How to check the pelvic floor muscles after childbirth

A mother needs to go through many examinations after giving birth. Postpartum examinations are very important for every mother. This is not only responsible for her own body, but also for the health of the baby. Only after all the examinations are passed can the pregnant woman be discharged from the hospital and slowly recuperate. The pelvic floor muscle examination is a very important part of the postpartum examination. The mother should fully cooperate with the doctor. Let’s learn how to check the pelvic floor muscles after delivery.

Patients with pelvic floor muscle dysfunction are usually first given a comprehensive assessment, asking about their symptoms and severity, medical history, obstetric history, medication, and mental stress. Patients are also given a series of questionnaires to assess their quality of life and the severity of their dysfunction. This helps identify the primary cause of the current dysfunction, such as gastrointestinal, endocrine, urinary, or pelvic floor muscle disorders. Auxiliary examinations include rectal manometry and electromyography, which may cause slight discomfort but are necessary for diagnosis.

1. Rectal manometry: Rectal manometry can assess the physiological and functional status of the pelvic floor muscles and auxiliary muscle groups. Insertion of pressure sensors into the anus can quantify the tone and contraction of the pelvic floor muscles. The pressure results based on the pelvic floor muscles can identify the changes in pelvic floor muscle function and divide them into high-tension patients and low-tension patients.

2. Electromyography: Electromyography can be used to record and analyze four phases: (1) Initial baseline phase: Record for 60 seconds while the patient is at rest to determine the patient's baseline. (2) Rapid contraction phase: EMG activity was recorded when the patient performed five rapid pelvic floor muscle contractions. (3) Tension contraction and endurance phase: The pelvic floor muscles and abdominal muscles were contracted for 10 seconds and relaxed for 10 seconds for 5 consecutive cycles, and the electromyographic activity was recorded. (4) Post-resting phase: The patient contracts the pelvic floor muscles and rests again for 60 seconds to assess the final baseline.