What Is Pregnancy Related Pelvic Girdle Pain (PPGP)?
PPGP is pain in the buttock area or sacro-iliac joints (SIJs), the area of the back where the spine joins the pelvis and/or the pubic symphysis (where the pubic bones join together at the front). Sometimes the pain may also be felt in the back of the thigh. People with PPGP often have pain and difficulties with standing, walking, sitting and changing positions (eg rolling over in bed, getting up from a chair). It can have a significant impact on quality of life, ability to work throughout pregnancy and can cause substantial disability.
Women’s & Men’s Health Physiotherapy (WMHP) exists to restore pelvic health, empowering every person to live their best life. This is our cause, our belief and what we stand for. As the physiotherapists treating, guiding and supporting you to restore your pelvic health, it is vital that we are all clear on what you would like to achieve as we embark on your journey to pelvic health.
In 2013 I gave birth to my first child who was delivered via forceps after a long labour. At the time I needed a blood transfusion and I was told I had sustained a 3rd degree tear. It was another 16 months before I was diagnosed with a bilateral levator avulsion and subsequent prolapses. As a first-time mother, I didn’t identify as having birth trauma. I didn’t even realise birth trauma was a thing.
Common breast issues whilst breast feeding are called Inflammatory Conditions of the Lactating Breast (ICLB) and cover a variety of different symptoms. Unfortunately, the occurrence of ICLB is the main reason for women choosing to cease breastfeeding. Therefore, it is extremely important that multidisciplinary, evidence-based care is given to women in a timely manner so that they can continue to breastfeed.
During pregnancy, there is a large amount of pressure placed on the pelvic floor muscles. Imagine the pelvis is like a trampoline; the rim being the bones of the pelvis, the springs being the ligaments and the mat being the pelvic floor muscles. The weight of the growing baby, hormonal changes and weight gain, weaken and stretch the mat and the springs, which is exacerbated further by vaginal birth. It is well known that weakness of the pelvic floor muscles (the mat) can lead to the development of poor control of the bladder and bowel (incontinence) and pelvic organ prolapse.
Prolapse can be a bit of a scary word. Women have often heard horror stories from their mothers, aunties or friends. However, having a prolapse isn’t actually that scary. It’s also very common – 1 in 2 women who have had a baby have one. Want to know the good news? Prolapse is very treatable, and pelvic floor exercises are the number one treatment recommended for prolapse worldwide.
One of the most common questions we get asked by our post-natal patients is: when can I start running again after having my baby? Our experienced pelvic health physiotherapist Kathryn Oldman answers this question and more, in a video covering all the important aspects of safely returning to exercise after pregnancy.
Stacey came to see one of our Physio’s at WMHP for help with her bladder control. She was feeling very embarrassed, and was avoiding catching up with friends or going to Mothers Group because she was scared of having an accident. She was feeling very overwhelmed ...
