OBSTETRIC PHYSICAL THERAPY
What is obstetric physiotherapy?
Obstetric physiotherapy is a sub-specialization of Physiotherapy that acts in pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum, with the aim that the woman has a better quality of life during the process.
Thus, obstetric physiotherapy will prepare the pelvic floor for childbirth, reducing the risk of perineal damage and episiotomy. It will also improve postpartum recovery and improve muscle and bone pain.
It must be taken into account that during pregnancy the woman’s body reaches its functional limit and may suffer lumbar pain, back pain, leg cramps, edema, alterations in the pelvic floor muscles and overweight in the vaginal area. This, in turn, can lead to pelvic floor problems or dysfunctions, such as voiding dysfunctions (urinary incontinence), sexual, anorectal and genital prolapse.
Obstetric physiotherapy can prevent these problems from becoming chronic and improve the patient’s quality of life, both personally, as well as at work or socially.
Why is it performed?
Obstetric physiotherapy has several applications:
- Assess and treat pain related to pregnancy and postpartum.
- To prepare and adapt the joints and muscles involved in the process of pregnancy and childbirth.
- To instruct and exercise the control and direction of postures and spontaneous pushing in an effective way, avoiding damage to the pelvic viscera (bladder, rectum and uterus), as well as the perineal musculature.
- To teach pelvic and lumbar biomechanics exercises to reduce pain.
- Control and assess the pelvic abdomino-pelvic, pelviperineal and diaphragm muscles, as well as the state of the scars produced in childbirth.
- Postpartum recovery, to prevent pelvic floor dysfunctions.
- Practice of healthy habits and nutrition, teaching relaxation techniques and deepening the mother-child bond.
What does it consist of?
Obstetric physiotherapy consists of a series of gentle exercises that will prepare the patient for childbirth:
- Prenatal care and management: Obstetric medical follow-up and physiotherapy support is provided from the beginning of pregnancy until delivery.
- Preparation for childbirth: The patient is informed about the anatomy of the pelvis and the changes that occur in the body during pregnancy. This will be useful to know the mechanisms of labor, the symptoms and signs of onset of labor, the mechanisms and management of labor, the postures and pushes, the difference between natural and induced labor, etc.
- Prenatal gymnastics: These are active physical exercises aimed at improving the physical condition of the pregnant woman, strengthening the muscles that will participate in childbirth, conscious breathing and postures.
- Treatment of musculoskeletal pathologies: Treatment of back and pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunctions, diaphragm and respiratory mechanics.
- Perineal massage: These are specific massages to add elasticity to the perineum, which is the area located between the vagina and the anus, to facilitate childbirth.
- Manual lymphatic drainage of tired legs, fluid retention (gestational lymphedema), preparation of the breasts for breastfeeding, improvement of the immune system…
- Treatment of scars and adhesions: They will be treated from obstetric physical therapy when the gynecologist allows it. If left can damage other organs of the pelvis or hinder sexual intercourse.
- Breastfeeding: From obstetric physiotherapy informs and advises the patient on the best type of breastfeeding and exercises to promote it.
- Postpartum assessment and rehabilitation: Assessing the pelviperineal musculature is very important to control possible disorders and dysfunctions of the pelvis and perineal region after childbirth. This would include postpartum gymnastics exercises.
- Hypopressive abdominal gymnastics: These are active physical exercises to strengthen the abdominal girdle, the pelvic floor muscles and the diaphragm. These exercises are done in hypo-pressure, overriding the pressure that the abdominal muscles and diaphragm make on the pelvic floor.
Preparation for obstetric physiotherapy
No special preparation is required for obstetric physiotherapy. However, it is recommended not to have eaten for some time before the physiotherapy exercises in order to avoid nausea and/or possible vomiting.
Aftercare after the procedure
No special care is necessary after the obstetric physiotherapy procedure, as it is a completely harmless therapy. However, the patient may feel tired at the end of the sessions, as there are slight extra efforts to be made in her condition.