To help women achieve their maximum potential to care for their new baby and prevent further complications we offer postpartum physical therapy.

Unfortunately, the stresses of pregnancy, vaginal deliveries, and C-sections may lead to myofascial complications following the birth of the baby. Many women suffer in silence or their concerns are dismissed by good-intending physicians because ‘they just had a baby’. Many of these symptoms can be easily treated by a physical therapist specializing in postpartum care.

Common Postpartum Complaints:

• Low back and lower extremity pain
• Upper back and neck pain associated with breastfeeding
• Upper extremity pain or numbness associated with childcare
• Diastasis recti: Separation of the rectus abdominus muscle which commonly occurs during healthy pregnancies. Diastasis Recti is a leading cause of pelvic floor dysfunction including incontinence, low back, and pelvic pain, and prolapsed organs. With proper exercise and bracing it can be corrected.
• Pain with intercourse or orgasm
• Pain at site of episiotomy scar or perineal tear
• Clitoral, vaginal, rectal, pubic, or tailbone pain
• Pain at scar of C-Section, episiotomy, or perineal tear
• Pelvic floor weakness
• Prolapse
• Urinary or fecal incontinence
• Pelvic pain

How Physical Therapy Can Help:

• Soft tissue mobilization, myofascial release, deep tissue massage
• Muscle energy techniques
• Therapeutic exercise
• Posture, lifting techniques, and biomechanics
• Home exercise program
• Abdominal binder/brace fitting
• Scar massage
• Modalities for pain control

Contact Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy to get your therapy started today!
Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Great Neck: 516-829-0030
Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Farmingdale: 516-420-2900
In-Home Physical & Occupational Therapy: 516-829-0030

Author

Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy is an outstanding specialty service providing exceptional care and state-of-the-art treatments for the residents of Farmingdale and Great Neck, New York. The combination of innovative exercise programs, manual therapy, and technology together with the expertise of every member of the team enables Reddy Care Physical & Occupational Therapy to provide services that ensure superior clinical outcomes and consistently high patient satisfaction.