Postpartum Health: How Prenatal Yoga Can Help Support The 4th Trimester

PostpartumPregnancyWellnessWomen's HealthWholistic Prenatal Care
Written By Dr. Madolyn Linka

Written by Dr. Madolyn Linka | June 17, 2020

This stage in your pregnancy and postpartum is considered to be the most sacred time in the cycle of birth. It is a beautiful time when the beginning of a family blooms or one more member is carefully added to the tribe. There is a wonderful opportunity within this 6 week window known as the “4th Trimester” to be nourished and supported during the transition time for both parent and baby alike. 

Through the Prenatal Yoga Series that I currently run via online for Holistic Physiotherapy & Wellness, we not only help mamas move through their pregnancy in a healthy and mindful way, but we also help create an environment for her to be able to have the tools to cope after childbirth. 

Here are some points I make sure to touch on in my series to help moms know what to REALLY expect: 

  • Within a few hours of a newborn's arrival, all of the hormones that were sustaining pregnancy are no longer necessary, therefore in the days and weeks that follow your baby’s birth, a whole new body will begin to take shape.

  • The womb that held baby as they grew for nearly 10 months is left empty and the body is working on an ongoing basis to reclaim the space in the abdomen, as organs were pushed aside and within the uterus itself as the autonomic muscle structure begins to shrink once again to a more normal size. With this change, it is common for contractions to continue for days, sometimes even up to a week following a vaginal delivery. 

  • Hormones such as oxytocin, endorphins and adrenaline that helped power the mother through childbirth are still high even after baby is born, allowing her to bring baby to her breast to start to feed on colostrum, the initial phase of breastmilk produced. Colostrum is high in fat for baby who is equally tired after the birthing experience. 

  • Progesterone, which is a hormone primarily produced in the placenta, is also delivered after baby, meaning there is a quick change in hormone balance in the woman’s body known as Estrogen Dominance due to the high levels of estrogen that stay present. This can result in feeling of anxiety, panic and “baby blues” which can feel like PMS symptoms but much more instantaneous and unpredictable. 

Within the “4th Trimester” it is important to note that you do not need to be perfect. The most important thing is to be present with the new little life you have created, let others take care of you for a LONG time after giving birth, and navigate the unchartered territories of parenthood with an open mind. Be kind to yourself as your body changes, as you mind changes and as your priorities shift. This is an exciting time for you and your family, but it can also be scary and daunting too. Make sure to reach out to your caregivers; such as your parent/in-laws, your physician (yes, YOUR doctor, not just your child's pediatrician), your chiropractor, your pelvic floor physiotherapist, your midwife, your doula, your lactation consultant and your partner. These are all people that can form your team and your community. They help makes it just a little easier! 

Dr. Madolyn Linka

Chiropractor

Acupuncturist

Yoga teacher

Dr. Madolyn Linka

Dr. Madolyn Linka D.C., B.A. (KIN), Acupuncture Provider, Yoga Instructor

From a young age, Dr. Madolyn Linka has put health at the forefront of much of what she done. The outcome of not staying physically and mentally active was that she wouldn’t be able to do the things she loved and made her happiest. This mantra has helped shape Dr. Linka into the doctor and teacher she is today, so she can continue to help others on their health and healing journey.

With a bachelor of arts degree in Kinesiology from the University of Western Ontario, a doctorate of Chiropractic from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College in Toronto and a dedicated yoga practice and teaching background, Dr. Linka has a deep and thorough understanding of the human body and its potential to excel and exceed physical, mental and emotional barriers. Dr. Linka believes in the innate ability for the body to survive and thrive and when we keep our bodies strong and resilient we can take on any challenge life has in store.

Moving through a well-versed patient-led history, Dr. Linka will help hone in on your chief health complaint. A physical examination is always preformed which will clarify what structures, joints, nerves and tissues are affected, helping to form a diagnosis and furthermore to find a solution helping you optimize your healing potential through an individualized treatment journey.


Dr. Linka is a diversified doctor of chiropractic, specializing in an adjustment style called Thompson Technique systems, which implements a drop table approach which helps the body calibrate the input stimulus more successfully into the central nervous system. Dr. Linka also utilizes extremity-adjusting, kinesiotaping for pregnancy and injury, custom orthotics, as well as contemporary acupuncture in her practice as a chiropractor.

When you don’t see Dr. Linka at Holistic, she is often guiding yogis at Modo Yoga Saskatoon, walking along the riverbed trails with her partner, traveling to new and foreign places, taking a pilates class at The Movement YXE, or serving the Rosewood community at Circle Chiropractic Lakewood.

https://www.drmadolynlinka.com
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