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Most new mothers book jamu massages right after they deliver the baby. And while they are extremely important in helping to expel wind, reduce water retention, and lift the uterus, these treatments may not be sufficient to address all pertinent postpartum conditions.

cheryl han orchard clinic 1

Cheryl Han is the founder of Orchard Clinic.

Cheryl Han, founder of Orchard Clinic, explained to Daily Vanity that this is because jamu massages are unable to access the deeper layer of muscles.

“Specifically our transverse abdominis (the deepest abdominal muscle). The core remains dormant. Already laxed, it further weakens over time if left untreated,” she adds.

Orchard Clinic is a specialised treatment centre that offers solutions for women’s body from pre- and post-pregnancy  to pre- and post-menopause.

According Han, Diastasis Recti and the Pelvic Floor are two of the very common postpartum conditions mothers face. The latter condition can lead to Incontinence.

cheryl han orchard clinic

She shared these concerning statistics: about 34% of new mothers will experience stress urinary leakage, 58% of natural deliveries are presented with some form of pelvic floor disorder, as do 43% of those who had a C-section.

Han said that these postpartum conditions are common but very often ignored because women accept them as just a part of becoming a mother; these conditions also can’t be addressed by massages.

“Urinary leakage is not normal, no matter how rare the occasion or how little you leak. The pelvic floor should support us healthily through motherhood, for it will further weaken again when we hit menopause,” she warns.

Post-pregnancy treatments to consider

Vaginal rejuvenation

Treatments such as the Exilis Ultra Femme 360 is a non-invasive treatment for the intimate area that utilises ultrasound and radiofrequency for a safe and comfortable procedure.

The treatment helps tighten the vaginal opening and vaginal canal, as well as the perineum, which help improve the condition for women who suffer from stress incontinence.

At the same time, as it also increases blood flow to the clitoris, improving its sensitivity, this may also help increase sexual satisfaction.

We tried this: It felt slightly intrusive at first, but thankfully the therapist was very assuring and I quickly eased into it. The process felt similar to doing a transvaginal ultrasound, which most women who have gone through an Ob-gyn check-up would be familiar with. The probe was slightly warm so it actually felt very comfortable, almost like a warm massage on the intimate area. The labia felt immediately tighter after just one session, which was quite impressive.

Pelvic muscle strengthening

Strengthening of pelvic muscle can help reduce incontinence, constipation and straining, as well as prevent pelvic organ prolapse.

We know that doing kegel exercise regularly is the way to go if we want to strengthen our pelvic floor muscle during and after pregnancy – but how many of us are able to keep up with it, especially new mothers who are also super busy with their newborn?

This is where the FDA-approved Emsella device can help. This machine uses HIFEM (high-intensity focused electromagnetic) technology to administer more pelvic floor muscle contractions which is equivalent to doing 11,000 kegel contractions in 30 minutes.

floorwork exercise

Floorwork exercises can help strengthen the pelvic floor.

This can also be accompanied with a pelvic floor floorwork programme, offered by Orchard Clinic, to achieve even better and long-lasting results.

We tried this: The Emsella device is designed like a chair. All I needed to do is to sit on it on the spot where the HIFEM waves are produced for 30 minutes – no stripping needed. It’s effortless yet I could really feel the contractions on the targeted spot, which are certainly stronger and firmer than if I were to do kegel exercises on my own.

emsella treatment

The Emsella treatment only requires you to sit on a “chair”.

Making time for a session also ensures that I don’t put off the “workout” on the muscle – something that I often neglect otherwise. I did six sessions in all and during the post-treatment assessment, I found that my pelvic muscle’s strength has indeed improved.

Outside of the clinic, I also find that I am more able to hold my bladder than before. Interestingly, with my muscles strengthened, I also find kegel exercises less tiring to do, which encourages me to do them more often.

Improving condition of Diastasis Recti

Diastasis Recti check

Diastasis Recti (DR) refers to the condition where the abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy as they’re stretched to accommodate the growing baby. DR can cause your belly to stick out or look like a bulge for a long time postpartum.

There are a few treatments available that can help improve DR. Of them, the Embody treatment is the one that’s specifically designed for treating DR, so it can offer the best result.

Using HIFEM technology, the machine simulates thousands of powerful muscle contractions to help tone and strengthen the muscles. At the same time, it pushes the ab muscles toward each other to close the gap between them.

The V-Actor is another treatment that may be recommended. This new deep tissue and recovery treatment also works as a massage treatment for the abdomen and lower back, repairing the tissue while offering relief for those who suffer from aches.

We tried it: The Embody treatment was definitely a unique experience. I could feel the contractions and nudges on the muscles – almost like a core workout, but at an intensity that I probably wouldn’t have been able to achieve on my own. There’s a slight tingling sensation felt, but it didn’t bother me too much. You can expect to feel a mild ache after the session too.

Treatment for stretch marks

orchard clinic check

If stretch marks are a concern, Shockwave Therapy could help. This delivers energetic acoustic waves beneath the skin to stimulate and strengthen collagen network on the treated area so that skin can be renewed and become more elastic.

We tried it: The probes went onto the tummy area in a circular motion, resulting in a comfortable massage. It may get too hot at some point but the probes can be easily cooled down once I let my therapist know – I only had to do it once, though.

Orchard Clinic is located at:

  • 320 Orchard Road, Tong Building #06-03, Singapore 238862
  • 18 Jalan Masjid, Kembangan Plaza #B1-07, Singapore 418944
  • 1 Fifth Avenue, Guthrie House #02-09, Singapore 268802