In this life, in addition to the pain caused by childbirth and milk engorgement to mothers, there is also a kind of pain that is "pubic symphysis separation pain".
Let's share a clinical case with you:
30-year-old Xiao He gave birth to a baby after 19 hours of childbirth. I finally gave birth to the baby, but on the first day after giving birth, when I was ready to go to the ground, I turned over and had severe pain in the thighs and pubic bones.
The doctor asked her to stay in bed, but after 2 months of bed rest, the pain improved slightly, but she still needs to be cautious when walking on the ground. At 42 days postpartum, the diagnosis of pubic symphysis separation of 16 mm was confirmed.
Image courtesy of Master Anatomy
What is symphysis pubis separation?
Symphysis pubis separation occurs due to increased hormone levels during pregnancy and postpartum, which loosens the ligaments at the pubic symphysis anterior pelvis.
Under normal circumstances, the human pubic space is 4-6 mm, and the postpartum mother will widen by 2-3 mm during pregnancy, and the pubic symphysis space is generally greater than 10 mm, which is diagnosed as pubic symphysis separation.
Postpartum mothers with pubic symphysis separation will have severe pain at the base of the thigh and pubic bone, and their activities will be significantly restricted, causing great physical and mental pain to postpartum mothers.
How to judge the degree of separation of the pubic symphysis?
According to the degree of separation of the pubic symphysis, it is divided into: mild 10-14mm, moderate 14-20mm, severe >20mm.
For mild dissociation, conservative treatment generally yields good results. If the separation is greater than 40 mm and there is pelvic instability or persistent pain, surgery is recommended.
When the pubic symphysis is separated, a pelvic belt should be worn to assist in stabilizing the pelvis, with the iliac crest on both sides as the level, surrounding the pelvis, and in the third trimester, the upper edge of the pelvic girdle is not higher than the pubic symphysis to prevent compression of the abdomen.
How to rehabilitate with pubic symphysis separation?
When the pain is much better, the postpartum mother can do the following exercises:
1. Abdominal breathing in the recumbent position
Bend your hips and knees, flatten your waist on the bed, put your hands on your sides of your abdomen, inhale through your nose, feel your abdomen slowly bulge, exhale with your mouth, feel your abdomen tighten in the middle, and do it for 5-10 minutes.
2. Adductor exercise
In the lying position, bend the hips and knees, place a yoga block at the thigh, inhale and do not move, slowly squeeze the yoga block with the thighs when exhaling, inhale and relax, 10-15 pcs/group, 3 sets.
3. Gluteal bridge
In the lying position, bend the hips and knees, place the yoga block at the knees, inhale to the abdomen, slowly raise the hips as you exhale with your mouth, and lower the hips as you inhale, 10 pcs/set, 4 sets.