Pregnancy and PT: Part 3/3 - Benefits of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy - Pregnancy, Delivery and Recovery

Hello!

If you missed my first 10 reasons for seeing a Pelvic Floor PT during Pregnancy - look at the last couple blogs. We are continuing with the next five. These are all reasons I have seen be present for seeing a PT for your pregnancy! Preventatively or for pain…we can get you moving better and stay moving throughout your new chapter!

1. Reduce Leaking

Incontinence is a common issue during and after pregnancy. Physical therapy can teach you how to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, reducing the risk of bladder leakage but often its more about coordination, breathwork and .

2. Learn How to Push Effectively

Pushing during labor requires proper technique and really it’s about letting the uterus push and you to relax or open the pelvic floor - breathing into the pelvis. The misconception that the pelvic floor muscles push the baby out can often lead to issues pospartum we wish to avoid! We can teach you how to push effectively, reducing the risk of injury and ensuring a more efficient delivery.

3. Reduce Risk for Perineal Tearing

Physical therapy can help you prepare your pelvic floor muscles for childbirth, reducing the risk of perineal tearing and the need for episiotomies. Research around perineal massage and soft tissue release techniques has demonstrated a reduction in tears especially higher grade.

4. Reduce Neck, Back, and Arm Symptoms

Pregnancy-related changes in posture and weight distribution can lead to discomfort in the neck, back, and arms - specifically head forward/rounded shoulder postures, increased fluid in the body and tension in places we once were able to self mobilize. We can provide relief through exercises and posture adjustments as well as soft tissue release techniques, nerve mobilizations and education on self care to keep things moving and strong for the postpartum phase of loving and feeding baby!

5. Postpartum Recovery

Physical therapy doesn’t end with childbirth; it’s crucial for postpartum recovery too. We can guide you through exercises and techniques to regain strength and mobility after delivery - even the first day postpartum. A lot of the exercises used for pregnancy can be used during the 4th trimester with some adjustments for cuing and positioning as your body learns how to retrain and regain the stability it needs to return to higher level activities

Rather watch than read? Check out below!!

Learn how PT can help incontinence, posture, neck pain, labor and postpartum recovery.