Postnatal Archives - Bloom Integrative Health & Movement Centre

Group Physiotherapy: An Effective and Affordable Alternative to Individual Care

Applied Pelvic Health, Exercise, Female Anatomy, Integrative Health, It's Not TMI, Pain, Physiotherapy, Postnatal, Prenatal, Prolapse, Wellness / By Andrea Plitz PT RYT

Physiotherapy is an essential component of quality healthcare that helps individuals recover from injuries and chronic conditions, improves mobility, and promotes overall well-being. While individualised physiotherapy assessment and treatment are required at the outset of a treatment plan, lack of alternative options may be limiting the success for many. Group physiotherapy, as an alternative, has …

Group Physiotherapy: An Effective and Affordable Alternative to Individual Care Read More »

Two people do yoga, stretching their arms to the sky

Yoga Therapy

Breath Work, Exercise, fertility, Integrative Health, Pain, Postnatal, Prenatal, Wellness / By Andrea Plitz PT RYT

What is yoga therapy and how is it different from a regular yoga class? Yoga is a unique discipline that can be used to address trauma.

Diastasis Rectus Abdominis: DRA Part 2

Applied Pelvic Health, Athletes, Exercise, Female Anatomy, Postnatal / By Andrea Plitz PT RYT

What is DRA? Although very common after pregnancy, the stretching of the abdominal muscles can affect women and men of all ages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Applied Pelvic Health, Female Anatomy, fertility, Incontinence, Menopause, Physiotherapy, Postnatal, Prenatal, Prolapse, Wellness / By Andrea Plitz PT RYT

What can you expect at your first pelvic floor visit? What is an internal exam? What is pelvic floor therapy? The Bloom team answers your burning questions!

A plus-size woman smiles at the camera and shows off her abdomen

Diastasis Rectus Abdominis: DRA – What Is It?

Applied Pelvic Health, Athletes, Exercise, Female Anatomy, Postnatal / By Andrea Plitz PT RYT

What is DRA? Although very common after pregnancy, the stretching of the abdominal muscles can affect women and men of all ages.

Postpartum Thyroid Health: An often overlooked contribution to fatigue and other “normal” concerns

Integrative Health, Natural Medicine, Nutrition, Postnatal, Wellness / By Dr. Laura Smith ND

In the whirlwind of postpartum, changing bodies and new symptoms get overlooked or inappropriately labelled as “just normal”. While the focus is mostly on babe, Mom’s concerns can get ignored or trivialized. My first real experience of this was when A.G., a new mama to a five month old babe, came to see me. She …

Postpartum Thyroid Health: An often overlooked contribution to fatigue and other “normal” concerns Read More »

Telerehabilitation for Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy. Really?

Applied Pelvic Health, Breath Work, Integrative Health, Physiotherapy, Postnatal, Prenatal, Telehealth, Wellness / By Andrea Plitz PT RYT

As we attempt to provide care in a unique and safe way, in the form of Telerehabilitation, there can be a sense of loss or comparison against what we are used to. This makes sense as we are creatures of habit and Physiotherapy is traditionally quite physically and hands on based. However, there are many …

Telerehabilitation for Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy. Really? Read More »

Physiotherapy after a Cesarean Birth

Applied Pelvic Health, Athletes, Exercise, Female Anatomy, Incontinence, Integrative Health, Pain, Physiotherapy, Postnatal, Wellness / By Lisa Flanders PT

One of the most common myths I hear as a Women’s and Pelvic Health Physiotherapist is that women who have experienced a cesarean birth do not need pelvic floor physiotherapy as their pelvic floor “was not affected”. On the contrary, I HIGHLY recommend seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist minimum 6 weeks postpartum regardless of whether you’ve experienced a vaginal or cesarean birth.

5 Minute Movements: Stability Junkie

1 Comment / Athletes, Exercise, Integrative Health, Postnatal, Video, Wellness / By Kerri Morrison McCabe

How many of you think you don’t have time to exercise? This is something we hear time and time again from our clients, especially new mama’s. Exercise does not have to be hours long to be effective, nor do you need fancy equipment. What is most important is consistency, which builds up over time. Stability is important during movement.

It’s Not TMI: Personal Lubricants

Female Anatomy, fertility, Integrative Health, It's Not TMI, Menopause, Pain, Postnatal, Video / By Lisa Flanders PT

Let’s talk about personal lubricant. Lubricant is great for reducing vaginal dryness, which is highly necessary in the early post-partum period or with menopause. Lubricants come in a variety of forms, the most common being water-based options, followed by silicone and oil-based varieties. Choosing the type of lubricant that works best for you is primarily …

It’s Not TMI: Personal Lubricants Read More »

Toileting after Birth: Reduce Pain & Fear

Digestion, Pain, Postnatal, Prolapse, Wellness / By Sarah Trottier PT

Toileting after birth and post-birth poops – lots of moms fear this after giving birth. Childbirth is hard on your body (it’s called labour for a reason). Regardless of whether you have experienced a vaginal birth or cesarean birth, that first post-partum poop can be scary and something a lot of women try to avoid. …

Toileting after Birth: Reduce Pain & Fear Read More »

Decrease Stress through Breath to Support your Nervous System

Applied Pelvic Health, Athletes, Breath Work, Integrative Health, Pain, Physiotherapy, Postnatal, Prenatal, Teens, Video, Wellness / By Andrea Plitz PT RYT

You have probably heard of the “fight or flight” response, this is our body’s defence mechanism
against threats and stress, called the sympathetic nervous system. This response is necessary
when we are in threatening situation and is what is responsible for the stories you hear about a
mother who lifts a car of her child or the man who fights off a grizzly bear in the woods, it’s also
what is responsible for the butterflies in your stomach before a big presentation.

Breastfeeding Positions That Protect Your Body from Injury

Pain, Postnatal / By Sarah Trottier PT

Back pain is common during pregnancy – but can also affect a lot of moms after birth, especially with increase in demands on the body. A good example of an activity that can frequently cause aches and pains after birth is breastfeeding a baby. By utilizing proper breastfeeding positions and optimal body mechanics, these following …

Breastfeeding Positions That Protect Your Body from Injury Read More »

Four Common Postpartum Concerns: Not Always Normal

Integrative Health, Postnatal / By Dr. Laura Smith ND

While there are common things to expect from your recovering body postnatally, there is a fine line between that and what could be an underlying imbalance or concern that might require intervention sooner rather than later. Dr. Laura outlines 4 common postpartum concerns that may required deeper investigation and/or treatment.

Enhance Your Breath & Support your Abdomen and Pelvic Floor by Opening Your Ribcage

Applied Pelvic Health, Breath Work, Digestion, Incontinence, Integrative Health, Pain, Physiotherapy, Postnatal, Prenatal, Prolapse, Wellness / By Andrea Plitz PT RYT

The ribcage is intricately connected to the abdomen and pelvic floor. Optimize your ribcage mobility through these 3 basic yoga poses to enhance abdominal and pelvic floor function – including leaking pee!

Birthing from Within: A “birth class” with a twist

Integrative Health, Postnatal, Prenatal, Wellness / By Andrea Plitz PT RYT

Birthing is more than just the physical – Birthing From Within offers a birth class focused on assisting parents to become more resourceful, comfortable and confident in themselves on their journey in becoming parents.

Jennifer brings a unique perspective to her support of families during this time. Join her this January in person for a 2 part series.

Reduce Back Pain by Optimizing Posture during Pregnancy

Female Anatomy, Integrative Health, Pain, Physiotherapy, Postnatal, Prenatal, Video / By Sarah Trottier PT

Back pain is common during pregnancy and the postpartum period for many different reasons. Try these basic postural tips to assist with your basic core coordination and to limit back pain both prenatally and postnatally.

Breath & the Pelvic Floor: Basic 360 Breath

1 Comment / Applied Pelvic Health, Breath Work, Digestion, Incontinence, Integrative Health, Pain, Postnatal, Prenatal, Prolapse / By Andrea Plitz PT RYT

Join Andrea Plitz, Physiotherapist & Yoga Teacher as she takes you through the basic of the breath and how it relates not only to pelvic floor but the core in general. Episode 1 of her 8 part Breath Work Series.

What Postpartum Plans Should I Be Making? Recommendations from a Naturopath

Integrative Health, Postnatal, Wellness / By Dr. Laura Smith ND

While you get a lot of unsolicited advice during pregnancy, don’t miss out on Dr. Laura’s top 3 things you can do now to make your future postpartum self’s life easier, healthier, and less stressful.

Postnatal Tips with Sarah Trottier: Lifting and Carrying Your Baby’s Car Seat

Integrative Health, Postnatal, Video / By Sarah Trottier PT

To all the new and expecting moms (and dads) out there. It’s estimated that two-thirds of new
moms experience low back pain, often attributed to heavy work, including lifting, carrying and
breastfeeding your new bundle of joy and love. Caring for your newborn is a lot of work (filled with a lot of reward), be kind to your own body too!

Path of the Breath: Optimize Pressures to Limit Urinary Leakage

Applied Pelvic Health, Athletes, Breath Work, Exercise, Incontinence, Integrative Health, Physiotherapy, Postnatal, Video / By Andrea Plitz PT RYT

Consciously connecting to pelvic floor just before and holding it during a cough or sneeze (aka “the knack”) can be a very helpful and functional way to limit urine leakage. However, we also need to think about and manage pressures above – especially if “kegeling” is not working for you. Check out this video to assist your pelvic floor even more with this simple breath awareness technique.