The Pelvic Floor After Birth: How To Relieve Postpartum Constipation

40% of pregnant women report experiencing constipation. However, that number increases after birth. One study found that 52% of women experience postpartum constipation. Your body is made to do incredible things, like grow and give birth to a human. What happens after that is essential to your health and well-being.

The pelvic floor experiences major trauma during pregnancy and childbirth. It is made to expand for your baby to pass through, but it requires time, rest, and patience to heal. In addition, the organs and muscles that are protected by the pelvic floor can become strained or damaged during birth, contributing to postpartum constipation.

At Pillar Physio – Georgetown, Texas, we strive to help each woman who comes to us for pelvic floor concerns. If you are experiencing constipation after those early weeks postpartum, it’s time to get a pelvic floor assessment. Let us help you heal and recover so that you can have a healthy postpartum journey.

What Causes Postpartum Constipation

There is a combination of reasons why postpartum constipation occurs. Your body is experiencing a hormonal shift that can be a major player. However, dehydration, dietary changes, and injury during childbirth can all contribute to postpartum constipation.

Injuries can include damage to nerves and perineum or sphincter injury. Additionally, any pain medications you may be taking after birth can have a role in postpartum constipation.

How Postpartum Constipation Affects the Pelvic Floor

Many may not realize that postpartum constipation affects the pelvic floor. During constipation, you may strain to empty your bowels, which can increase the pressure in your pelvic floor. Your pelvic muscles may become tight, making it difficult to relax your muscles, furthering the constipation.

Your pelvis has experienced many changes during childbirth. Therefore, it is important to address this constipation so that you do not further injure your pelvic floor.

How to Relieve Postpartum Constipation

It’s important to understand how to relieve postpartum constipation. Discover some tips for relief and get your body back to optimal function.

Stay Hydrated

Hydration is one of the top things you can do to relieve postpartum constipation. When you are dehydrated, your body absorbs water from your stool, causing it to become hard, dry, and difficult to pass. Dehydration can also slow down the digestion and movement of your stool through your colon.

Keep water nearby to help increase your hydration throughout the day. You can add fruit slices to your water for an extra flavor boost. Consider focusing on electrolytes as well to boost hydration.

Add Fiber to Your Diet

Fiber is an important part of anyone’s diet, especially for someone who is experiencing postpartum constipation. It can help digestion and ease the passing of waste from your body. Your postpartum meals should be nutritious with fiber at the top of mind.

You can find snacks that are fiber-rich and keep them close for an easy grab. These snacks can include fruits and nuts. In addition, you can add fiber to your meals, such as cooked vegetables and leafy greens, for an added fiber boost.

Stool Softeners

For really difficult constipation after birth, consider using a stool softener to help pass your waste. It is better to get help from a stool softener rather than straining and causing pelvic floor damage. Stool softeners increase the water content in your stool, making it easier to pass. Consult your doctor before beginning a stool softener.

Rest

Your body requires rest well after those early weeks postpartum. The pelvic floor can take months to heal. Therefore, you should allow yourself time to rest well into your baby’s first year of life. Take time to rest when possible and switch your mindset from “go, go, go” to “slow, slow, slow.” The time you take to rest now will have a direct impact on your health in the future.

Gentle Pelvic Floor Exercise

After you receive the all-clear from your provider, you can engage in gentle pelvic floor exercises to help with postpartum constipation. These exercises can include gentle stretching through yoga or a slow walk around your neighborhood. Additional pelvic floor exercises include heel slides, bridges, and pelvic tilts.

Listen to your body; don’t overdo it. Remember to give your body time to rest after any exercise.

Start Pelvic Floor Therapy

The best way to relieve postpartum constipation is to start pelvic floor therapy. A pelvic floor therapist can assess you for any injuries you may have experienced during childbirth. They can also help provide relief to your postpartum constipation through an individualized treatment plan.

Pillar Physio offers a team of pelvic floor therapists who can help assess and provide you with lasting relief. With our hands-on, whole-body approach, constipation after having a baby can be a thing of the past.

Help Your Pelvic Floor By Addressing Postpartum Constipation

It’s hard to ignore your postpartum constipation if it is causing you daily discomfort. However, prolonging treatment can cause more damage and pain. Your pelvic floor is directly impacted by postpartum constipation; help it by addressing this issue now.

Contact Pillar Physio today to get scheduled for your pelvic floor assessment. This is the first step in finding relief. You deserve to feel like you again, especially after having a baby. Take the time to recover properly so that you can live life pain-free. Your family and your community need you.