Many moons ago, when the stars were brighter and the women were slighter, bed rest was considered the gold standard for pregnancy. And while an active baby in the belly was oohed and aahed at, an active mommy was booed and blahed at. Inverted paradox much?
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We think so. In those days, pregnancy was a weighty commitment (pardon the pun) that was best honoured through minimal movement and maximum bed rest, especially when a big belly meant big body pain. Cut to the 21st century, and the maternity landscape is vastly different. Age-old practices deep-seated in tradition have been eclipsed by proven scientific routines. Prenatal and postnatal physiotherapy top a long list of examples.
Understanding Prenatal & Postnatal Physiotherapy
Expectant mothers experience a sea of changes during pregnancy; from a shift in the centre of mass to increased body weight, there’s a lot to be accounted for. Often, the rapid sequence of changes heralded by pregnancy puts pressure on organs and joints, leading to pelvic pain, back pain and urinary incontinence. More than 60% of pregnant mommas suffer from back pain while 20% suffer from pelvic pain. About two in five women struggle with urinary incontinence during pregnancy. Likewise, postpartum can bring its share of discomfort to new mothers.
Studies show that antenatal and postnatal exercises can alleviate lower back pain, pelvic pain and urinary incontinence, and strengthen the pelvic floor. On Cloudnine, our prenatal and postnatal physiotherapy programmes are crafted by veteran, in-house physiotherapists who have invested years devising superior routines with time-proven outcomes.
Suitable Profiles for Prenatal & Postnatal Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy is a recommended treatment route for any form of prenatal or postnatal pain. Some of the possible conditions associated with pregnancy and postpartum are highlighted below:
Advantages of Prenatal & Postnatal Physiotherapy on Cloudnine
Physiotherapy on Cloudnine is a personalised, on-demand service offered in bespoke sessions. Our seasoned physiotherapists craft routines after carefully evaluating the needs of expectant and new mothers.
An ideal time to start prenatal physiotherapy is in the fifth month of pregnancy, while the ideal time for postnatal physiotherapy varies depending on the maternal profile.
Pros of Prenatal Physiotherapy
Pros of Postnatal Physiotherapy
On Cloudnine, we believe that every pain and every strain can be managed, and managed well. Whether your back is weighing you down or your bladder is making embarrassing pit stops, we’re certain that with a little physiotherapy, we can tame the back and tighten the bladder.
And hey, if nothing else, the odd pee-pee at the grocery store or at the annual family get-together are moments that deserve to go down in the memory book. Otherwise, are you really even making the right memories?
Physiotherapy exercises can help alleviate lower back pain, pelvic pain, and urinary incontinence during pregnancy. They also strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, improve flexibility, thereby preparing your body for labour. Personalised exercises and routines can prevent and manage pregnancy-related discomforts, ensuring a healthy and safe pregnancy.
Postnatal physiotherapy plays a vital role in providing relief from back, shoulder, and neck pain, diastasis recti, and pain after pregnancy. It plays a crucial role in treating urinary incontinence and abdominal bulge after pregnancy. Generally, physiotherapy performed after delivery helps in strengthening core muscles and regaining strength in new mothers.
The ideal time to visit a physiotherapist is when you experience any discomfort or pain due to the growing baby, mostly during the second trimester. However, you can visit a physiotherapist anytime during pregnancy. Consulting a physiotherapist early in your pregnancy can help manage back pain and pelvic discomfort.
Physiotherapy exercises like pelvic floor exercises help by strengthening pelvic floor muscles, thereby promoting flexibility, leading to shorter labour, reduced pain, and fewer complications. Relaxation techniques and breathing exercises ease pain and empower women with a sense of control during labour. Physiotherapy also helps to prepare pregnant women for a customised birth plan.
