FA M I LY
Post-Partum Care By Lauren Ellis
Once a baby is born, there is often an immediate shift in focus from mama to the little one. This can be overwhelming, as pressures about feeding and pelvic floor healing coupled with the societal pressure to grin through the discomfort often leave mothers feeling guilty and unsupported. Poor recovery, pain and exhaustion are amongst the leading causes of postpartum depression and health issues. This is where people like Lauren Ellis step in. Lauren is a physiotherapist specialising in women’s health, breastfeeding and pelvic support. Her own struggles on the journey of motherhood have shaped the way she helps others, and she is deeply passionate about supporting and empowering women in the perinatal stages. Lauren works alongside a holistic team of specialists, including lactation specialists, GPs, breast surgeons, paediatricians, CFT physiotherapists, ENTs, doulas, yoga teachers and other women’s health physiotherapists. We chat to her about a holistic approach to this time in a mother’s life…
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very woman needs a ‘Nanny McPhee’ when it comes to post-partum support. This can take many forms: someone to assist in debriefing or processing the birth; someone to listen; someone to cry with; and someone to hold your hand and tell you that everything is going to be ok.
1. What is a women’s health physiotherapist? Women’s health physiotherapists provide holistic, targeted care to help moms navigate, manage, and treat a wide variety of physical health issues that can spring up before, during and after pregnancy. 2. How do you help women during and after pregnancy? During pregnancy, I look at things like pelvic pain, skeletal pain, restless legs, incontinence, constipation and preparing for delivery. After birth, I assist with mobility, positioning, wound support, breast care (such as addressing breast hardness and lumps), as well as tear and episiotomy care. No perinatal journey is the same - some women feel hard, ‘golf ball’-like lumps in their armpits, whilst others may struggle with scar management or returning to exercise.
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