Monday, December 30, 2019
Real life motherhood from a real life awesome mom.
Night sweats, tearing, fecal leaking, milk letdown... All the things you may not have known about prior to having babies. Things that aren't talked about but that are real issues we deal with postpartum.
Lacy is a Physical Therapist who opened Fayetteville Pelvic Health in 2019. FPH is a private PT clinic allowing immediate scheduling without a referral and can treat all conditions that general PT would treat. However, Lacy specializes in conditions such as pelvic pain, incontinence, prolapse, diastasis, core dsyfunction, pregnancy and postpartum care, post-prostatectomy rehab, birth preparation, and more.
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
Postpartum anxiety and depression
My good friend and colleague Ashley Chandler recently delivered her second son. For some, that means a little less anxiety after having gone through this whole thing once before. However, that doesn't mean things are all peaches and cream. I asked her to make some videos about motherhood and how she is doing the second time around. I gave her no direction at all to see what issues felt most important to her and the first thing she wanted to talk about was postpartum depression and anxiety.
Postpartum depression and anxiety are not things that we choose to suffer from. They are chemical and/or hormonal imbalances that can make us feel awful, sad, insane, angry, scared, worried, even suicidal. They aren't things we can just sleep away (though sleep deprivation does play into these issues). They are legitimate problems that moms can suffer from in the postpartum period, and it's not always recognized. Very often moms don't realize they may be dealing with these issues until they are past them. And let's be honest, that is no way to live out the early postpartum days. Below is the video she made describing her experience with depression and anxiety. For more videos check out our website or find us on YouTube.
Hopefully your provider has given you a little handout to go through that screens for depression. I must have taken it in the early days after I had my first child, but I can tell you right now it didn't pick up on how bad I was suffering. I think, in retrospect, it was probably more anxiety clouding my brain, but I know I had a bit of both even so.
If you don't know if you've filled out the scale to screen for depression, here is one example. It's quick but if you have 10 or more points you may want to ask your doc about it. Anxiety is another issue. Here is a scale that you can take if you thing you may have postpartum anxiety. Mild to moderate is 21-41 points and severe is 42 and up.
If you have even a tiny bit of doubt that you aren't okay, ask your obstetrician. Tell your PT. Call your mother or your girlfriends or your priest. Just don't suffer in silence. These issues are SO common, yet we all feel shame over discussing it. Admitting your aren't okay feels so vulnerable so many women hide it. It's too bad, because there is help out there. Whether it's meds or therapy, hormone balancing or exercise, diet or essential oils, there is lots out there to help make you feel better, healthier, stronger. And by all means, get evaluated by a PT so that your new body works as well as it can. Feeling depressed over time because you are limited by incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, diastasis recti is no way to live either. Check out https://www.fayettevillepelvichealth.com/blog for more information about what we offer as Pelvic Health physical therapists.
Lacy Kells PT, DPT
http://www.fayettevillepelvichealth.com
Owner of Fayetteville Pelvic Health & Wellness
lacykells@fayettevillepelvichealth.com
Follow me on Facebook: Lacy Kells PT, DPT or
Instagram @lacykellspt and on YouTube
Postpartum depression and anxiety are not things that we choose to suffer from. They are chemical and/or hormonal imbalances that can make us feel awful, sad, insane, angry, scared, worried, even suicidal. They aren't things we can just sleep away (though sleep deprivation does play into these issues). They are legitimate problems that moms can suffer from in the postpartum period, and it's not always recognized. Very often moms don't realize they may be dealing with these issues until they are past them. And let's be honest, that is no way to live out the early postpartum days. Below is the video she made describing her experience with depression and anxiety. For more videos check out our website or find us on YouTube.
If you don't know if you've filled out the scale to screen for depression, here is one example. It's quick but if you have 10 or more points you may want to ask your doc about it. Anxiety is another issue. Here is a scale that you can take if you thing you may have postpartum anxiety. Mild to moderate is 21-41 points and severe is 42 and up.
If you have even a tiny bit of doubt that you aren't okay, ask your obstetrician. Tell your PT. Call your mother or your girlfriends or your priest. Just don't suffer in silence. These issues are SO common, yet we all feel shame over discussing it. Admitting your aren't okay feels so vulnerable so many women hide it. It's too bad, because there is help out there. Whether it's meds or therapy, hormone balancing or exercise, diet or essential oils, there is lots out there to help make you feel better, healthier, stronger. And by all means, get evaluated by a PT so that your new body works as well as it can. Feeling depressed over time because you are limited by incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse, diastasis recti is no way to live either. Check out https://www.fayettevillepelvichealth.com/blog for more information about what we offer as Pelvic Health physical therapists.
Lacy Kells PT, DPT
http://www.fayettevillepelvichealth.com
Owner of Fayetteville Pelvic Health & Wellness
lacykells@fayettevillepelvichealth.com
Follow me on Facebook: Lacy Kells PT, DPT or
Instagram @lacykellspt and on YouTube
Lacy is a Physical Therapist who opened Fayetteville Pelvic Health in 2019. FPH is a private PT clinic allowing immediate scheduling without a referral and can treat all conditions that general PT would treat. However, Lacy specializes in conditions such as pelvic pain, incontinence, prolapse, diastasis, core dsyfunction, pregnancy and postpartum care, post-prostatectomy rehab, birth preparation, and more.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019
Standing quad stretch
Lacy is a Physical Therapist who opened Fayetteville Pelvic Health in 2019. FPH is a private PT clinic allowing immediate scheduling without a referral and can treat all conditions that general PT would treat. However, Lacy specializes in conditions such as pelvic pain, incontinence, prolapse, diastasis, core dsyfunction, pregnancy and postpartum care, post-prostatectomy rehab, birth preparation, and more.
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
What exactly is a C-section?
6 years ago I had a scheduled Cesarean birth. Baby B was breech and I just didn't want to risk complications, so we had our twin daughters on our OB's lunch hour. All went well as far as I knew, but back then, I didn't ask many questions. I didn't know what to ask really. I certainly didn't care about how the cesarean was done, I just cared about two healthy babies and a good recovery. Knowing what I now know as a Pelvic PT, I still would have opted for the C-section, but I would have done some rehab as well afterward.
I have included a video I made on C-section birth and how it's done using felt and it's SUPER cool so check it out. The physician cuts through skin, fat, fascia, separates the muscles, cuts through the peritoneum (connective tissue in your abdomen), uterus and amniotic sac all before getting to baby. That's a lot of layers to heal! And every layer has the potential to develop more scar tissue than is ideal. I mean, some scar tissue is essential of course, but if things aren't moving well or if there's excessive amounts, we can run into issues.
For me, it's back pain. When my scar gets sticky and bound down, my abdominal wall does not work as well as it could, and my low back muscles start to freak out and overwork themselves. That, then, leads to low back pain at the very best. At worst, it's pain in my back, butt, and leg.
If you are wondering why this would happen if they don't cut through muscles, it's because muscles, fascia, bones are all connected. If one layer of tissue can't move properly, nothing else can work at its best. The solution? Honestly, it's PT. I'm not just saying that because I am a PT. It's that pelvic health physical therapists know exactly how to assess you and your movement. So after a big abdominal surgery, we know what is safe for you to work on right away, what things you can start to work on as time goes on, and what to teach you for the future so you can continue to live your best life. Pelvic PT is not just about the pelvic floor. Yes, that's a component, but you do NOT have to have had a vaginal delivery to see a Pelvic PT. We are also experts in the rest of your body!
So, if you have pain and have a history of a C-section birth, find a PT.
If you are scheduled for a Cesarean section, find a PT to prepare.
If you are worried about a Cesarean, find a PT.
If you just had a C-section, find a PT.
Do yourself a big favor and take your health and wellness into your own hands. There are Physical Therapists out there who don't need a referral, so you won't have to fight for your right to see one of us. There are so many physicians out there who are more than happy to send you to a PT if you ask. So use your momma bear voice and your mom smarts and find one near you! If you want more info about what we do and more about my own practice, check out my website!
Lacy Kells PT, DPT
http://www.fayettevillepelvichealth.com
Owner of Fayetteville Pelvic Health & Wellness
lacykells@fayettevillepelvichealth.com
Follow me on Facebook: Lacy Kells PT, DPT or
Instagram @lacykellspt
I have included a video I made on C-section birth and how it's done using felt and it's SUPER cool so check it out. The physician cuts through skin, fat, fascia, separates the muscles, cuts through the peritoneum (connective tissue in your abdomen), uterus and amniotic sac all before getting to baby. That's a lot of layers to heal! And every layer has the potential to develop more scar tissue than is ideal. I mean, some scar tissue is essential of course, but if things aren't moving well or if there's excessive amounts, we can run into issues.
For me, it's back pain. When my scar gets sticky and bound down, my abdominal wall does not work as well as it could, and my low back muscles start to freak out and overwork themselves. That, then, leads to low back pain at the very best. At worst, it's pain in my back, butt, and leg.
If you are wondering why this would happen if they don't cut through muscles, it's because muscles, fascia, bones are all connected. If one layer of tissue can't move properly, nothing else can work at its best. The solution? Honestly, it's PT. I'm not just saying that because I am a PT. It's that pelvic health physical therapists know exactly how to assess you and your movement. So after a big abdominal surgery, we know what is safe for you to work on right away, what things you can start to work on as time goes on, and what to teach you for the future so you can continue to live your best life. Pelvic PT is not just about the pelvic floor. Yes, that's a component, but you do NOT have to have had a vaginal delivery to see a Pelvic PT. We are also experts in the rest of your body!
So, if you have pain and have a history of a C-section birth, find a PT.
If you are scheduled for a Cesarean section, find a PT to prepare.
If you are worried about a Cesarean, find a PT.
If you just had a C-section, find a PT.
Do yourself a big favor and take your health and wellness into your own hands. There are Physical Therapists out there who don't need a referral, so you won't have to fight for your right to see one of us. There are so many physicians out there who are more than happy to send you to a PT if you ask. So use your momma bear voice and your mom smarts and find one near you! If you want more info about what we do and more about my own practice, check out my website!
Lacy Kells PT, DPT
http://www.fayettevillepelvichealth.com
Owner of Fayetteville Pelvic Health & Wellness
lacykells@fayettevillepelvichealth.com
Follow me on Facebook: Lacy Kells PT, DPT or
Instagram @lacykellspt
Lacy is a Physical Therapist who opened Fayetteville Pelvic Health in 2019. FPH is a private PT clinic allowing immediate scheduling without a referral and can treat all conditions that general PT would treat. However, Lacy specializes in conditions such as pelvic pain, incontinence, prolapse, diastasis, core dsyfunction, pregnancy and postpartum care, post-prostatectomy rehab, birth preparation, and more.
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