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Yuka Polovina, PhD, MPH

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Mama on the Mend

All about postpartum women, minutes to years after giving birth. Keeping it real and body positive.

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Dissertation

“Playing the Games: Diasporic Identity, Athletic Entrepreneurialism, and Elodie Li Yuk Lo’s Journey to the Olympics”

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Couldn’t have said it better. There’s like this badge of honor or some crap like that when women do everything and burn out. I’d also add to this quote “mothers are expected to bounce back as if a human being was never grown in her body.” #mamaonthemend #postpartum #postpartumhealth #postpartumdepression #ppd #womenshealth #leanthefuckout #secondshift #motherhood #repost @research4moms
I had several stitches from giving birth. They turned into scars, and bumpy granulation that I eventually had to remove. Even after removing the granulation, the skin at and around the scar didn't feel right. It was tight, stretched out, and irritated for almost a year. This scar was hidden between my legs (perineum to be exact) and believe, I avoided riding bikes that first year postpartum! . . Plenty women have scars after childbirth. About a third of US women have c-sections. That's major abdominal surgery. But among us who are left with childbirth scars how many received instructions for scar care? Yeah, me neither. . . Isn't it amazing that someone with minimally invasive knee surgery more commonly gets referrals to physical therapy and instructions on mobilizing scar tissue than postpartum women who've have a human being exit her body!! Just sayin' here. . . Did you have scars from childbirth? How did they heal? Anyone give you instructions for scar care? . . Check bio for new post on scar care. . . . . . . . #mamaonthemend #postpartumhealing #postpartumcare #postpartumscars #postpartumhealth #postpartumphysicaltherapy #pelvicphysicaltheraphy #pelvicphysiotherapy #cesarean #csection #episiotomy #perinealtear #perinealscar #pregnancy #postpartumbody #childbirth #laboranddelivery #postpartumPT
TRUTH! #repost @postpartum_realtalk @reblossom
Yes, it's been over three years since giving birth, but I STILL have lingering pelvic floor issues. They're minor compare to that initial WTF phase soon after giving birth. I still leak a little if my bladder is full and I go for a run or sneeze. I want to feel stronger in my core when I pick up my son. My breathing mechanics are off causing more pressure on my pelvic floor, which still tightens up once in a while. This is a long way away from the days when I couldn't hold poop in standing in a checkout line at Target. That said, I'm determined to feel my best, even if the road is longer than I anticipated. How about you? Do you have lingering issues from giving birth? What has your journey to healing been like? . . . . . . . . . . #mamaonthemend #postpartum #postpartumjourney #postpartumhealth #postpartumhealing #pelvichealth #pelvichealing #pelvicphysicaltherapy #pelvicphysiotherapy #postpartumbody #postpartumhelp #pregnancy #mombod #mombody #sharingiscaring #postpartumwellness #pelvichealing #womenshealth #postpartumrehab #postpartumexercise #pelvicfloor #pelvicfloorexercise #pelviclove
So this is me preparing for a big oral exam for grad school. I was about 3 months postpartum. I was definitely worried about the exam, but to be honest I was WAAAAY more worried about something else. Something quite embarrassing that happens to so many postpartum moms, but no one talks about. My biggest worry was that I was going to crap myself in front of my committee. I wasn't sure if I'd be able to hold in my poop for the full 2.5 hours I was scheduled. I had a really tough delivery (7 hours of pushing) and 3rd degree tearing, so yeah, I had incontinence of all kinds (urine, gas, fecal). The first month after giving birth I didn't go out much and when I did, I carried extra clothes (for me) and wore adult diapers in social situations. The next two months the incontinence got better but I also made sure to down some caffeine and poop it all out in the morning. On days that I couldn't manage that, I knew I only had 5-10 minutes to get to a bathroom. I share this embarrassing story because I wish more people talked about this with me. I felt alone and ashamed. I also didn't realize I could have done a lot to help my pelvic floor soon after giving birth. I'm happy to say, I don't have these issues anymore, but it took a lot of work with my PTs. And I'm not 100% out of the woods yet, but there's so much more hope and light. . . . . . . #mamaonthemend #postpartum #postpartumbod #postpartumpt #pelvicphysicaltherapy #pelvicphysiotherapy #postpartumhealing #pregnancy #delivery #thirddegreetear #incontinence #fecalincontinence #adultdiapers
@mommyberrieshealth is having a hard time promoting this important video because it has the word VAGINA in it. That’s bullshit IMO. Why can’t we use anatomically correct language to describe one of the body parts that brings life!!!!!!??? Please share and comment!! I personally avoid “cutesy” or euphemistic terms to describe ALL body parts with my toddler. What did you call your anatomy and genitalia growing up? What do you call them now with your kids?
I talk a lot of about pelvic PT and how it saved my pelvic floor. What I don't usually mention is that I didn't have access to one for the first 7 months after giving birth. That meant I suffered with lingering issues from pregnancy and a rough delivery that left me with 3rd degree tearing. At the time (in 2015) there wasn't a lot of resources out there for postpartum moms and healing the pelvic floor. I craved info just on what exactly happened to my pelvic floor, vagina, and rectum and if there was anything I could do for my body. The Internet is a noisy place full of horror stories so I googled with caution. . . So much has changed since I started blogging about my postpartum healing journey. People actually know about pelvic health specialist now. The problem is that most aren't covered by insurance (ARG!!!) or that there isn't a provider in your area. . . I get asked all the time from readers how to find a pelvic PT or what they can do for X or Y issue if they have no access to someone. It makes me so upset that this service isn't universal (to no fault of the practitioners, but rather the insurance companies and health care system). . . I'm so glad to have stumbled upon Mommy Berries that offers an online course for postpartum moms and women who want to strengthen their pelvic floors. It's not a replacement for seeing a pelvic PT but it's a great supplement to stretch out those costly visit. It's also an option for new moms who want to be proactive about their physical postpartum rehab. Definitely check them out. Mommy Berries dishes out tips and info about the pelvic floor I wish I had back in 2015. . . . . . . #postpartum #mamaonthemend #postpartumbody #pregnancy #pelvicfloor #pelvicfloordysfunction #pelvicphysicaltherapy #pelvicfloorpjysiotherapy #postpartumhealing #thirdegreetear #momlife #mombod #laboranddelivery #selflove
I knew a little about pelvic PT when I was pregnant but I assumed it was for after giving birth and only if you had serious issues. 🤰🏻🤦🏻‍♀️ Now that I’m on the other side and have had pelvic PT treatment, I realize how much I could have benefited from getting care while pregnant and soon after giving birth (though I didn’t have access from where I was living). Check out the great Q&A with Cami Hatch, DPT from @therapydia_denver . . . . . . . . . #postpartum #postpartumhealth #postpartumhealing #postpartumpt #pelvichealth #pelvicphysio #pelvicfloordysfunction #pregnancy #fourthtrimester #mamaonthemend #
I also share with my son when mommy’s body hurts and that it’s okay to feel pain. He gives me hugs and kisses. 😍💕 . . . . . . #postpartum #parenting #mamaonthemend #scarymommy #raisingboys repost @scarymommy
Grateful for these little feet that have been walking all over me since the day he was born. . . . . . . #mamaonthemend #postpartum #parenting #thanksgiving
Anyone else have scarring from giving birth? I sure did, but mine was in an area I can’t really show here online. Regardless of whether your scars are abdominal or vaginal, massaging it and desensitizing it works. Mine were so sensitive and painful. My PTs helped me retrain my neural pathways that associated touching my scars with pain. I was tempted to just dissociate with my childbirth scars but I’m glad I didn’t. Thanks @pelvicguru1 for this reminder and @tripoliphysicaltherapy for this awesome video! . . . . . . . . #mamaonthemend #postpartum #postpartumhealth #postpartumhealing #postpartumscars #csection #csectionrecovery #perinealmassage #perinealtear #thirddegreetear #pelvicphysicaltherapy
**Trigger warning** . . Sooooo…I pushed for seven hours. SEVEN! . . My son just didn’t want out, I guess. Eventually, my OBGYN got the “vacuum” and tried to suction him out while I pushed as bloody hard as I could. It took three tries. . . As you might imagine, there was some tearing. Three degrees deep. That picture of me holding my one day old baby may look serene, but let me tell you I couldn’t find a non-painful position for my vagina for weeks to come. . . Every time I closed my eyes (for the first few weeks) I would imagine seeing the other end of delivery bed and then immediately feel the reminder of my son’s birth. The pain lessened over time but never fully went away until I got some serious help. . . For months, my perineum felt irritated and stung to the touch. The scarring bunched in weird ways and my skin formed granulations that bled constantly. I didn’t necessarily feel depressed, but I definitely didn’t feel good about myself or my body. I even started to resent my childbirth experience and that made me feel horrible and guilty. . . It wasn’t until I went to see a pelvic PT that I started to feel some relief in that area. My scars from giving birth stopped scarring me emotionally. Around the same time, I started hearing about stories from other moms who had strained relationship with a scar they got from childbirth (lots of c-section mamas). Some even went as far as never touching their scar or disassociating with that part of their body. . . I don’t know about you, but for me, when I started to physically heal my childbirth scar, I emotionally felt better too. . . Do you have scars from giving birth? How did you heal from them (physically or emotionally)? Check out link in bio about childbirth scars . . . . . . #mamaonthemend #childbirthscar #perineum #assisteddelivery #laboranddelivery #childbirth #childbirthstory #childbirthtrauma #childbirthhealing #vacuumassistedlabor #pelvicphysicaltherapy #pelvicPT #pelvichealth #womenshealth #postpartumhealth #postpartumhealing #postpartum
Happy Halloween mamas! 🎃 Don't get spooked out of seeing a pelvic physical therapist (physiotherapist) like I did after giving birth. 🎃 I had so many postpartum issues I wished would go away on their own. Some were: incontinence, vaginal heaviness, weird perineal scarring, back instability, pelvic pain, etc. 🎃 It took me 7 months to finally see someone. I felt desperate by that point. I wish I had gone WAAAAAAY earlier, but I was spooked a little. 👻 I had pain in a sensitive area and I didn't want a stranger poking and prodding it. 🎃 Treatment was not scary. In fact, after my first session, I felt hopeful and more in control of my body than before. 🎃 Have you seen a pelvic PT after childbirth? Did you have hesitations? What helped you overcome them? 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 🎃 #mamaonthemend #postpartum #postpartumhealth #postpartumwellness #postpartumhealing #postpartumrehab #postpartumbody #pelvicphysicaltherapy #pelvicphysiotherapy #pelvichealth #womenshealth #halloween #c-section #vaginalbirth #childbirth #pregnancy #postpartumjourney #healthymama #fourthtrimester #4thtrimester #postbabybody #postpregnancy http://ow.ly/AmwC30mrIQY
October is almost over and I went the entire month without realizing it's National PT month! I LOVE LOVE LOVE my PT clinic !!! @bodyconnectdc .. .. They've seen me through my wobbly postpartum torso, tight pelvic floor, vulvar/pelvic pain, incontinent, tight psoas, diaphragm, pecs, jaw, body. I still have work ahead of me for other pelvic pain issues, but I'm so grateful to lean on my PTs for when I need physical support. .. .. Thank you thank you thank you to all the PTs out there and especially to @bodyconnectdc. Happy National Physical Therapy month! . . . . . #mamaonthemend #nationalphysicaltherapymonth #physicaltherapy #bodyconnectHW #bodyconnect #BCHW #pelvicphysicaltherapy #pelvicpain #incontinence #pelvicrehab #physiotherapy #pelvicphysiotherapy #postpartum #postpartumhealing #postpartumhealth #postpartumwellness #postpartumlife #womenshealth #pelvichealth
Who doesn't love a rainbow and unicorn on a pregnant belly? To think I almost didn't let my partner paint this. Picture was taken a week past my due date in 2015. .. .. By then I was already 4 cm dilated, fully effaced, and baby was at zero station in my pelvis. I should have been in labor but wasn't. I was waddling around doing squats at the park to get labor going...NOTHING. I just felt like there was a softball wedged in my crotch. .. .. Oh wait. There kind of was. .. .. Maybe that, and my seven hours of pushing had something to do with the months of pelvic physical therapy I needed. Just a thought. .. .. #mamaonthemend #TBT #pregnancy #labor #overdue #41weeks #bodypaint #unicornsandrainbows #pregnancyphotography #pregnancylife #bump #pregnantphoto #pregnancy #thirdtrimester #pregnancyshoot #pregnancyproblems #pregnancybeyond#pelvicphysicaltherapy #pelvicPT #pelvichealth #womenshealth #postpartumhealth #postpartumhealing #postpartum
This is a topic we don't talk about enough: sex hurting after giving birth. I was lucky enough to sit down with Jenna Perkins, a women's health practitioner, who specializes in pelvic floor issues. She's an amazing women's health advocate and answered all my questions about postpartum sex! Check out our conversation in the bio ☝️ ✨ .. .. Follow Jenna @discovherhealth ✨ .. .. ✨ .. .. #mamaonthemend #postpartum #postpartumjourney #postpartumbody #postpartumhealth #postpregnancy #newmommy #postpartum #strongasamother #momstrong #momstruggles #strongmama #motherhoodjourney #6weekspostpartum #postbabybody #postpartumsupport #fourthtrimester #painwithsex #sexualhealth #postpartumsex #pelvicfloor #pelvicfloordysfunction #womensnursepractitioner #pelvicpain #pelvicpainsupport

About Yuka Polovina, PhD, MPH, CHES

Welcome to my website. I’m currently working on two projects. The first is my dissertation on a Chinese Mauritian Canadian woman who competed in beach volleyball at the 2012 Olympics. Her story is fascinating because she represents many issues that confound what we think about sports, the Olympics, immigration, and multiculturalism. This story isn’t another clichéd rags to riches or hard work always wins kind of account, typical in sports narratives. I’m starting off by simply asking, “How did a Chinese immigrant from Canada come to represent an African nation in the 2012 Olympic Games?” The second is a website for and about postpartum women, an under-recognized segment of our population. The goals are to provide resources on postpartum care and raise awareness on issues women face after giving birth. Both projects draw on my education and training, and are also deeply personal. I passionately work on the two almost everyday. Thanks for stopping by!

~Yuka

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