One of the most important values we hold dear is that a well adjusted mother = a well adjusted child.
We tend to get stuck in the idea of bouncing back postpartum – the need to be a certain way by a certain timeframe. I have mums come in and tell me that they are worried because they still have a belly 3 months postpartum, or that they feel like their hips will never be the same again. We are all working within this perception that we need to return to “normal”, “ASAP”, however our bodies go through so many changes during and after pregnancy. We need to give ourselves grace and time for recovery. Realistically speaking, I tell new mothers to give themselves up to a year!
A sneak peek into the changes that mums go through postpartum include:
Chemical Changes
Internally, hormones are still regulating. It takes an average of 4-6 months for postpartum hormones to return to their baseline after giving birth, and even longer than that if someone is still breastfeeding. This means that as your body adapts to all these internal changes, it might not yet feel “as it used to”. Neither would your mood or energy levels.
Physical Changes
During pregnancy our core muscles are stretched out, leading to decreased core stability after giving birth. These muscle imbalances would mean that we find it difficult to carry out certain movements, and we would need time to gradually train our bodies back into our usual exercise routine.
Habitual Changes
Because we are so used to standing/moving in a certain way to accommodate to our pregnant bodies, it’s hard to break out of that pattern immediately after birth. Our posture in the way we stand, sit, or carry our children might not be at its ideal. On top of static posture, the way we walk, breathe (read more about breathing patterns here!), and even lie down to sleep might take some time getting used to.
On top of bodily changes, we also go through lifestyle changes – sleeping less/co-sleeping, dietary changes, regularly caring for our newborn/children are all big factors at play.
So, how does postpartum chiropractic care help?
- Overall pain relief
- Correct postural imbalances specific to your condition
- Improved function – transitioning into a lifestyle that you want for yourself
- Reduced postpartum complications (diastasis recti, hernias/prolapses, pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence)
All this to say: while it is important to focus and care for your baby postpartum, remember to take care of yourself too! Your body was precious in your prenatal period not just because you were pregnant with your child, but also because there is value in taking care of yourself and your body. This applies to your postpartum period as well. New mothers are a huge part of our patient base, and we love helping them speed up their recovery process after birth with Chiropractic care.