When postpartum life hits, it might come with a surprise you didn’t expect: a tight-ass reality check! 🤪 Your pelvic floor, which you might have thought would be relaxed, can actually tighten up like a vault. This is especially true if you’ve experienced tears or hemorrhoids, leading to those fun anal spasms.

Understanding Postpartum Tightness

Here’s what you need to know about this unexpected tightening:

• Pelvic Floor Response: Your pelvic floor muscles can tighten up post-delivery, particularly if there’s been trauma or strain.
• Common Symptoms: You might experience tightness, discomfort, or the feeling of a knife being shoved up your ass.

Pro Tips to Help You Relax

Here’s how to manage and ease that tightness:

• Breathing Techniques: Focus on deep breathing with a “down and out” approach. Avoid just thinking “get me out of this” and instead work on relaxing those muscles.
• Child’s Pose: Incorporate this yoga pose into your routine. It’s excellent for stretching and relaxing your pelvic floor.
• Self-Massage: Use your fingers to gently apply pressure just inside your sitz bones. This can help ease muscle tension and discomfort.
• Soft Poops: Keep those poops flowing with Miralax and/or magnesium. Use a squatty potty and do not strain while having a bowel movement. We want to work to release the stool.

Seeking Professional Support

Sometimes, you need a bit more help:

• Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist: Specializes in pelvic health and can provide targeted exercises.
• Chiropractor: Offers adjustments that may relieve pelvic tightness.
• Acupuncturist: Uses acupuncture to help relax muscles and improve circulation.
• Osteopathic Physician: Provides manipulation to the tissue to relieve the tension.

Surviving One Anal Spasm at a Time

Postpartum can be challenging, and dealing with muscle spasms is just one part of the journey. Remember, you’re doing an incredible job, and there are ways to manage and ease this discomfort.

You’re not alone in this—support is available, and we’re here to help you through every step. Whether you’re planning for the postpartum period or currently navigating it, we’re here to help. Reach out to us on our contact page!

We’re here for you,

Dr. Haggerty