Chiropractic Care During the Postpartum Period

postpartum changes and conditions

New motherhood comes with a multitude of changes, including physical changes and discomforts, uprooting in schedules and growth in relationships between a mom and their partner. All of these can impact a new mom’s life which is why supporting and caring for new moms during her postpartum period is vital to mom’s mental, physical and emotional health.

If you have ever been under postpartum chiropractic care, or know someone who has, you have probably experienced a lot of what we will discuss in this article. New motherhood is a transformative experience which is why our mission at Sprout Family Chiropractic is to empower expectant moms and new moms to reconnect and focus on herself during the postpartum period. 

PHYSICAL CHANGES AFTER CHILDBIRTH

Many of the big changes moms first notice are the physical changes. Whether you gave birth vaginally, via C section, with or without medications or epidurals, was induced or not, your body has done the most physically awe-inspiring and challenging thing it may ever do. Regardless of labor times, bringing a baby into the outside world requires a whole host of physical changes and adaptations. 

These changes create the need for physical healing and recovery. Some of the most common physical changes moms experience postpartum in our practice are:

  • Back pain

  • Breast pain 

  • Pelvic pain

  • Abdominal muscle strain 

  • Fatigue

  • Bladder incontinence

Back Pain

New moms are no strangers to back pain. During the birth process, the lower back muscles are put under a great deal of stress. Especially those who have had an epidural, a common side effect is postpartum lower back pain that can persist for months and even years. The added weight of the baby for the past 9 months can also contribute to back pain, as this puts additional stress on the lower back muscles. 

Breast Pain

If you are breastfeeding or pumping, you already know that there can be a painful and steep learning curve for both you and baby when it comes to breastfeeding and pumping. That is in part due to the physical changes but also the hormonal fluctuations that occur that allow breastmilk to be produced. The increased milk production, engorgement, and the pressure of the baby's mouth on the breast can cause pain and discomfort. 

Pelvic Pain

Postpartum women fall on every point of the labor and delivery spectrum when it comes to the duration and intensity of their birth story. Particularly very short and very long labors can cause significant stress to the pelvic muscles and ligaments, leading to pelvic pain, discomfort, and instability. This pain can make it difficult for new mothers to walk, stand, or perform daily activities. 

Abdominal Muscle Strain

The most recognized results of abdominal muscle strain is diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles) and abdominal pain. Dr. Jenny Santamaria, DPT, discussed What You Need To Know About Diastasis Recti Abdominis in her article. This condition occurs when the muscles that make up the abdominal wall become stretched and separated, leading to a weakened core. This means less foundational stability for the rest of your body. 

Bladder Incontinence

While this is not normal, bladder incontinence is a common issue for many women during the postpartum period. Especially if the pelvic floor has had trauma, has an overall increased tone (hypertonicity) or decreased tone (hypotonicity) during the prenatal period (and even preconception), this can really set the stage for a tougher recovery. The physical stress on the muscles that control the bladder during childbirth can drastically change the function and integrity of them postpartum. We recommend seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist (if you are in the San Diego area, consider Empower Physical Therapy or Femme Strong) as soon as you know you are trying to conceive, to prepare for birth, and during your postpartum healing phase.

All of these physical changes can impact a new mother's overall well-being. For all of these changes many providers have purely focused on the recovery of the physical structures but not necessarily the functional or neurological aspect of healing and recovery. Healing, tissue regeneration and recovery are all coordinated and guided by the nervous system. 

CHEMICAL CHANGES AFTER CHILDBIRTH

Besides the physical changes, every mom experiences a seemingly sudden change in hormone levels. After birth, new moms and their bodies realize they may (and should) return to solely focusing on their health and wellbeing after growing and supporting a baby for 9 months. Here are the top hormone changes most new moms experience postpartum.

  • Estrogen and progesterone 

  • Prolactin

  • Cortisol

  • Oxytocin

Estrogen and Progesterone

During pregnancy, these hormones rapidly increase to support the growth and development of the fetus. After childbirth, these hormone levels rapidly decrease (partly due to the increase in prolactin, as discussed below). Sometimes in an effort to re-equilibrate these hormones an imbalance that can cause feelings of anxiety, depression, and irritability can occur. This may be your typical “Baby Blues” or it could be something more serious or long lasting like Postpartum Anxiety and Depression (PMADs).

Prolactin

Prolactin is produced by the pituitary gland that stimulates milk production in the breasts. Prolactin levels increase dramatically during lactation, leading to a decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels.

Cortisol

Produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol helps regulate stress in the body. After childbirth, cortisol levels can rapidly increase, leading to feelings of anxiety, irritability, and fatigue. It also has a big impact on the function of the immune system. Prolonged periods of high cortisol levels can cause chronic inflammation which stunts the immune system’s ability to react and respond properly. This is why it is important to focus on reducing any stress and supporting the physical and emotional needs of a new mom during the postpartum period.

Oxytocin

Just like prolactin, oxytocin is produced by the pituitary gland. It stimulates contractions during labor and helps the mother bond with her baby after birth (it is also known as the cuddle hormone or the love hormone). Oxytocin levels rapidly increase after childbirth, leading to feelings of love, affection, and happiness. 

Chemical changes and transitions for new moms are inevitable during the postpartum period but every new mom is different. Baseline hormone levels vary and the needs of baby varies which means imbalance can occur. The foundational system that helps rebalance all of the postpartum chemical changes is the brain and nervous system. The nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating these hormonal changes through its control of the endocrine system. When the nervous system is functioning optimally, it can help regulate the rapid changes in hormone levels during the postpartum period, reducing the symptoms of hormonal imbalance.

EMOTIONAL CHANGES AFTER CHILDBIRTH

Although physical and chemical changes were discussed first, emotional changes can be some of the most impactful and long lasting changes not only for mom, but for baby and the rest of the family. Even if you are not new to being a mom, re-entering motherhood with a new child tends to flip everyone’s roles and schedules on their heads. Especially because new moms are in a different phase of their life with every child and because every child is different, the emotional changes experienced postpartum can be polar opposites for the same mom.

Moms (even those whose babies are toddlers and teenagers now) we take care of express the mental/emotional aspect to being a mom. Many of them have experienced some or all of the following:

  • Anxiety 

  • Irritability

  • Fatigue

  • Postpartum depression 

Anxiety

Anxiety is a common experience for many new mothers during the postpartum period. It is characterized by feelings of worry, nervousness, and fear. The nervous system plays a crucial role in regulating the stress response and maintaining a healthy balance of hormones in the body. When the nervous system is functioning optimally, it can help reduce anxiety and promote feelings of calm and relaxation.

Irritability

Irritability is also very common for new moms.  A lot factors into this like the level of support from their partner and social pressures from others, even family. If you are a new mom and have felt as though your fuse is shorter, you anger more easily, you get frustrated quickly or you are much more impatient than you were before, you are not alone. With the chemical changes, your body is trying to re-establish its baseline for when to be calm and when to react. 

Fatigue

Sleep deprivation is no joke and new moms know it all too well. The physical and emotional stress of childbirth, lack of sleep, and the demands of caring for a newborn can all contribute to fatigue. This fatigue can make it difficult for new mothers to perform daily activities and can impact their overall well-being. New moms’ energy reserves are constantly being drained. Despite getting sleep, you may not feel fully rested or fully recharged due to the physical, chemical and emotional demands that go into caring for your child.  

Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a common mental health condition that affects many new mothers. Jennifer Mendoza, LCSW, discussed PMADs in-depth in this article – What You Need to Know About Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs).

We dive deep into how emotional changes and stressors can affect the health and function of the nervous system in this article.

POSTPARTUM CHIROPRACTIC CARE

While the changes and stressors we discussed above are not exhaustive lists, they are decent representations of what many new moms experience (first time moms, second time moms, and beyond). And with so many changes, moms can become overwhelmed. New motherhood can feel like a never ending game of catchup where you “check one thing off ‘the list’” and 10 new items pop up. We know we simply can’t take away the stressors new moms experience (physical, chemical and emotional) but we can help create a more resilient and adaptable state for moms to be in, so they do have more energy, their bodies can rebalance and restore health, connection and function to their own bodies.

Postpartum chiropractic care in our office focuses on the body’s ability to regulate and restore balance to the nervous system, which plays a crucial role in:

  1. Coordinating and orchestrating regeneration and healing

  2. Rebalancing the endocrine and hormonal systems

  3. Creating more ease and calm for moms

At Sprout Family Chiropractic we use 3 neuro-scans (heart rate variability, thermography and electromyography) to determine how mom is adapting to all of these changes, where mom needs the most support and how to best support her. Our neurologically-focused approach means we look at you mom as a whole–your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing. Chiropractic care helps moms navigate the postpartum period and transition to motherhood.

If you found this article insightful and you know another new mom who would benefit from reading it, please share! If you are a new mom and are struggling with any of the changes we mentioned, please give us a call to learn more about how we can help you.

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