The Open Birth Position
Explore the hidden impacts of pregnancy on pelvic health and the importance of addressing post-birth pelvic position to alleviate pain and dysfunction.
Childbirth transforms a woman’s body in profound ways, often leaving lasting changes that can go unnoticed. Consistent with what I have learned from The Institute for Birth Healing, most women who have walked into my clinic over the years come to me still in a particular pelvic orientation. Every woman I have worked with who has experienced pregnancy, regardless of age, remained in the post-birth or “open” pelvic position. Regardless of the number of years they have been postpartum, women have not successfully closed this position unless they have seen a healthcare provider who is proficient in this technique.
Symptoms of post-birth pelvic position can be any combination of the following:
Pelvic heaviness
Pelvic pressure
Bladder leakage
Back pain
Constipation
Fecal incontinence
Hip pain
SI joint pain
Pubic Symphysis pain
In theory, the bones should “return to baseline” after birth. Unfortunately, much like a dislocated shoulder, damage occurs to the muscles and structures around the dislocation. Each injury is different and has to be assessed. In the same way, each birth and birth story is different and needs to be assessed thoroughly. Unlike a shoulder dislocation, an injury which usually results in a referral to physical therapy for recovery, therapy is not a common practice for recovering after childbirth.
Illustration of the open birth position
When I first learned the process and technique to assess and then subsequently close the post-birth pelvic position, I was astonished. Every female client, whether they were two months postpartum, or 50 years postpartum, was still presenting with these pelvic changes! Their reasons for coming into therapy varied widely, including pelvic pain, leakage, or even low back pain. Regardless of the number of years passed since giving birth, or symptoms that prompted them to come in, they all presented in the post-birth pelvic position.
This change in pelvic position is the source of most of my clients' pain and dysfunction. The concept of the post-birth pelvic position is not fully recognized by every practitioner, but it is crucial to understand. This process also happens with moms who have had a c-section delivery. The concept is mind-blowing, and once it is addressed, we can resolve many symptoms.
“The concept of the post-birth pelvic position is not fully recognized by every practitioner, but it is crucial to understand.”
Let’s think again of the dislocated shoulder: the longer the shoulder is out of position, the weaker the muscles, ligaments, and tendons will be and the more likely the chance that the shoulder will dislocate again. If left out of place, the muscles and tendons will even become accustomed to the incorrect position, making it almost a new normal for the body— but a normal that is dysfunctional, painful, and affects the whole body due to its misplacement. In the case of pelvic displacement, the “new normal” can cause symptoms that drastically impact our quality of life.
To learn more, watch this video. Contact us if you have questions or concerns about any symptoms you are experiencing. This concept is relatively new in the pelvic health community and virtually unknown in other areas of medical practice. The more we can spread the word on how this can affect us long-term, we can seek help sooner!