Postpartum symphysis pubis diastasis?

Postpartum symphysis pubis diastasis (PSPD) is a condition that comes with the joy of childbirth, like dealing with sty diapers and sleepless nights. While it may not be as talked about as other postnatal diseases, PSPD can cause severe pain in your pelvic region and make normal activities difficult.

In this article, we will explore what exactly PSPD is, why it happens during pregnancy, how you get diagnosed and treated for it, and most importantly—how to avoid it so you don’t end up feeling like Humpty Mompty. So grab a cup of coffee (or wine) and let’s waddle through all things related to postpartum symphysis pubis diastasis.

What Is Postpartum Symphysis Pubis Diastasis?

When you were pregnant didn’t the baby kick the hell out of your pelvis? Like some tiny version of Bruce Lee was trying to escape from within? That’s because your expanding uterus put extra pressure on your pelvis which was designed by evolution somewhere between ’Meh’ & ‘Useful for walking’. Congratulations! You’ve been body-stimulated!

The semicircular bones that form our pelvic floor are held together at the front by cartilage called symphysis pubic joint. It stretches naturally throughout pregnancy to help accommodate birth, allowing heads or tentacles-as-some-parents-call-them (aka babies), safe passage through birth canal (also known as The Abyss).

Postpartum symphysis pubis diastasis occurs when there’s an overstretching or separation of these two halves beyond their limits – causing them separate more than intended – leading to something similar- but more expensive looking injury compared with one experienced while streaking drunk after winning your intramural co-ed softball team championship.

Finding the Symptoms of PSPD

Do you feel like all your bones are coming apart, except where you wish they would (abdomen)? Have you experienced difficulty walking or a feeling like there is something ‘stuck’? Or maybe one day while getting out of bed, it felt like someone divided your pelvis with a sledgehammer and then re-pieced it in the wrong sequence?

These could be signs that PSPD has taken over your body. But don’t worry, if detected early enough there’s hope-or if not – consolation prizes such as wheelchair racing become much more rewarding.

Other symptoms include:

• Pain during activities which require hip movement
• An unsteady gait
• Groin pain
• Difficulty climbing stairs.

Pretty much anything requiring movements of legs wider than six-inch social distancing norms can cause immense pain too.

Do yourself a favor & don’t Google images for this condition right now…trust me!

Why do I get PSBD After Childbirth?

The answer is pretty simple! Like how we stressfully prepare for board exams; our bodies undergo significant changes to prepare us to welcome our precious little eggplants into the world. During pregnancy, there’s an excessive production of hormones such as estrogen and relaxin that help soft tissue in cervix stretch/breaks down before delivery (they do nothing about cleaning/organizing/labeling nursery furniture though!)
But here comes the scientific part – Relaxin also loosens up pelvic ligaments— so baby had space to exit groundside essentially creating their own version of ‘Hotel California.’ Not only does this make childbirth possible but potentially life-threatening events manageable … at least from mother nature’s perspective

This relaxation is essential when giving birth but can lead to PSDP in some women because after birth,’ chill-out’ hormone levels drop back causing muscles to contract but the stretched and weakened ligaments remain. True to form, they do this in the most inconvenient of places- pelvis.

Who Gets Postpartum Symphysis Pubis Diastasis?

There are multiple factors that contribute to PSDP according to research (that is usually ignored by doctors who’ll just say ‘Oh, it’s childbirth pain…It’ll go away on its own’):

• Carrying heavy weights during pregnancy, maybe grocery bags full of lime ice cream?
• Poor posture while sitting, like slouching lethargically for Netflix marathons.
• Inadequate nutrients or vitamin deficiencies 👎
  Although needs more research indicating if consuming unlimited popcorn affects symphysis pubic joint deformation as well.

Women with previous pregnancies have higher chances of getting PSPD too. That means you get a double risk in case there is/are offspring before your new gift comes around along with no-sleep nights and diaper changes!

How Do You Treat Postpartum Symphysis Pubis Diastasis?

The good news is postnatal physiotherapy treatment can help bring relief from the debilitating pelvic floor destruction that’s trying so hard to ruin your day! Some options include:

Pelvic Floor Exercises

Pelvic floor exercises involve repetitive squeezing & relaxing muscles located in the pelvic area 💪.By coordinating these contractions/twits movements – it will strengthen and give stability around symphysis pubic joint region essentially making things cozy again after being rudely evicted recently.

It’s like building a Velcro wall inside yourself where corset belts used after cesarean/c-section helps better aid healing/restoration

Remember not everyone should do Kegels; consult an expert since doing them wrongly can lead to even MORE problems than they solve😒

Bed Rest

Yes mommies!! Bed rest!! Doctors may suggest short-term bed rest for you to alleviate symptoms that push your pelvis further apart, yet stopping short of just making juggling a full-time life. A few days off work around this same time can be beneficial too-along with ‘Netflix and Chill’.

Hot or Cold Therapy

Placing an ice pack/cold compress over the affected area can help you make taking another bath in Epsom salts a distant memory, Or even warm baths (safely entering and leaving; suggesting slippers instead of slippery surfaces) & hot therapy pads may ease symphysis pubic joint pain.

Medications

In some cases where there’s significant pain pain-relief options such as Tylenol/Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs may be prescribed—but should only be taken after consulting your doctor about what kind of medication is safe.

If considering self-diagnosis using online pharmacies – please keep away from those cheap party pills combined with non-prescription medication! You don’t want to trade one pelvic floor problem for multiple organ failures.

Devices for PSPD Relief:

• Binding/Belly Belts: These are compression garments worn like corsets post-childbirth which help stabilize joints/lower back by wrapping around them/it!
• Butchers Schantz Epstein(👀😱):All right everyone take note..this device was invented in 1907.literally ages ago – imagine giving birth when nine months pregnant during prohibition era…no thank you anything half decent involves restraint/Fittingly named ‘the sacroiliac brace’, , these devices work to pulls up on the hips while simultaneously pushing down on the stomach spaces.
  Well anyways it’s made out leather straps/chains/nails/ hemp rope(it’s said imagination construction creativity had no bounds). Almost like wearing medieval armor, they could’ve avoided any cases of PTSD in past childbirth by replacing epidurals/spinals with amazing butchers-schantz-epstein belts instead.
  I mean if it isn’t invented to help save the humans, then why make it at all?

How to Prevent Postpartum Symphysis Pubis Diastasis

A great idea should be for women who are planning on getting pregnant soon (or have children) and concerned about PSPD is incorporating exercises that target pelvic floor muscles into their routine.
Also avoid stair climbing ,avoid standing/lifting heavy objects/poor posture while seated…basically anything unnecessary! Physiotherapists could recommend core-strengthening exercises or specific yoga techniques maybe even some pole-dancing tutorials as a means of keeping everything under control down there.

And listen up everyone – you’re not Miss Universe prepping but Kegel balls do help, inducing vaginal palpations??(we’re sure you’ve done so during your recesses in middle school!) since they manually strenghten weakend pelvic floor muscles A close alternative-yoga block clenches can probably provide similar strengthening benefits too!

In conclusion

Postpartum symphysis pubis diastasis is something no one talks about but affects moms more often than we’d like. It doesn’t define us ⁠— does an eight-hour shift with six kids complaining about their toys? 😝Nevertheless – awareness, recognition & prevention before childbirth always works out better than physical therapy after labor will ever do. So stay safe l=^(o•.• )=7 – till next time!