Do you feel uncomfortable when sitting down, like you are on top of a tiny bump? One of the explanations could be that your womb or uterus dropping or sliding down due to your weakened pelvic floor muscles (in your situation, possibly from bearing a baby). This is a fairly common condition among mothers who have given birth.
The symptoms you could be experiencing may range from something as indistinct as low-back pain and difficulty or constant urge to urinate to the most obvious one which is the visibility of the dropping womb at your vaginal opening.
In case you are still unsure, it is always a good idea to get yourself checked by your doctor who can schedule a pelvic exam for you. If you do in fact have a dropping womb, your doctor might put you on medications, suggest using a pessary, a supportive device in your vaginal canal, or recommend getting surgery. Prefer non-medical and nonsurgical solutions? Fortunately, there are many simpler ways you can opt for to reposition your womb back to where it belongs, so read up!
1) Exercise Your Pelvic Muscles
Ignore the word ‘exercise’ as this is quite possibly the easiest thing you could practice on a daily basis – the Kegel exercise. In sitting or lying down position, tighten your pelvic muscles, as if trying to stop the flow of urine. Keep it tightened for 3 to 5 seconds, and then relax for the next 3 to 5 seconds. Repeat the steps 10 times. You may do this thrice a day; in the morning, afternoon, and evening. This exercise will keep your bowel movements in control and at the same time strengthen your pelvic floor muscles to hold the uterus in place.
2) Do Less
Not everything you do can be handled by your exhausted pelvic floor. If you immediately start doing chores and helping around the house, you could unintentionally encourage the falling of your womb. Specifically, avoid lifting heavy items. Lifting heavy weight can place stress on muscles and in turn weaken the structures around your pelvic organs, causing your uterus to slide down. Instead, ask for a hand. I’m sure your loved ones would not mind picking up that luggage at the front to your room considering what you are going through. Do not put a strain on your body to the point that even if you feel a cough coming, get it treated before it worsens.
3) Consume Herbs
Various herbal remedies are proven to work in strengthening and toning the pelvic muscles, which are the muscles working to grip your uterus. They can be added to your food or taken in the forms of supplement or tea. Several herbs you could easily find include motherwort, horsetail, golden lock, and others. Red raspberry leaf, for example, has long been consumed as a uterine tonic. It works to get your uterus back to its normal state, reduce swelling and excessive bleeding, and revive the muscles around your uterus. Some spa treatment that offers services to postnatal mums provide herbal tea in their packages so you may look that up as well. Keep in mind that you should always seek your doctor or a nutritionist’s approval before taking any oral supplements.
4) Plan Your Daily Meals
Apart from drinking plenty of fluids, you should also increase your intake of high-fiber foods such as fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain cereals. Incorporating foods that contain vitamin D like eggs and oily fish into your diet could also treat your weak pelvic floor. Several things these will do are speeding up womb recovery, helping you lose weight, and preventing constipation. The main purpose here is to reduce any kind of overexerting upon your body. If you are too occupied with the little bundle of joy to plan what to include in your meals, leave it to the hands of those who know better. It could be a nutritionist, your mum, or grandmother who had gone through the same thing, or even better, a chef that prepares confinement meals.
5) Get a Massage
Massaging your abdomen will help the uterus contract and return to its previous shape. Learn the right way to massage your whole body as well. This not only helps in your womb recovery, but also boosts lactation, improves blood circulation, and helps slim you down. Your womb is not the only one getting back to its pre-pregnancy state – your body is too! If you are uncertain of the correct ways to massage your body, the next best thing to go to a professional who can perform postnatal or womb massage on you. Even better, get a home-based professional massage service that does not require you to go out. Reach out to certified and trained massage therapists who can tend to your body needs.
All in all, your baby is not the only needing extra care and attention. You as the mother especially need to stay in the pink of health to be able to take care of your baby. The womb is an especially important organ in a woman’s body. Hence, you should continue to practise uterus care after delivery. We hope your postnatal journey goes as easy as it can be and you will recover smoothly!
