US Postpartum Care Glaringly Trails That Of Other Developed Countries

Health experts say women in the U.S. receive less postpartum care than women in other developed countries. The inadequacy is due to the country's disparate view on pregnancy and maternal health.

US Postpartum Care Isn't At Par With Other Countries

Stephanie Prendergast, the founder of The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles, told Fox News that American women undergo a 6-week postpartum check-up and not much else. Contrastingly, women in countries like France and the Netherlands are enrolled in postpartum physical therapy so they could properly recuperate from childbirth.

"Not only do we do nothing in the U.S., but also if a woman goes to her physician, particularly her obstetrician, with these complaints after delivery it's written off as 'Well, you just had a baby,'" Prendergast lamented. "In an ideal world, everybody should have an evaluation to identify what their particular issues are and get a specialized home program."

US Mothers Encouraged To Seek Physical Therapy

New York-based physical therapist Marianne Ryan is calling on U.S. health officials to look into the matter of postpartum rehabilitation. She said American mothers tend to belittle pelvic pain. Most are even unaware that there's actually treatment for it.

With guidance from a physical therapist, mothers can have bowel movement, sans the pelvic discomfort. They can also learn how to perform regular activities without straining their abdominal muscles.

According to Modern Mom, women who recently gave birth are prone to leaking. Physical therapy is needed to help mothers control their pelvic floor muscles to prevent such embarrassing episodes.

C-Section Deliveries At Higher Risk Of Pelvic Pain

Meanwhile, mothers who had C-section deliveries are more susceptible to pelvic pain than those who had vaginal deliveries. Scarring is common in C-section mothers.

However, it may cause severe and permanent pain when left to heal on its own. The long-term effects of scarring include painful intercourse, sexual dysfunction, frequent constipation and searing back pains.

Prendergast encourages women to go see a physical therapist if they start to feel discomfort in their pelvic region. She said gynecologists aren't as trained to identify and treat pelvic or abdominal pains as physical therapists. Once the problem is identified, mothers are provided with a postpartum program which caters to their specific needs.