New moms have undergone the hardship of labor and deleviring a baby. However, even after following advice from health care providers, and researching postpartum tips, many women aren’t prepared for the sudden changes in their bodies.

Some Los Angeles County clinics and hospitals provide many resources, and help with postpartum issues such as emotional and mental health therapy, and lactation and breastfeeding resources. But when it comes to the mom’s postpartum body, the topic should be discussed more amongst healthcare providers.“A lot of moms just have no idea that that's even a thing,” said Dr.Kathryn Havens, a USC researcher on perinatal health. She said, “there are public health therapists, like a lot of women who just don't know that it even exists.”

Women’s pelvic bones go through significant change due to weight gain, increasing the muscular demand and stretching certain muscles. These changes can lead to a decrease in core stability, lower back pain as well other musculoskeletal injuries.

Kaiser Permanente

Many women might not know their symptoms of the change in their pelvic bone, rib cage and tailbone. For example, a damaged pelvic bone can cause urine leakage or pain when walking or sitting. With a damaged tailbone mother’s tend to feel an aching or tenderness in the lower back and the pain can get worse from sitting or standing for a long period of time. At times the symptoms tend to be normalized by health care providers.

According to a clinical examination on women with pelvic joint syndrome, which shows a difference in inflammation and tenderness in the muscles and as well in the ligaments on the pelvic and tailbone before and after pregnancy. According to the National Library of Medicine, a 2021 study found that nearly 20% of women who deliver vaginally will experience an injury to their pelvic bone.

When women find out they’re pregnant, those who have healthcare become accustomed to weekly check-ups with their OBGYN, doula or midwife to check on the growth of the baby and prepare for delivery. However, many are surprised when they learn that after having the baby, they are not seen by health providers until their six to eight week checkup and after that never again.

Rebecca Guerrero, a mother of two, gave birth to her daughters two years apart at Kaiser Permanente hospital in the city of Downey. Guerrero feels that health care providers should talk about these things with moms.“After women give birth, I feel like it's mostly focused on the baby which is important,” she said. “But I do feel like women get neglected a little after they give birth.”

Guerrero said she had tailbone pain after her first birth and believed it was normal, but after her second birth the pain was extreme.

“I had a lot of abnormal cramping, and I just figured that was normal because they do tell you after birth one is going to start cramping but sometimes I feel like my second pregnancy it lasted a little longer,” said Guerrero. She continues to explain that she feels that the topic of helping women fix their stretched and different bodies after pregnancy isn’t really talked about.

Since healthcare providers tend to see mothers during the six to eight week postpartum checkup, most women are unaware of the changes their body can experience within a few months which can cause long-term problems.

Dr. Havens mentions that there is evidence that mothers’ bodies don't return to what it was during pre-pregnancy. She also said “there's these very long, lasting changes in a woman’s body after pregnancy and I think that it's helpful to address the issue of transitioning from a pregnant body to a postpartum body.”

She went on to express that mothers with this issue are generally underrepresented in some healthcare systems and a policy should be in place, if not mandatory, at least that physicians were to talk to moms about the opportunity to go with physical therapy.

In 2022, a bill was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by congresswoman Jaime Herrera Beutler and Lisa Blunt Rochester for postpartum pelvic floor physical therapy.

The California Assembly Bill 1904, would require all state-regulated health insurance, including Medi-Cal managed care , to cover pelvic floor physical therapy after pregnancy. This type of therapy is a vital part of recovery during postpartum.

It will help cover or provide a waiver for pelvic health service under State plans for postpartum women and as well for any other service.

With the physical therapy it can aid muscle control, tissue repair, and help heal internal portions of cesarean section (c-section) scars. According to the American Physical Therapy Association, some health care providers may not understand the importance of the therapy women need after giving birth.

The bill could posibly raise both provider and mothers awareness of the importance of examination and physcil therapy they need. However, some mothers are finding their own way of fixing the issue themselves.

A few mothers have started their own training program through social media and helping new mothers to help fix the open pelvic bone or stretched rib cage. For example, some postnatal trainer influencers such as Yulisa Mendez and Annie Ramage created a platform on instagram to help and guide moms how to start their healing journey.

Zaria Francis, a certified pre/postnatal exercise specialist and also a mom stated that during her first pregnancy she suffered from extreme hyperemesis gravidarum, which is an extreme morning sickness that caused her to be hospitalized several times. According to Francis, she lost 30-40 lbs and her organs shut down. Due to her body experiencing so much in little time she went through pregnancy loss.

Francis said, “After having such a traumatic experience, my body was unrecognizable and so weak. This resulted in me slowly getting back into fitness but fitness was so foreign to me. I began to do research on the postpartum body and the changes. During my second pregnancy, I decided to take up a pre/postnatal certification because I knew I wanted to help other moms. I never knew the toll pregnancy could take on a body and it was so hard to find real, solid information on pre/postnatal fitness.”

Francis said that there isn't real education on some of the effects women have during postpartum and can be fixed with core rehabilitation and pelvic floor therapy. “If more mothers knew that these things were common but not normal and can be fixed, I think more mothers would speak up about their bodies.”

Adjusting to being a mom with a postpartum body and being responsible for a little human can change one’s accustomed life pattern and it can also make a significant impact on wellbeing and mood. But moms shouldn’t feel like there is nothing they can do.

Every woman experiences different issues during postpartum. Francis said that moms should speak up. “I want moms and women in general to know the importance of taking your health into your own hands,” she said. “Healthcare providers are very much needed in society, and I respect the ones who are genuinely there for us. However, you know your body better than anyone else and you have to speak up.”

Dez Jimenez's insight on her postpartum body

Dez Jimenez, seen here with her 1-year-old son, discusses how her body changed after pregnancy. While she did not mind being interviewed, Jimenez preferred that her face not be shown. (Photo Courtesy of Dez Jimenez)