Pelvic Floor Tear After 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.

Pelvic floor tear after birth.

10 in some women levator avulsion occurs on both sides and there is even less pelvic floor support. 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. 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. Imaging after childbirth shows that once the muscle is pulled off the bone it shrinks and pulls back towards the back passage.

Direct repair of tears to the pelvic floor muscle is in its infancy and only offered in the context of research studies. Your pelvic floor is the group of muscles and ligaments in your pelvic region the pelvic floor acts like a. 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. Having a well toned pelvic floor also enhances feeling in your vagina making sex and orgasm more satisfying sacomori and cardoso 2015.

Pelvic rehabilitation is a type of physical therapy that can be very helpful for postpartum moms. What is pelvic rehab therapy. Pelvic floor dysfunction is the inability to control the muscles of your pelvic floor. Also follow these recommendations for caring for your pelvic floor in the year after childbirth.

Daily pelvic floor exercises help you to regain control of your bladder and bowel after your baby s birth macarthur and ismail 2014. After your pelvic floor strength and healing has been assessed at your six week checkup you can start to increase the intensity of those exercises. During a vaginal birth your pelvic floor will experience the biggest load ever placed on it. Your pelvic floor has just had to stretch up to three times its normal length.

So it s no wonder that studies show an average of 25 35 reduction in pelvic floor strength following birth. 2 in the first vaginal birth as many as seven out of ten women will experience some tearing of the perineum. Regular pelvic floor exercises are recommended throughout the post natal period. This is not surprising after all a large proportion of women who attempted to give birth naturally are affected.

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