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Pregnancy is an amazing time and can be both the shortest and longest 9 months of a woman’s life. Pouring over a list of potential baby names, picking out nursery themes and imagining those cozy baby snuggles can give all the good feels and send you on an endorphin rush. That wave of excitement, however, can quickly turn into a tsunami of uncertainty, nervousness, and anxiety.
For both first-time moms and those who have already been through labor and delivery, not knowing what to expect after her water breaks can be a major cause of stress. As rehab professionals, we know so many of our patients go down an internet rabbit hole, searching their symptoms and potential fixes. It is our job to support and guide them to the best information and help quell their worries and fears. There’s nothing like hearing that first cry and feeling that warm infant in your arms, but what comes next? Before looking towards the future, we have to first look back to the beginning…
Key Takeaways
- Pregnancy is full of excitement but also can bring nervous anticipation of what to expect and clinicians can be an important resource for expectant and new mothers
- Through pregnancy, discomfort and difficulty with day-to-day activities can benefit from the expertise of rehab professionals and the use of external and positional support
- Following delivery, movement is key to recover and empowering our new mothers to regaining their sense of self as well as enabling them to take care of their newborns while also taking care of themselves
Preparing for Labor and Delivery
Treating expecting mothers during pregnancy often feels like chasing smoke. One of the biggest things clinicians can do to help our expectant mothers is to help manage their constantly changing and often worsening aches and pains. Throughout pregnancy, every single body system can be affected. Even the smoothest pregnancies can have hiccups and our moms to be can often experience sciatic pain, low back and pelvic pain, rib pain and foot and leg swelling. They are often challenged when trying to find comfortable positions and have difficulty sleeping, and if there is anything our moms need, it’s rest!
A Samons Preston 10’ Long Body Pillow can help add some comfort, both during pregnancy and following delivery, shaping the pillow into different positions to give support to wherever it’s needed!
Using a Mom-EZ Maternity Support can help ease low back and sciatic discomfort during the day. If this type of support becomes uncomfortable to wear, a great alternative is using THERABAND Kinesiology Tape. The tape can provide a light support without too much compression on the pubic bone or bladder and can be worn easily underneath clothing, often helping to decrease sciatic pain. Helping our pregnant patients navigate through each trimester will put them on a smoother path as they count down to their due date!
Recovering with Your Newest Best Friend
Don’t be fooled – the journey isn’t over after that new babe is born! Following delivery, our moms enter the Fourth Trimester. Whether a vaginal delivery or C-section, the body has gone through a good deal of trauma and unfortunately doesn’t immediately bounce back to normal. Getting up and getting moving are paramount to recovery.
Movement helps increase circulation, brings a healing blood flow into the pelvis and surrounding tissues and helps our new moms start to feel better both physically and mentally. Pain control is often our first priority, and Peforma Hot &Cold Gel Packs can help bring some immediate pain relief and assist in decreasing swelling.
A common place we see pain following pregnancy and delivery is the tailbone. Utilizing a Coccyx Cushion can unload that area to decrease pain and can easily be moved from place to place, helping our patients to sit while nursing their babies, drive to follow up appointments and sit through a dinner with friends and family.
Returning to movement can be challenging, especially since the abdominal muscles are over-stretched and are unable to provide the support they had prior to pregnancy. Using an external support like the Thermoskin Abdominal Binder, especially in those first few months following delivery, can help give some additional support while those muscles are healing. This can help with both day-to-day tasks like lifting an infant carrier and stroller as well as helping take walks around the neighborhood or returning to that pilates or yoga class. Taking care of a newborn is a full-time job and it is crucial to give our new moms the tools to be able to take care of themselves as well as their infants.
Recap
So often our expectant mothers are treated like they are made of glass when in reality they are strong, capable and would benefit from exercise and movement throughout pregnancy and following labor and delivery. As rehab professionals, we are perfectly positioned to support and guide them through this journey, empowering them to stay active and help them continue to engage in and return to their daily routines and activities that feed both their body and mind.
Recap
So often our expectant mothers are treated like they are made of glass when in reality they are strong, capable and would benefit from exercise and movement throughout pregnancy and following labor and delivery. As rehab professionals, we are perfectly positioned to support and guide them through this journey, empowering them to stay active and help them continue to engage in and return to their daily routines and activities that feed both their body and mind.
Medical Disclaimer: The information provided on this site, including text, graphics, images, and other material are for informational purposes only and are not intended to substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other healthcare professional with any questions or concerns you may have regarding your condition.
