Move like a Mom

After delivering twins via C-section, Katherine benefited from postpartum physical therapy (PT) at StoneSprings Hospital. “Aparna, my physical therapist, showed me the best ways to get up. I was feeling very overwhelmed, and she explained what to expect with my mobility and how to move more comfortably.”

Giving birth, particularly by C-section, can leave new moms struggling to move naturally, recover fully, and care for their babies. The focus on pregnancy and the birth experience often means women, especially those who have had a Cesarean birth, have no idea what to expect when caring for themselves after surgery.

Postpartum physical therapy can play a unique role in helping new mothers with functional mobility. The inpatient StoneSprings program not only teaches women how to move safely but also how to care for their bodies during recovery and care for their newborns despite limitations.

Katherine’s twins were breech, necessitating a C-section delivery. “My birth experience went very smoothly,” said Katherine. “I arrived a day earlier than expected, yet everyone was ready and well prepared. The doctor and nurses allayed my fears of a c-section by explaining everything.”

“We felt like we were in good hands, and every aspect of our experience was great. The nurses were caring and compassionate. Unlike other hospitals, they took time to explain everything to me and reassure me that not everyone is the same and that I was doing well,” she added.

Offering physical therapy postpartum is virtually unheard of in the hospital setting. Often, women are only offered physical therapy at their six-week postpartum checkup if they have experienced complications. An inpatient PT consult equips women with practical knowledge right when it’s needed and empowers them to advocate for themselves if something seems unusual.

At StongSprings, a postpartum PT consult is standard within the first 24-48 hours after a C-section or complicated vaginal delivery. Consults may also be offered after standard vaginal deliveries if the new mom has questions about physical recovery. The postpartum PT program began in 2022, benefitting 285 patients. Last year, that number grew to 310 patients, and this year, the program hopes to reach 520 patients. The hospital hopes to initiate an outpatient program to expand PT services to patients before they give birth and as an option after delivery.

“I am very passionate about maternal health care. Having a Physical Therapist work with patients after delivery, especially if they have a C-section, is so important! A C-section is a major abdominal surgery, and moms should be given all the resources and support to be able to take care of themselves and their babies before they go home,” explains Sadaf Yamin, ​Rehabilitation Services Coordinator for StoneSprings Hospital.

She continues, “Our program is a bit of a rarity, and our patients are so appreciative of the education and services we provide. Our goal is to capture the best practices of the StoneSprings program and bring them to other HCA hospitals. We want to see PT become the standard of care after delivery.”

Learn more about StoneSprings Maternal Care services