The Changes That Can Affect Your Pelvic Floor
Breastfeeding is widely celebrated for its numerous health benefits for both the mother and the baby. It provides essential nutrients, boosts the baby’s immune system, and fosters a strong emotional bond between mother and child. However, what many new mothers may not realize is that breastfeeding can also have a significant impact on a mother’s pelvic health.
In this blog post, we’ll explore how breastfeeding affects the pelvic floor, the potential challenges that women may face, and how pelvic physiotherapy can help manage any issues related to breastfeeding and pelvic health. Whether you’re a new mom or planning to breastfeed in the future, understanding these dynamics can help you maintain better pelvic health during this important phase of motherhood.
How Breastfeeding Affects Pelvic Floor Health
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and tissues that support the bladder, bowel, and reproductive organs. It plays a crucial role in maintaining control over urination, bowel movements, and sexual function. After childbirth, many women experience changes in the pelvic floor due to the physical stresses of pregnancy and labor. While breastfeeding is beneficial for the baby’s development, it can also influence the pelvic floor muscles in a number of ways.
1. Hormonal Changes and Relaxation of Pelvic Floor Muscles
One of the most significant effects of breastfeeding on pelvic floor health is the hormonal changes that occur in the body. During breastfeeding, the body produces prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production. Prolactin works in tandem with another hormone, oxytocin, which is involved in milk ejection.
While these hormones are vital for breastfeeding, they can also affect the pelvic floor. Oxytocin, in particular, has a muscle-relaxing effect, which can cause the pelvic floor muscles to become more relaxed and less toned during breastfeeding. This relaxation can lead to a reduced ability to control bladder and bowel function, contributing to issues like urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
2. Impact on Posture and Core Stability
The demands of breastfeeding often involve sitting or holding the baby in a forward-leaning position for extended periods. This posture can place added strain on the core muscles, which include the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles. Over time, poor posture or muscle imbalances can lead to weakened pelvic floor muscles and discomfort.
Breastfeeding can also affect the alignment of the pelvic girdle, leading to imbalances in the lower back and pelvis. Since the pelvic floor muscles rely on proper alignment and core strength to function optimally, poor posture during breastfeeding may exacerbate pelvic floor dysfunction, leading to symptoms like pelvic pain or lower back pain.
3. Increased Pressure on the Pelvic Floor
When breastfeeding, especially in the early months, many women may find themselves lifting, bending, or carrying the baby more frequently. These physical activities put additional pressure on the pelvic floor muscles. If the pelvic floor is already weakened from childbirth, this added pressure can worsen urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, or even lead to pelvic organ prolapse.
4. Fatigue and the Impact on Muscle Tone
New mothers often face significant fatigue as they adjust to the demands of breastfeeding and caring for a newborn. Lack of sleep and exhaustion can result in overall muscle weakness, including the muscles of the pelvic floor. When pelvic floor muscles become weak, it can affect their ability to support pelvic organs properly, leading to urinary leakage, pelvic discomfort, or a feeling of heaviness in the vaginal area.
Common Pelvic Health Issues Linked to Breastfeeding
While breastfeeding is undoubtedly a rewarding experience for many women, it can also bring about several pelvic health challenges. The following are some of the most common pelvic floor issues that can be exacerbated or influenced by breastfeeding:
1. Urinary Incontinence
Many women experience urinary incontinence after childbirth, and breastfeeding can sometimes make this issue worse. Hormonal changes, poor posture, and increased abdominal pressure during breastfeeding can all contribute to urinary leaks. The act of holding or carrying the baby can also increase the pressure on the bladder, resulting in more frequent or intense incontinence episodes.
2. Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) occurs when one or more pelvic organs, such as the bladder, uterus, or rectum, drop down into the vaginal canal due to weakened pelvic floor muscles. The hormonal changes during breastfeeding can relax the pelvic muscles even further, leading to or worsening symptoms of prolapse. Women may experience a feeling of vaginal heaviness, pressure, or even bulging.
3. Pelvic Pain or Discomfort
Women may experience pelvic pain during breastfeeding, especially if their pelvic floor muscles are weak or tense. Painful sensations can also arise from increased intra-abdominal pressure or the physical strain of holding and feeding the baby. If pelvic pain persists, it may affect a woman’s ability to breastfeed comfortably or care for her baby.
4. Diastasis Recti (Abdominal Separation)
After childbirth, the rectus abdominis muscles can separate due to the growing uterus and the physical strain of labor. This condition, known as diastasis recti, can leave women with a weakened core and a protruding belly. If not addressed, diastasis recti can put additional strain on the pelvic floor, affecting overall stability and increasing the risk of pelvic floor dysfunction.
5. Sexual Dysfunction
Breastfeeding can lead to vaginal dryness, reduced sexual desire, and discomfort during intercourse. These issues are primarily related to hormonal changes that occur during breastfeeding, but they can be compounded by weakened pelvic floor muscles. Reduced pelvic floor tone may contribute to pain or discomfort during sex, as well as difficulty achieving orgasm.
How Pelvic Physiotherapy Can Help
Pelvic physiotherapy plays a crucial role in addressing the pelvic floor issues that may arise during breastfeeding. A pelvic physiotherapist can assess the state of your pelvic floor and provide treatment tailored to your specific needs. Here are some of the key benefits of pelvic physiotherapy for women experiencing pelvic health challenges during breastfeeding:
1. Pelvic Floor Muscle Strengthening
Pelvic physiotherapists are trained to guide women through pelvic floor exercises that can strengthen and tone the pelvic muscles. These exercises, such as Kegel exercises, help improve bladder control, support pelvic organs, and reduce the risk of pelvic organ prolapse. A physiotherapist can ensure that you are performing the exercises correctly and targeting the appropriate muscles.
2. Posture Correction and Core Strengthening
As mentioned, poor posture during breastfeeding can place strain on the pelvic floor and other core muscles. A pelvic physiotherapist can provide guidance on how to sit and hold your baby in ways that reduce stress on the pelvic region. Core-strengthening exercises are also essential to restoring balance and supporting the pelvic floor muscles.
3. Manual Therapy for Pelvic Pain Relief
If you are experiencing pelvic pain, a pelvic physiotherapist can use manual therapy techniques to release tension in the pelvic floor muscles, myofascial release, and soft tissue mobilization to improve pelvic alignment and reduce discomfort. These therapies are designed to restore normal muscle function and promote relaxation in the pelvic area.
4. Breathing and Relaxation Techniques
Breathing exercises are an important part of pelvic physiotherapy, especially for women who have pelvic floor tension or tightness. By learning to breathe deeply and relax the pelvic floor, you can reduce pressure on the bladder and other pelvic organs, helping to alleviate symptoms of incontinence and pelvic pain.
5. Education on Bowel and Bladder Health
A pelvic physiotherapist can teach strategies for managing bladder and bowel health during breastfeeding, helping women regain control over their pelvic health. Bladder training and advice on dietary changes to support digestion can also be part of the recovery process.
When to Seek Pelvic Physiotherapy During Breastfeeding
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms during breastfeeding, pelvic physiotherapy may be beneficial:
- Urinary leakage or incontinence
- Pelvic pressure or a feeling of heaviness in the vagina
- Pelvic pain, vaginal pain, or discomfort during sex
- Difficulty with bowel movements
- Postural imbalances or back pain
- Core weakness or diastasis recti
Early intervention can make a significant difference in your recovery and help improve overall pelvic health.
Conclusion
While breastfeeding provides numerous benefits to both mother and baby, it is important to recognize that it can also affect a mother’s pelvic health. Hormonal changes, physical demands, and posture shifts associated with breastfeeding can exacerbate pelvic floor dysfunction, leading to issues such as urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, and prolapse.
Pelvic physiotherapy can play a vital role in helping women navigate these challenges, by strengthening pelvic muscles, improving posture, and providing relief from pelvic pain. If you are experiencing pelvic health concerns while breastfeeding, don’t hesitate to reach out to a pelvic physiotherapist to help support your recovery and overall well-being.
