Physical therapy for new moms

In physical travel therapy, you'll care for more clients than just athletes or injured individuals. There's a likely chance you'll also encounter new moms. It's no secret that giving birth puts some serious strain on the body, and that pressure can cause long-term damage. As a physical therapist, you have the unique opportunity to help moms get back to their happy, healthy and pain-free selves. Here's what you need to know:

Current picture of pregnancy
As with just about anything in life, the norms surrounding pregnancy have changed over time, specifically how and when women are getting pregnant. A report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the average age of a first-time mom has been steadily rising. In 2009, the mean age was 24.9, and that number climbed 1.4 years by 2014, with the average new mom being 26.3 years old. Meanwhile, 21.1 percent of babies were born to mothers between the ages of 30 and 34.

The higher new-mom age may mean mothers are having pregnancies closer together. This practice does not always allow enough time for the body to heal, raising the risk for certain postnatal problems. Knowing this information as a physical therapist may help you determine the best course of treatment or at least give you insight into how the client's problems arose.

Waiting until later in life to have children is not the only change occurring – parents are also turning to alternative options, such as in vitro fertilization. According to 2014 report from the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, approximately 2,000 more babies were born via IVF in 2012 than 2011. As Fertility Authority explained, this process may make moms more prone to having twins, and having multiples may add more physical stress on the body during birth. As such, those that take this route may also have a higher risk of long-term problems related to pregnancy.

Pregnancy pains
All too often, moms accept their pain as a way of life, or they become so busy with their kids that their own bodies get put on the back burner. Stephanie Fonck was a 29-year-old patient at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Illinois, and almost slipped silently into this trend. According to the medical facility's website, Fonck endured a fourth-degree tear, which extended into her bowels, while vaginally delivering her daughter. The sharp pains made it difficult for her to even sit in a chair. However, it took her months to seek help.

While the severity of her injury required corrective surgery, she also underwent postnatal physical therapy. Her physical therapist created a blueprint for healing by having Fonck do Kegel exercise, squats and stretches aimed at improving her muscle strength. The treatment helped her tremendously, and together with the corrective surgery, they totally eliminated her pain.

Unfortunately, Fonck is far from the only mom who waited longer than necessary to receive help through postnatal physical therapy. And as Silver Cross Hospital rehabilitation physical therapist Karen Grube explained, forgoing treatment can lead to more serious issues down the road.

"Without addressing those issues, a woman's body might be left vulnerable to urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pain with intercourse, and hip, lower back or pelvis pain," she said,

How you can help
By providing strategic physical therapy treatment, you can help moms heal. As physical therapist Ginger Garner explained in Modern Mom, clients may see a reduction in back pain through techniques like aquatic therapy, massage, yoga and other strategies. Mothers may also experience incontinence relief decreased pain and improved wellness through pelvic floor muscle exercises.

Of course, creating an appropriate care plan will call on your work experience and knowledge gained in training. However, there are certain tips that can help with creating an effective strategy. For one, advise clients to avoid strenuous physical activity until you've cleared them and they are totally pain free. Additionally, tell moms to never ignore pain. You'll have to call on some compassion skills for this one because moms are known for putting their kids first. Remind them that they can't fully be there mentally and physically for their little ones unless they are completely healed.

Additionally, moms should keep an open line of communication with their primary care physicians. Speaking with the Wall Street Journal, Dr. Brubaker of the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University Chicago said women should always ask for a pelvic floor strength check post-birth, usually four to six weeks following delivery. Their doctors may not always think to assess this part of a mom's wellness, so women must advocate for themselves.

Being a new mother is tough enough without the added bodily aches or incontinence. Serve as the voice for new moms in your travel physical therapy jobs and educate clients on how they can seek help.