The Hidden Hero of Pregnancy: Why Pelvic Floor Therapy Should Be Part of Your Prenatal Care
Pregnancy is one of the most beautiful times in a woman's life. It represents transformation, growth, and new beginnings—things we often strive to remember during particularly challenging moments, such as when dealing with lower back pain or incontinence issues. While many women can "grin and bear it," you may sometimes wonder - "is there something I can do to make this feel better?"
Well, the answer is yes. Pelvic floor therapy isn't just for non-pregnant patients. In fact, pelvic floor therapy is a fantastic tool for women during pregnancy to help alleviate issues of back pain, incontinence, and many other uncomfortable aspects of pregnancy. As a Pelvic Health Therapist, I'm passionate about helping women ditch the pain and discomfort of pregnancy so they can experience the full joy of their journey.
Is This Just "Part of Pregnancy?" Understanding the Pelvic Floor
A woman's body undergoes remarkable changes during pregnancy to accommodate new life. Among these changes is the impact on the pelvic floor muscles—the hammock-like structure that supports vital organs, including the bladder, uterus, and bowels—which is particularly significant but often overlooked. As pregnancy progresses, the baby's growing weight and hormonal changes combine to stress these crucial muscles unprecedentedly.
Many pregnant women experience pelvic discomforts that they assume are simply "part of pregnancy," such as urinary incontinence or pelvic pain. While common, these symptoms shouldn't be dismissed as inevitable.
This is where pelvic floor therapy becomes invaluable. Rather than waiting until after birth to address problems, working with a pelvic floor therapist during pregnancy offers a proactive approach to maternal health. Through specialized exercises, manual therapy, and education about optimal movement patterns, pelvic floor therapy helps women navigate the physical demands of pregnancy while building the strength and awareness needed for birth and beyond.
Key Benefits of Prenatal Pelvic Floor Therapy
Pelvic floor therapy provides advantages beyond pain management and improved bladder control. Here are the top benefits of seeking pelvic floor therapy while you're pregnant.
Preparation for Labor and Delivery
Through specialized training, women learn to control their pelvic floor muscles consciously, mastering both contraction and – crucially – relaxation. This muscle control helps create an easier passage for the baby during delivery and reduces the risk of tearing. A pelvic floor therapist can also teach positions and movements to facilitate a smoother delivery process.
Pain Management and Prevention
Through targeted exercises and manual techniques, pelvic floor therapy helps address the most common pregnancy-related pain issues. Specifically, during therapy, women learn proper body mechanics to prevent lower back pain, reduce pelvic girdle pain, and manage sciatic discomfort.
Enhanced Bladder Control
A properly functioning pelvic floor helps maintain continence during pregnancy when the growing uterus increases pressure on the bladder. Therapists teach specific exercises beyond basic Kegels, ensuring women know how to properly engage and strengthen the muscles that control bladder function. This reduces stress incontinence — or those uncomfortable leaks during sneezing, laughing, or exercise.
Optimized Breathing and Pushing Techniques
Learning how to coordinate breathing with pelvic floor movement, a crucial skill for labor, is another benefit of prenatal pelvic floor therapy. During a therapy session, the therapist teaches proper pushing techniques that work with the body's natural mechanisms rather than against them. This helps women push more effectively during delivery while protecting their pelvic floor from unnecessary strain.
Reduced Risk of Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Through guided exercises and education, women learn to manage the increasing pressure on their pelvic organs during pregnancy. Therapists teach techniques to maintain proper support for the bladder, uterus, and rectum, helping prevent the descent of these organs that can occur during and after pregnancy.
Improved Postural Support
Finally, as pregnancy progresses and the body's center of gravity shifts, pelvic floor therapy also helps women maintain proper alignment and stability. To do this, therapists strengthen the deep core muscles that work with the pelvic floor, reducing strain on the back and pelvis while supporting optimal fetal positioning.
What to Expect in Prenatal Pelvic Floor Therapy Sessions
When you schedule your first prenatal pelvic floor therapy session at Health Elevated, you'll begin with a consultation to discuss your pregnancy journey, concerns, and therapy goals. This helps create a personalized treatment plan based on your specific needs.
The initial assessment evaluates your posture, breathing patterns, and basic movements, which are crucial for pelvic floor health. Your therapist may also conduct an external or internal assessment of your pelvic floor muscle function, ensuring your comfort throughout the session.
Your individualized treatment plan may include:
At-home exercises
Breathing techniques for daily activities
Posture strategies
Manual therapy for discomfort
Education on optimal positions for rest and movement and labor preparation
Postpartum recovery plan
Your therapist will guide you on follow-up session frequency, adjusting the plan as your pregnancy progresses, and ensuring continued support through each phase.
Start Preparing Today with Pelvic Floor Therapy
If you or someone you know is pregnant, contact Health Elevated today to request an appointment. We'll provide the information you need about our practice and methods and answer any questions. Our goal is to help you regain confidence and control in your body, both during your pregnancy and for years to come.
