Postpartum Pelvic Pain When Sleeping
Pelvic pain can happen after giving birth, and it can be a cause of real worry for a new mother. Add to that the factor of sleep disruption (or its threat), and you've really got a recipe for a concern that's hard to manage.
This article aims to help you understand this issue better and why your body is behaving this way. We will also explore how to manage this pain and how postpartum pelvic therapy for San Ramon can help.
Causes of Postpartum Pelvic Pain When Sleeping
Postpartum pelvic pain can arise from many childbirth-related occurrences and the resultant changes. The common causes of postpartum pelvic pain when sleeping include;
Muscle Strain
Strain and overuse of pelvic muscles and ligaments certainly occur during the hard work of labor and delivery. A strained pelvic floor, let alone overworked pelvic muscles, doesn't exactly aid any woman trying to find a comfortable way to sleep.
Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP)
Pelvic girdle pain, much like pelvic pain itself, can affect the outer rim of the pelvis and spill over into the hips and lower back. Strain at the level of the pelvic girdle tends to get worse after delivery. This can cause pain in your abdominal muscles, pelvic floor, and back, both when you're up and moving around and when you're lying down.
Loose Pelvic Ligaments
During pregnancy, the body releases hormones that may cause the pelvic ligaments to loosen. This allows the pelvis to expand during childbirth. Unfortunately, the ligaments may become too loose and take time to regain their pre-pregnancy tightness, contributing to pain.
Diastasis Recti
A woman's abdominal area stretches during pregnancy to make room for the baby. However, this stretch can sometimes separate the abdominal muscles along the midline, leading to pain and instability in the pelvic region. You may feel pain from diastasis recti whenever you sleep, especially when you change positions in bed.
Scar Tissue Formation
Scar tissue forms when a wound or injury heals and it is a fibrous tissue that is part of the normal healing process. When surgical interventions occur, such as a cesarean section, the result can be scar tissue that can and does cause discomfort and even pelvic pain.
How to Manage Postpartum Pelvic Pain
Postpartum pelvic pain when sleeping can be intense, acute, and really uncomfortable. Finding a way to cope with that and live your life, serve your family, and enjoy your time as a new mom is really important.
You can manage pain and take pressure off the pelvis by placing a pillow under your abdomen or between your legs if you are lying down. This is particularly effective when recovering from a C-section.
You can ease the pain and inflammation of your condition by applying heat or cold to the area. For muscle relaxation, use a warm compress or a heating pad. For the numbness and swelling, an ice pack is an effective treatment. Even better, alternating between the two can produce good results.
After your first week postpartum, to help recover your pelvic floor, practice Kegels three times a day. When you can do them without discomfort, add in some squats, bridges, and other light Pilates moves that target the core.
When Should You Get Physical Therapy?
If you continue to have pelvic pain or it becomes worse, see a healthcare provider for an evaluation. After evaluating your condition, the provider will either treat you themselves or refer you to a specialist.
If you are treated at San Ramon, CA, physical therapy, the therapist will first assess your condition to identify the causes of your pain and then develop a treatment plan for you. The assessment phase is very important and sometimes takes more than one session to complete. The physical therapist may use various methods to figure out what is wrong, ranging from an assessment of your posture to the use of your muscle strength to help them understand what's going on.
A personalized treatment plan will be developed for you. The physical therapist might use the following methods:
Targeted Exercise Program
Central to your treatment plan will be a targeted exercise program. It may include;
Pelvic floor muscle training helps you contract and relax your pelvic floor muscles, improving their function. You may also undergo core muscle training to exercise your back and abdominal muscles to help stabilize your spine and reduce pelvic pain. Your therapist may also recommend stretching and flexibility exercises to improve the range of motion in the lumbar spine and the sacroiliac joints and reduce tension in the pelvic region.
Manual Therapy
Manual therapies can assist in the alignment of the pelvis, promote a painless state, and lead the patient toward better overall health and function. Manual therapy techniques, like joint mobilization and soft tissue massage, greatly benefit pelvic pain conditions. Your physical therapist will use them to help you in three key areas: addressing tight muscles, loosening up scar tissue, and getting your pelvic joints to behave better.
Posture Training
Your physical therapist will also work with you to improve your posture. When you receive treatment, you may learn to do things in a better posture for your body (like sitting, standing, or lying down). These changes align with the daily movements your body naturally makes.
Education
You will learn how to preserve your energy and carry out tasks without straining the pelvic area. Poor body mechanics—particularly during activities like lifting—can cause or worsen pain in the pelvic area. Understanding your body's mechanics is crucial to your health. Your therapist will show you how to modify your daily activities to relieve pelvic pain.
Conclusion
Although pelvic pain after childbirth can be quite normal, it can interfere with your sleep, making you exhausted. If you're having a hard time with pelvic pain after childbirth, consult with a qualified physical therapist. They can give you the one-on-one assistance you need to help you along your recovery path, ensuring you're comfortable enough to get the sleep you need to feel like yourself again.
