Hope For Healing: A Pregnancy And Postpartum Journey

Pregnancy and postpartum are times of great physical and emotional challenges. In the pelvic floor world, we are often guilty of emphasizing all the challenges and all the "problems" that need healing.

For women with chronic illness, these compounded challenges can be even more daunting. The added stress of pregnancy and postpartum has the potential to exacerbate symptoms and create new ones.

But what would happen if we shifted our focus to the potential for healing and change? What if we spent more time cultivating hope for healing during such a significant life transition?

A Note Of Hope In The Changes

One year postpartum from my second pregnancy, I have the advantage of hindsight, and I can confidently say that despite the challenges, there is hope! While I did not appreciate all the changes and challenges at the time, I can look back now and value how I was changed. Even through the blood, sweat, and tears, this journey can be one of growth, resilience, and hope; not just for women with chronic illness, but for everyone.

The Challenge Of Pregnancy

So often in the clinic, we are treating the challenges of pregnancy and postpartum healing; in those struggles, it can seem like our body is constantly failing us or even "falling apart". But, I like to encourage and remind women that our bodies are more resilient than we give them credit for. It can be a bit of a mental game. I'm so grateful that I invested in a healthcare team who understood my unique needs and could guide my physical body and mind through the process.

The Birth Of A New Phase

Post-birth is when I noticed the most significant changes in the way I thought about rest. When I was frustrated by all the contact naps the baby required, I learned to lean into the idea of it being protective. Having that spare time temporarily unavailable to me in those early postpartum months protected me from excessive activity. I knew I didn't win the connective tissue lottery - I knew prolapse and diastasis healing is a marathon, not the 100-meter dash. I like to remind my patients, that for the most part, you can heal at any point in time. Taking your time to rest and recover very rarely backfires in the postpartum and pelvic health world.

The Struggle Of Postpartum

Postpartum can be a tricky time for any mother - then add in chronic conditions and the pressure of social media making you think that "bouncing back" is a real or even healthy thing - it is a struggle! This is a great time to shift our training from aesthetic reasons to a train-for-function mindset. This phase can challenge our "why" of exercise. I love seeing women have that "lightbulb" moment when they realize that high-intensity, cardio-only exercise has a lot of us feeling run down and in complete adrenal fatigue. I see a lot of women only have this realization after going through pregnancy and postpartum and it can be a huge quality-of-life saving shift.

Looking Ahead To A Brighter Future

Despite the challenges, there is hope for all women, especially those with chronic illness. With the right support and management, it's not only possible to have a healthy pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period, but to be changed for the better. This can be a time of great growth and strength, both physically and emotionally. With the right mindset and resources, women can embrace this journey and look forward to a more hopeful future. The journey may be difficult and scary, but it's worth it!