Caring for Mothers

Pelvic floor therapy helps a mom of two under two regain her strength.

These days Josie Rutledge can be found baby-wearing her newborn daughter Odette while she and her husband Caleb play with their almost two-year-old daughter Evangeline.

“It is very busy but we love having them so close in age,” says Josie.

Josie did notice recovery was a bit harder after having Odette.

“I just wasn’t recovering as quickly as I did after having Evangeline, likely because this time I was chasing a toddler instead of resting as much as I should. I had several friends do pelvic floor therapy at Boone Therapy, so I talked to my doctor about getting a referral,” says Josie.

Boone Health’s pelvic floor therapists are specially trained to understand the issues that arise during pregnancy and the postpartum healing phase. They specialize in addressing back and pelvic pain, urinary leakage, pelvic organ prolapse, and diastasis recti (commonly called “ab split”), as well as other pregnancy and postpartum-related concerns. Pelvic floor therapy can help patients recover the function they had before childbirth and return to movement without limitation.

Josie was matched with Beth Frazier, DPT. At a first pelvic floor therapy appointment, the patient will spend an hour one-on-one with a therapist discussing their strengths and concerns from head to toe. The therapist will then design a personalized treatment program to address imbalances and strengthen the whole body. Treatment will progress and adapt with the patient over their follow-up appointments to ensure goals are met.

“During pregnancy, the body experiences a variety of anatomical and postural changes that affect the way you move, breathe, and use your core. Pelvic floor therapy can help mothers understand what is going on in their body and help lay a pathway to optimally heal. The goals of pelvic floor therapy are whatever the mom’s goals are: running and lifting without urinary leakage, restoring your core strength and function to feel strong and stable, lifting children without pelvic heaviness, returning to sex without pain, etc. We just want you to feel your best,” says Beth.

At Josie’s first appointment, Beth did an examination, and they discussed Josie’s concerns and goals.

“Before that first appointment, I didn’t know that pelvic floor therapy could help if your pelvic floor was tense. I thought it was just to regain bladder function if things were too loose, but after my my birth, everything actually felt more tense than before. I didn’t realize that could happen! We worked on a plan to relax the muscles for me,” says Josie.

Beth showed Josie some specific exercises and gave her a personalized printout of exercises that could be done at home.

“Beth held Odette while I did my exercises. It’s great you can bring your baby!” says Josie.

After a couple of weeks of appointments and home workouts, Josie began noticing a big difference.

“My body feels stronger and healthier. I feel like doing pelvic floor therapy is giving me the strength I need to be the mom I want to be to my two little ones,” says Josie.

One of the goals Josie and Beth discussed was future children for Josie and Caleb.

“We know we want more babies so it is also important to me to help my body recover for future pregnancies. Beth provided me with some great information, and I know this therapy will help me prepare for that as well,” says Josie.

Beth recommends that all mothers receive pelvic floor therapy after birth.

“The postpartum timeframe is busy and filled with sleep deprivation and exhaustion. We get it! Many women put off their own care because they don’t think they have the energy or they don’t think their symptoms are severe enough. We want women to know we are used to working with women during this time. We are here to support you, not add to your load. We will cater your treatment to the time and energy you realistically have. We will work to support and prioritize your needs while you care for the needs of your little one. It is easier to address symptoms early before they worsen, so we encourage women to come early. However, we also want women to know it is never too late. Your children may already have their own children, and we are still here to support you,” says Beth.

Pelvic floor therapy requires a referral, so be sure to discuss it with your physician. Boone Therapy sees pelvic floor therapy patients at both their Broadway Medical Plaza and Nifong Medical Plaza Locations.

By Madison Loethen