Postpartum recovery

When all eyes are on your new baby, our eyes are on you. Postpartum care at Penn Medicine focuses specifically on supporting new parents after delivery. Our highly trained urogynecologists, mental health professionals, and physical therapists offer care for every aspect of your recovery.

You have access to multidisciplinary care, including surgical and non-surgical treatments for medical conditions, mental health support, and pelvic floor physical therapy. We have skilled providers across all specialties that care for all your needs.

Physical healing after childbirth

If you experience pelvic conditions or injuries during delivery, our skilled urogynecology specialists provide effective treatment. These doctors have fellowship training in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. They focus on helping you regain your pelvic health and quality of life.

Urogynecologic postpartum care at Penn Medicine includes:

• Advanced wound care for complex vaginal tears that occur during childbirth
• Comprehensive urinary incontinence and bowel incontinence treatments and therapies
• Self-care techniques to treat wounds at home and reduce scar tissue
• Surgical care to repair tears, remove scar tissue, or treat pelvic organ prolapse

Postpartum physical therapy

Pregnancy and delivery can weaken or injure your pelvic floor, a network of muscles and tissue that supports your reproductive organs. The pelvic health specialists at Penn Medicine offer pelvic floor support services, including outpatient rehabilitation therapy.

Our physical therapists provide a range of treatments to heal and strengthen your pelvic muscles. They’ll build a customized care plan that may include pelvic floor exercises, soft-tissue release techniques, and pelvic alignment and muscle energy therapy. You’ll also learn about self-care techniques and dietary changes that can improve your pelvic health.

Emotional support after childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth, and the hormonal changes they bring, can lead to emotional challenges. If you feel overwhelmed or experience sadness, anxiety, or depression after giving birth, it’s not your fault. Conditions like postpartum depression are common and treatable.

We offer compassionate support for your mental and emotional health. Our psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and nurses specialize in treating mood changes following childbirth. Our services and treatment options include:

• Customized therapy plans: Each person experiences postpartum emotions differently. Our team creates a personalized care plan that addresses your unique needs. Treatment may include cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy, or other therapy options.
• Medications: We may recommend medications to treat mood disorders. If you’re breastfeeding, our providers will discuss which medications are safe for you and your baby.
• Mental health screenings: We assess your mental health in the hospital after delivery and during postpartum exams. Our goal is to detect potential emotional challenges early so we can help you feel better quickly.

We understand it can be difficult to get to in-person appointments when you have a newborn at home. For your convenience, we also offer telehealth appointments.

Pelvic conditions affect many people after pregnancy and childbirth, causing discomfort and impacting daily life. The urogynecology team at Penn Medicine actively participates in clinical research to improve care for these disorders.

Thanks to our commitment to research and innovation, we receive referrals from people nationwide for help when other treatments fail.