What is Holistic Pelvic Care?
Holistic Pelvic Care combines myofascial release, lymphatic drainage, energy medicine, and somatoemotional release.
What is your Pelvic Floor?
“Pelvic Floor” is a name commonly given to a group of muscles on the inside of the pelvis.
These muscles are more like a sling because they start in the front of the pelvis and insert in the back of the pelvis.
Strictly speaking, the “pelvic floor” muscles are a deep layer of muscles and include the pubococcygeous, puborectalis, iliococcygeous (which together are called the levator ani) and the coccygeous.
However, there are a lot of other muscles and structures inside of the pelvis that influence the function of the “pelvic floor”.
So when I do work inside of the vagina (“intravaginal”) or inside of the anus – where the poop comes out- (“intra-anal”) I talk about working with the “pelvic bowl”.
What is Your Pelvic Bowl?
The pelvic bowl is the inside of your pelvis.
It includes the “pelvic floor”, the muscles on the lateral walls that influence hip movement, and the piriformis (which is a stabilizer of hip and sacrum).
The pelvic bowl also includes two layers of muscles of more superficial muscles at the introitus (or entrance) of the vagina and anus.
Additionally, the pelvic bowl includes organs.
The organs of the pelvic bowl include the urethra, skene’s glands, the bladder, the cervix of the uterus, the uterus, the rectum, and the internal and external sphincters of the anus.
For any kind of prolapse, although I begin working with the organs through the tummy, ultimately it is important to include intrapelvic work. (That means working inside of the pelvis either through the vagina or anus).
The Pelvic Bowl is More than Muscles, Fascia, and Organs
While the muscles, fascia, and organs are important parts of the pelvic bowl, there is more.
The pelvic bowl is also a network of nerves, lymph, and vascular structures.
It is important to be able to parse these to adequately treat pain patterns.
Nerves can be strangled by fascial constraint (adhesions), or congested lymph and venous blood.
This leads to pain.
The pelvis must be drained of lymph and venous congestion first to be able to access the nerves, fascia, and muscles.
The Pelvic Bowl is Highly Emotional and Energetic
Many people have experienced trauma of the pelvic bowl.
Often this is sexual trauma.
Other forms of trauma that lodge themselves in the pelvic bowl are physical trauma (like from falls or childbirth), ancestral trauma (via the first chakra), and emotional trauma (like from bedwetting or constipation).
Commonly the energetic and emotional components need to be addressed before beginning physical work.
If the pelvic bowl feels unsafe, it will not allow entrance.
Often, the realization of safety will evolve when the energetic and emotional components of trauma are addressed.
Because the pelvic bowl is so sentient, people with a history of trauma will tend to disassociate.
When this begins to happen, we take a step back and address the disassociation pattern itself with energy work (like soul retrieval) or neuroemotional technique.
Myofascial Pain Syndrome
If the fascia and muscles in your pelvic bowl are too tight you might have pelvic pain, pain with sex, pain with going to the bathroom, or coccygeal pain. Tight muscles can also make it difficult for the lymph to drain out of your legs and could contribute to varicose veins.
Poorly Toned Muscles
If muscles are not pulling adequately in the pelvic bowl a person can experience prolapse, incontinence, fatigue, and back pain. Working with the muscles in the pelvic bowl helps them remember how to pull properly to assist the organs function better and help you feel good in your body.
What Is Dr. Caroline Peterson’s Training for Treating the Pelvic Floor?
While Dr. Caroline Peterson received her pelvic floor training from PTs (and midwives, and chiropractors, and naturopaths) when treating the pelvic floor she has a lens that is broader than the pelvic floor, and more inclusive than the musculoskeletal system.
Dr. Caroline Peterson was trained in pelvic exams (speculum/annual exams) in chiropractic college and midwifery school. She conducted many pelvic exams over the years, and no longer does the speculum exam, pap smears, and tests for infection and sexually transmitted infections because many others offer those services. She was also trained in endometrial biopsy with naturopaths, but also no longer practices that.
As a former midwife, Dr. Caroline Peterson has experience suturing the pelvic muscles after traumatic births. Experiencing the pelvis in the process of pregnancy, birth, immediate postpartum, and later postpartum helps Dr. Caroline Peterson understand the dynamics of the pelvis.
Dr. Caroline Peterson has studied pelvic floor therapy with Tami Kent, MSPT and her Holistic Pelvic Care, Bryan Baisinger, DC, Herman & Wallace, The Barral Technique of pelvic visceral manipulation, and midwife Anne Frye.
Dr. Caroline Peterson has spent over 30 years working with the pelvic bowl in many ways.
How to Prepare
Dr. Caroline Peterson can do intra-pelvic care with you after 36 weeks gestation, after you stop bleeding postpartum, or any other time for other populations. It’s ok to have intra-pelvic care while you are on your period.
Sometimes it can feel scary to have intra-pelvic care.
Dr. Caroline Peterson will always listen to you and your body. Sometimes your voice will say yes to an intervention, but your body says no. If your body says no, even if your voice says yes, we take a step back and discover why the body is saying no.
If you know you need intra-pelvic care, but feel nervous or scared and don’t really want to do it, we can start with neuroemotional technique to help understand how your emotions are trying to keep you safe, and why the work feels dangerous.
You are always in control.
This is your journey, and it can proceed at a pace that is right for you.
What to Expect
When you come in for your Holistic Pelvic Care treatment you will take off your underwear and lay covered between two sheets on a treatment table, not a gyn table.
Once you are situated you will let Dr. Caroline Peterson know you are ready for her to come in the room.
When she comes in the room she will glove up and use a lubricant like KY Gel.
She will sit at the side of the table and have you butterfly your legs.
When you are ready, she will lift up the side of the sheet, separate the labia and insert a finger into the vagina or the anus (which we agree on in advance).
If the treatment is painful, you can say you want less pressure, just as you would when you get a massage on your back.You can also say “stop”. You can also say “I’m done” or “I need a break”.
You can say whatever you want and need.
You will be invited to claim this area of your body and to stay engaged and feeling throughout your treatment session.
It is not uncommon for people to have emotional releases with this treatment.