How To Manage Pelvic Pain Over The Holidays

Hi friend. I’m gonna get straight up personal with you and if you don’t know me yet, allow me to introduce myself. I am Amanda Fisher, pelvic floor physical therapist with a history of pelvic floor issues from peeing my pants to pelvic organ prolapse to pelvic pain to postpartum issues from 3 cesarean deliveries.

Yes, I have experienced my fair share of pelvic floor dysfunction. Now I know it was God’s Plan for me to go through those times to help people like you.

Pelvic pain is a real thing and I can tell you first hand, I have HAD it and still HAVE IT from time to time.

After 10 years of having pelvic pain, I know what to start doing when I feel it creep back in (because let’s face it, we all get busy and fall off the bandwagon of habits we SHOULD continue because it is good for us…but I'm human too) and this time of year is the perfect time for it to come a knockin’. Who isn’t a tad bit stressed around the holidays?! Um…I think we are all raising our hands here.

So, how do I get a handle on my pelvic pain over the holidays?

First thing to do is find a pelvic floor physical therapist in person or virtually. Having a coach or a professional to chat with about your symptoms and give you support/ advice when you need it most is a MUST!! This also creates accountability for me to stay on top of my exercise regimen to kick pelvic floor symptoms.

Second, I schedule or plan out my week and month. I tend to do this on Sundays. I look at my week and plan out what days I can go to the gym (with or without my kiddos), what mornings/ evenings I can walk, and when I can do my pelvic stretches/exercises (I try daily). Writing it down in a notebook or planner makes my brain think that this is happening today and I almost never miss it IF I write it down.

Third, I get a journal and spend a few minutes EACH morning while sipping my coffee (before my kids wake up) writing five things I’m grateful for and 1-2 things I can do today for someone in my family/ friend circle and for a complete stranger. This helps re-wire the brain for positive thoughts. And we could all use a little more of this in our lives, am I right?!

Fourth, motion is lotion. The days I sit on the couch and binge watch Netflix are the days I feel worse. This could be because I am not staying hydrated, or eating more junk food, BUT mostly, it’s because I am sitting in one posture (bad) and not getting blood flow to the tissue. I have to move to feel better and you have to move to create energy and get the blood flowing. I feel so much better after working out, walking etc and then following it up with 1-3 quick pelvic floor stretches to lengthen tissue. So bundle up and get out! OR set a timer in your home and don’t stop moving until it goes off. Follow up with a happy baby stretch or a deep squat to stretch out the pelvic floor muscles.

Fifth, don’t cancel on myself!! This time of year is hectic with all the holiday parties and childhood gatherings, BUT I still make time for myself so I can continue to feel better. And you should too! It is easier to continue a habit I am doing consistently because if I stop it one day, it is much harder for me to get back on the horse and start again.

If you want more information on this or what else I am doing for pelvic floor issues, please email me amanda@empoweryourpelvis.com.

5 Important Pieces of Information About Diastasis Recti (Abdominal Separation)

Abdominal separation (Diastasis Recti) of your mid line of six-pack muscles is all the chat right now in social media.  So...I want to give you the low down on what the hype is all about.

When I first started my training with pelvic floor physical therapy, I was under the impression that a 2 finger split was considered normal.  With time, more research and growing knowledge about this topic, we now know that not to be true.  

After you read this I hope you feel more comfortable about this topic.  

5 Important Pieces of Information About Diastasis Recti (Abdominal Separation)

Fact 1 :I feel like a see 3 new sponsored posts daily on this topic.  An abdominal separation can happen to the linea alba, the connective tissue within your mid line, due to the laxity that happens from growing uterus and baby.  Try not to stress out about an abdominal separation.  It is very common among pregnant and postpartum women and very possible to heal a diastasis recti (men can have Diastasis Recti too).  A study by Diane Lee, found 100% of women have abdominal separation at 35 weeks gestation (pregnancy).  Your body is smart one and knows what it is doing.  Your belly stretches to accommodate your growing uterus and baby. The study found that by 6 months postpartum, diastasis had decreased to 35-39%.  So it is important to check in with belly every now and then to see if yours has gotten stronger.  

Fact 2: Posture and alignment are important with strengthening the gap.  Pay attention to how you are standing, lifting and carrying baby. Make sure your shoulders and ribs are stacked over pelvis to keep your torso in good alignment, which decreases pressure in your abdomen (less pressure pushing on linea alba-midline of abdomen).  Try to be mindful of how you are lifting/ carrying baby, especially when in the car seat or baby wearing. This is also a great place to start seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist so they can help you with your alignment with activities and assist you on your road to recovery.

Fact 3: Another way you can decrease the pressure in your belly is by breathing out (exhaling) when you are lifting baby.  This is great to remember when lifting baby into car, crib, picking toys up from the ground, lifting holiday decorations etc.  

Fact 4: There is NOT one exercise that will heal your abdominal separation.  There is also NOT one exercise that will ruin your abdomen.  There may be exercises that you need to avoid while you are working on strengthening your separation, but you can get back to those exercises when your body is ready.  For instance, if you are seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist, they may ask you to avoid certain core strengthening exercises, like a plank, but that doesn’t mean you will have to avoid them forever.

Fact 5:  The internet gets us caught up in the separation of our abdomen.  Is it 2 fingers wide, 3 fingers wide or more.  I tend to not get caught up on the separation split width and try to not get my patients too excited on this either.  I am more interested in the tension created between the 6 pack muscles that run from the breast bone to the pubic bone. I want my patients to improve in their “bridge” between their mid line, meaning more “taut” with activities of lifting, carrying, exercise etc.  When your tension improves, you are getting stronger!