Women and Postpartum Care

Women and Postpartum Care

Pregnancy and postpartum symptoms and complications can range from mild discomforts to severe and sometimes life-threatening illnesses. It is very important for women to receive health care during pregnancy and after delivery to decrease the risk of complications and improve overall health as well. Longest provides physical therapy solutions that help women maintain and improve health after pregnancy.

Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA)

Diastasis recti abdominis (DRA) is a condition where the abdominal muscles are separated by an abnormal distance. It is a common condition that occurs in women during pregnancy and after childbirth. During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles and connective tissues are stretched out from the expanding uterus. They’re helped along by the pregnancy hormones relaxin and estrogen. Pushing during delivery can also lead to diastasis recti. Pregnant women are more or less likely to experience the condition. 

Manage DRA is important to the health.

Abdominal muscles play an important role in postural control, trunk and pelvic stability, trunk movement and respiration.

• DRA can limit abdominal muscle function and decrease the ability of the abdomen to provide stability for the pelvic against resistance.
• Women with DRA had a lower capacity to generate trunk rotation torque and perform sit-ups.
• Weak abdominal muscles cause abdominal and lumbopelvic pain and dysfunction during pregnancy.

Hypertension

Hypertension of pregnancy is a condition that causes high blood pressure during pregnancy and the first six weeks after delivery. According to a study, the incidence of hypertensive disorders during pregnancy increased from 16.3million to 18.08 million globally.

During pregnancy, to provide oxygen and nutrients to the fetus, total blood volume doubles and can cause a higher level of blood pressure. Usually, the raised blood pressure in pregnancy levels off after delivery in most women, but it takes time. People diagnosed with high blood pressure before and during pregnancy are at high risk of high blood pressure after pregnancy.

Hypertension of pregnancy is a serious and often silent condition that can lead to immediate and long-term medical problems, including organ damage, heart disease, seizures, stroke, and even death. However, hypertension during or after pregnancy is largely preventable and treatable.

High blood pressure often causes no noticeable symptom, which makes the condition so dangerous.

Postpartum Edema

Swelling after giving birth is part of the postpartum course – normal and common.

During pregnancy, the body produces extra blood and body fluids, about 50% more, to support the baby. Postpartum swelling happens when these extra body fluids remain after the pregnancy has ended. The symptom usually gets worse during the first week after delivery but improve gradually with time.

Postpartum swelling improves with time, and physical therapy can speed up the process.

Stretch Marks

Stretch marks are common in pregnant women and may gradually fade into paler scars over time after childbirth, but they probably won’t disappear completely. The condition causes no medical problems, but appearance can affect people emotionally.

Pregnancy stretch marks can be improved with treatment.

Solutions

We empower various facilities including hospitals, outpatient clinics, physicians’ offices, and skilled nursing facilities to provide the best care to support every mom after their delivery!