Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Physical Therapy

I have been blessed to be pregnant twice. Once with a son and a second time with twin daughters. While I was so incredibly thankful to be expecting healthy babies, I did NOT enjoy pregnancy. I wasn't one of the glowing pregnant women who walked around basking in her own glory. I was the one over the toilet every day for months, the one turning green at work and trying not to vomit on my coworkers as I sprinted past them to the bathroom. The woman lying in the bed whining and sleeping half the day getting nothing done because my body just couldn't take another minute of being up and moving.

35 weeks with my son (1st pregnancy)

I tried to stay active during my pregnancies, but after being so sick for the first trimester it was hard to do much once I felt better. Then, in the third trimester, I hurt everywhere. My entire body felt like it was sore 24/7. Getting out of bed was a huge challenge. Using the bathroom was a test of my endurance since at some point one must stand back up off the commode. Even trying to wipe was a bit of a struggle because I was so stiff through my entire spine that twisting was hard. (Sorry y'all, but I'm not embarrassed to share). My back hurt, my neck hurt, my hips hurt, I had shooting shock-like pains in my pelvis from nerves being pinched. It was not pleasant. I was not a nice person to be around. 

Back then, I wasn't practicing Pelvic Health. I was toying around with the idea in my head, knowing I wanted to do it some day but was preoccupied with my own babies. I hadn't yet taken the OB classes for physical therapists so I didn't know much about how to help myself other than some yoga (which was really the only thing that helped me keep going!). 

28 weeks pregnant with twin girls 

Nowadays I know so much more. I have taken classes on what PTs can offer during pregnancy, I have had clinical experience working with pregnant women and helping them through their pregnancies. I have read and asked and learned since those days. Unfortunately, I don't think that most women have any idea that they don't have to suffer through a pregnancy feeling miserable. Quite honestly, I never once complained to my OB about my aches and pains, knowing that the docs would probably shrug their shoulders and tell me it's just part of pregnancy. The sad thing is that this is not how it has to be.

Our bodies go through an incredible journey during pregnancy and every week things in our bodies change, but that doesn't mean that you have to "suck it up" and suffer. There are often small and easy things to do to help reduce pain. Certainly there are ways to keep your body moving well and prevent pain as your pregnancy progresses. Often, I see pregnant mommas weekly to keep them moving, work out some of the new pains they may have, get rid of other pains and keep them from returning. We talk about labor positions that are best for their condition (did you know that certain positions during labor and delivery are better if you've suffered from back pain in the past, or pubic pain, or hip pain, etc...??). We go over exercises to keep things working well for the remainder of the pregnancy. We talk about perineal massage to get the pelvic floor ready for birth. We talk about pelvic floor relaxation and strengthening to prep for delivery. We talk about postpartum healing that lets women start on the right foot from the moment they head to the postpartum ward. There is so much education I never had as a pregnant mom or a new mom that I would love to have known 7 years ago. So much I would have done differently for my mind and body. I was fortunate to have yoga to help get me through, but even so I would have loved to have had someone to help me feel better during those months. A pregnancy is such a short time in a woman's life really, but the effects of it can last forever if you don't know how to take care of yourself.


Regrettably in the US, many women aren't educated on how to care for themselves, either during pregnancy or in the days, months, years after. I definitely wasn't. It's incredibly frustrating as a PT who can help women have pain-free (or at least less painful) pregnancies and better postpartum experiences. As a woman and mother, it's infuriating. It's not fair that we are told that pain is "just part of the experience." That we are left to recover from vaginal tearing or Cesarean birth with little more than an ice pack or a hospital issued binder. We are expected to head home and continue on with life without complaint, without help, certainly without showing any weakness. This is completely and utterly unreasonable and unacceptable. We could do SO MUCH better.

Very pregnant with twins - I think only a couple of weeks away
from being a family of 5 here. 

PT during pregnancy can be a game changer. It can keep you moving, active, able to care for other kids or stay at work, manage weight gain or heart health, and keep your body in shape to have an easier labor. Not only that, but it's a great resource for birth prep and recovery. I have many local friends doing amazing things for women that I often recommend to my clients. I see this as another bonus to having a PT during pregnancy- these links to some amazing doulas (for both labor support and postpartum care), lactation consultants, nutrition counselors, mental health professionals, local mom groups, and places to exercise with childcare or awareness of good postpartum health.

As women, we often put ourselves last. We sometimes let our physical issues fall by the wayside only to catch up with us years later. If we were educated during the years of pregnancy and immediate postpartum time periods we could avoid a good bit of this down the road. If our healthcare system was more proactive, more preventative, we could all be the superheroes that we already are, but without pain or leaking urine or constipation or back issues. Very often it feels as if the system is broken, but as women we are powerful. We are amazing. We can work to help each other know better. And when we know better we do better. No more suffering through pregnancy and postpartum. Find a local Pelvic Health PT to help you and expect better! Get it, expect better?? Well, I for one think it's clever. Please share the message, spread the word to your friends and family. Let's change the game y'all!








Lacy Kells PT, DPT
Owner of Fayetteville Pelvic Health & Wellness
lacykells@fayettevillepelvichealth.com


Follow me on Facebook: Lacy Kells PT, DPT or
Instagram @lacykellspt

www.fayettevillepelvichealth.com

Offereing boutique-style specialty Physical Therapy for men and women of Fayetteville, NC.