Pelvic Floor Tear After Birth

Slowly re introduce pelvic floor exercises in the first six weeks postpartum.

Pelvic floor tear after birth.

Direct repair of tears to the pelvic floor muscle is in its infancy and only offered in the context of research studies. 2 in the first vaginal birth as many as seven out of ten women will experience some tearing of the perineum. Imaging after childbirth shows that once the muscle is pulled off the bone it shrinks and pulls back towards the back passage. 1 until recently the phrase pelvic floor injury referred only to perineal and vaginal tears and damage to the anal sphincter the muscle that surrounds the end.

This is not surprising after all a large proportion of women who attempted to give birth naturally are affected. Daily pelvic floor exercises help you to regain control of your bladder and bowel after your baby s birth macarthur and ismail 2014. 10 in some women levator avulsion occurs on both sides and there is even less pelvic floor support. Pregnancy and childbirth can damage the muscles and connective tissue of the pelvic floor causing all kinds of inconvenient and uncomfortable symptoms for women after they give birth.

Your pelvic floor has just had to stretch up to three times its normal length. Still seeing a pelvic health physiotherapist in the months before giving birth can help by providing useful exercises to reduce the chances of first and second degree tears and improve recovery after delivery no matter how severe the tear. After sustaining a third fourth degree tear antibiotic treatment for a week is recommended. Direct repair of anal sphincter muscle tears is commonly performed immediately after childbirth see third and fourth degree perineal tears leaflet but sometimes this is also done later in life in women with anal incontinence.

Also follow these recommendations for caring for your pelvic floor in the year after childbirth. Pelvic floor dysfunction is the inability to control the muscles of your pelvic floor. What is pelvic rehab therapy. Having a well toned pelvic floor also enhances feeling in your vagina making sex and orgasm more satisfying sacomori and cardoso 2015.

So it s no wonder that studies show an average of 25 35 reduction in pelvic floor strength following birth. In some women the avulsion is not complete and scar tissue can bridge a partial tear but once the muscle is completely off the bone the defect usually won t heal. Regular pelvic floor exercises are recommended throughout the post natal period. During a vaginal birth your pelvic floor will experience the biggest load ever placed on it.

Stool softeners and laxatives are recommended for two weeks to make bowel movements easier.