PREGNANCY

PELVIC FLOOR PT DURING PREGNANCY

When do I start pelvic floor PT when I’m pregnant?

I recommend when you start your 2nd trimester that you also schedule an initial evaluation. At this point during your pregnancy your physical body changes are typically just starting so it gives us a good baseline to see where you’re at strength and mobility wise.

Additionally, as the weeks progress it is much harder to connect with the layers of your core and understand proper engagement that will help carry you through the rest of your pregnancy (generally pain-free!), so it’s BEST to start sooner rather than later!

On average I’ll see women 6 times throughout their pregnancy depending on what all we’re working on. ** If you have the Christian Healthcare Ministries Healthshare TAKE ADVANTAGE of their amazing amount of fully covered visits for pelvic floor PT (30-40) throughout your pregnancy and postpartum!!

What do you do in pelvic floor PT when you’re pregnant?

  • Exercise programming during pregnancy: this is a huge one! If you’re active or want to start being active during your pregnancy I will be creating programs for you to follow and progress you throughout your trimesters.

    • I use a mobile app to house all of the videos of you doing the exercises during the sessions for you to reference during your workout. That way you know you’re doing things correctly and you’re doing exercises that are hitting the right muscle groups for YOUR core, booty, and pelvic floor- not a generalized workout.

  • Pain during pregnancy: the most common things women experience is low back pain sciatica pain, sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain, pubic symphysis pain (SPD), round ligament pain, and hip pain

  • K-Taping your bump! This is super helpful for round ligament pain

  • Cupping Therapy: This is super helpful for low back pain, upper back, and rib pain during pregnancy

  • Bladder leakage: this is unfortunately very common during pregnancy, though still not normal. There are certain bladder changes that are considered normal during pregnancy such as increased frequency (check out my podcast episode on this topic!). Stress incontinence is not normal whether you’re pregnant or not! This is identified as bladder leakage with vomiting, running, jumping, squatting, laughing, sneezing, and coughing. We can treat it!

  • Manual Therapy Pelvic Alignment: Also known as sacral releases, myofascial release techniques are great on the pregnant pelvis! This mobilizations can help prepare the pelvis for birth and help eliminate SIJ, SPD also known as pubic symphysis dysfunction, and round ligament pain.

  • Birth prep session on breathing your baby out in a home birth setting, how to prepare your pelvic floor for a hospital birth (medicated or unmedicated), and understanding the immediate recovery of a csection birth. Your husband is present for this session and we go through which positions are best for you to labor and birth in and comforting techniques that your husband can do with you!

  • DEBUNKING MYTHS: the amount of myths I debunk during pregnancy for women is unreal! I partly blame providers that don’t keep up with the new research, but also a little bit of the internet! Other education we go over are modifications for pilates, barre, yoga and considerations of things to do/not do during your pregnancy. For example, if you’re experiencing round ligament pain, I’ll teach you how to get in and out of the car without pain!