Ann Arbor, MI. – New moms must take good care of their postpartum health. Brandi Phare, a first time mom thought that she was the only one when she started experiencing postpartum ailments. She was feeling pain because of the multiple tears from giving birth. She was also experiencing severe incontinence. Unknown to her, there are many people who have gone through and are going through the same situation.

Dee Fenner, M.D., director of the University of Michigan Health System’s Healthy Healing After Delivery Program said, “Easily over half of women who have vaginal birth, at least their first birth, will have some problem in terms of bowel, bladder or sexual dysfunction that can occur.” Dr. Fenner is also a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. a director of Gynecology and Surgical Services, and the Harold Furlong Professor.

Many women believe that postpartum ailments are just a normal part of giving birth and that they do not need to be attended to.

Dr. Fenner encourages women to take care not only of their infants but their health as well. He further said, “Unfortunately, I think many women suffer in silence in that they don’t really complain or know that something can be done.”

Good thing for Phare, she consulted a U-M nurse about the incontinence that she is having together with other problems and she was referred to U-M’s Healthy Healing After Delivery Program.

She received medication to help her with her incontinence and good for her, she said that she does not have any problems anymore. About 15% of new moms ended up having another surgery for many reasons like having a tear that did not heal properly.

Dr. Fenner said that they want the women to be educated and to have the necessary tools.

The U-M clinic has a team of doctors, nurses, midwives, PTs and other health care providers to provde education to new moms. They have teaching modules that say which symptoms are normal and which ones are not. This is open to everyone regardless of where she delivered her baby.

If you have the following symptoms after birth, it is best to consult your health care provider:

– bowel incontinence
– urinary incontinence
– non-healing episiotomy
– deep cuts or lacerations
– rectovaginal fistulas
– difficulty with intercourse

Find an Ann Arbor Gynecologist and Obstetrician in the Directory of Ann Arbor, MI.