Latest research using magnetic resonance imaging machine or MRI shows the hard truth about giving birth. The scans from the advanced equipment allowed a team of researchers from the University of Michigan to observe that the injuries sustained by women during childbirth is comparable to the injuries sustained by athletes during a marathon.
The research team also found out that 15 percent of women giving birth sustain pelvic injuries that do not heal. According to their study posted at Michigan News, "childbirth is arguably the most traumatic event the human body can undergo."
The Vox site also reports that 41 percent of women who give birth suffer muscle tears and two-thirds experience muscle strains. These muscle injuries involve rupture of the muscle tissues and are usually caused by over-pulling, overstretching, over-tightening, and twisting of the muscles.
Although the MRI scans show injuries, the research team does not recommend that all women should get MRI scans after giving birth. "We're not saying that every woman who gives birth needs an MRI nor that women should not do Kegel exercises," Janis Miller said, associate professor at the University Of Michigan School Of Nursing. "A key point is that if a woman is sensing that she has delayed recovery or unusual symptoms of discomfort or feels she just can't Kegel anymore, she should see a specialist."
The recovery period for most women who give birth is usually six weeks. The Guardian reports that women who continue to feel pain in their pelvis and during sexual intercourse three months after giving birth should seek a doctor.
The MRI scans show the scary truth about giving birth because they show the severity and frequency of injuries sustained during childbirth, but many women are not afraid of the risks because of their great desire to have children and their belief that it will all be worth it.
