Pelvic Floor and Pregnancy

During pregnancy, people go through significant emotional and physical in a short period of time. Connecting with a healthcare professional who understands all the ways you are changing can help guide you in your pregnancy. 

When can I be seen for a Pelvic Health Assessment?

Preconception: This will allow your physiotherapists to better understand your needs and create a baseline to help support your pregnancy’s and post-natal care.

Pregnancy: Generally, we recommend the first prenatal visit during the second trimester, and again around 34-35 weeks. You can come in during the first trimester if you have questions or concerns, however, please note we do not perform internal exams during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. Some clients may require additional sessions during that time, depending on their specific concerns and treatment goals.

Postpartum: 6-84 weeks postpartum, however it’s never to late.

Seeing a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist during your pregnancy can help with: 

• • Preventing any aches/pains or detecting things early
  • Promote physical activity and exercise
  • Urinary incontinence care (early detection or prevention)
  • Birth Preparation (Birth choices, positions, Pain education)

After Pregnancy care can help with:

• • Pelvic health, Pelvic Floor awareness & rehabilitation
  • Scar Care
  • Body discomfort & mobility restrictions
  • Abdominal separation
  • Abdominal weakness & increase progressive exercise

Would I benefit from Pelvic floor assessment after a C-Section?

Caesarean delivery involves major abdominal surgery, and whether it’s planned or not, it’s important to rehab your abdominals and get your pelvic floor checked after. Regardless of the type of delivery, the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles are placed under significant load throughout pregnancy.

Pelvic Pain during Pregnancy

Pelvic pain in pregnancy can be severe, and change throughout the duration of your pregnancy as your body changes. This may involve your pubic symphysis, SI joints, hips or low back. We have strategies that can help reduce the pain and help you manage day to day.

What happens to the pelvic floor during pregnancy and delivery

During pregnancy, there is an increased demand on the pelvic floor as it works to support the weight of the uterus as the baby grows inside the womb. Over the course of the pregnancy, the muscles and ligaments comprising the pelvic floor can become lengthened and weak due to this sustained increase in load. During labour, these tissues are stretched further, and in some cases may undergo additional trauma due to tearing, cutting (episiotomy) or use of forceps/suction during delivery. Changes in the strength, tone and contractility of the pelvic floor following pregnancy and delivery is often why some women experience symptoms of incontinence (leakage), pelvic pain or prolapse post-partum.

How can pelvic floor physiotherapy help with these issues?

There is strong evidence to support pelvic floor physiotherapy for the treatment of incontinence, prolapse and pelvic pain among other conditions. Depending on your symptoms, and the therapist’s assessment, treatment may include strengthening of the pelvic floor, learning to relax the pelvic floor, education on self-management strategies and/or manual therapy. Following your initial assessment, the therapist will discuss which treatments are indicated in the treatment of your condition, and work with you to develop an individualized treatment plan.