Whether you're pregnant or trying to conceive, you may be wondering when you should start pelvic PT when you're pregnant.
This blog talks about when to start pelvic PT during pregnancy as well as what to expect in your sessions.
Can You Start Pelvic Floor Therapy While Pregnant?
Absolutely!
Pelvic floor therapy is highly recommended during pregnancy to manage symptoms such as leakage, pressure, pain, and for overall pregnancy wellness.
See below for our recommendations on when exactly to start.
We truly believe that all pregnant women should see a pelvic therapist during their pregnancy.
When to Start Pelvic Floor Therapy During Pregnancy
You can start pelvic floor therapy at any time during pregnancy.
Typically, depending on what concerns you are presenting with, each person’s treatment approach will be different. Some patients are cleared for internal assessments and treatment, while others we defer to later on in pregnancy.
Regardless of whether treatment is done internally, we can absolutely do a lot of hands on manual treatment, exercise, and evidence based activity as well as educate around lifestyle changes to help manage symptoms during pregnancy.
If someone is not experiencing symptoms, we typically begin pelvic floor therapy in the second trimester. At this time, we can do more pregnancy and core wellness, strengthening, and begin birth preparation.
Signs You Should Start Sooner Rather Than Later
You should begin pelvic floor therapy any time that you have symptoms during pregnancy.
These symptoms include:
pelvic pain
pelvic girdle pain (SI Joint pain, pubic symphysis pain)
back pain
hip pain
sciatica
leakage
constipation
pain with sex
core weakness
What Happens at a Prenatal Pelvic Floor Appointment
Your first session of pelvic floor therapy will consist of a lot of talking.
During this session, your therapist will use the information you share to understand how your pregnancy is progressing, what your birth intentions are, whether you are experiencing pain, or other symptoms, and any other relevant information regarding your history and pregnancy.
After you go through a thorough history, your therapist will take some measurements and with consent will do an assessment. This involves looking at how your hips, core, back, function.
If you are willing, and if your history indicates the need, a pelvic floor examination may be suggested.
During this assessment, the therapist inserts a single gloved finger into the vagina to see how the pelvic floor muscles are contracting and relaxing.
After your initial evaluation, your therapist will design a treatment plan starting with symptom management, and progressing to birth preparation.
Pelvic Floor Therapy by Trimester
The first trimester focuses a lot on coordination of your pelvic floor and core.
The second trimester focuses more on the postural changes that pregnancy places on the body.
The third trimester focuses more on birth prep and optimizing postpartum recovery.
At any point during pregnancy, we can help our patients manage symptoms, and help them stay active.
It is incredibly important to continue with staying strong and active throughout pregnancy, in order to stay healthy during pregnancy.
Preparing Your Pelvic Floor for Labor and Delivery
When we begin to focus on labor and delivery, our treatment will begin to work on ways to open the hips, spine, and pelvic floor.
During delivery, the pelvic floor muscles need to be able to open and relax, so much of the treatment during the end of pregnancy will contain education and exercises to help achieve this
We will also discuss labor positions, optimal pushing mechanics, and pain control options.
What to Expect After Birth
After birth, we will initially work to prioritize tissue healing and a slow increase in progression of activity.
As postpartum progresses, your program will transition to more of an active program and will prioritize safe return to full activity without symptoms.
Just because someone had a baby does not mean that leakage, pain, or pressure is normal or expected. Pelvic floor therapy helps to eliminate postpartum symptoms.
It is imperative that patients do not experience postpartum symptoms, in order to avoid lingering long term symptoms.
These symptoms are not ones that you should live with!
A Patient Testimonial
Jessica C. came to see us during her pregnancy and we focused on maximizing her strength and keeping her feeling great throughout her pregnancy as well as birth preparation. Here's what she had to say:
“If you are debating pelvic floor therapy, let this be your sign to do it- and go to Vivid! I started going second trimester to prepare for birth. I eliminated my hip and back pain during pregnancy. We also focused a lot on birth prep, which I cannot recommend enough. Because of my work, I was able to push my baby out without the use of medical intervention, and had no tearing.”
We are so proud of all of Jessica's hard work and are so honored that we were able to be a part of her pregnancy journey.
Where to Find Pregnancy PT and Birth Prep in Bucks County
If you’re local to Doylestown or Newtown, PA, we’d love to help you with pregnancy aches and pains and prepping for birth.
We offer pregnancy pelvic therapy and birth prep sessions for those who are pregnant and want to prep for an optimal birth and decrease the risk of birth-related injury, trauma, and tearing.
We’d love to work with you. Feel free to schedule online or reach out to us if you have questions before getting started.
We proudly put our patients first by offering one-on-one appointments for a full hour. You will have time to be heard and we will take time to listen to your whole story.
You won’t be passed between different professionals and we will work to get you a holistic solution to your pelvic health concerns.
We choose to participate in a private pay model so that we can focus on putting patients first.
