Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy (PFPT) is becoming more mainstream, which is fantastic! Many women are seeking PFPT after having babies to help with their recovery and it can be so helpful in diagnosing and treating postpartum conditions such as diastasis recti, incontinence and prolapse. In some countries (like France), it’s actually the standard of care post-birth.

But many of us don’t know that it’s actually important to seek PFPT during pregnancy, and even before pregnancy if you’re a real keener 😉

It’s never too early, or too late to gain an understanding and connection to your deep core muscles!

[bctt tweet=”It’s never too early, or too late to gain an understanding and connection to your deep core muscles!” username=”@stephsibbio”]

So why would we need PFPT during pregnancy?

I would recommend at least two PFPT visits during pregnancy (maybe more depending on your specific situation).

First visit I’d recommend is to assess the state of your pelvic floor and deep core.  Are you hypertonic (tight) or hypotonic (weak)?  Are you able to engage and release your deep core muscles properly?

All these things are important in general, but especially now that you have a human growing inside you and putting pressure on your pelvic floor and other deep core muscles.

Go as soon as possible once you find out you’re pregnant.

The second important visit would be late in your pregnancy (around 36 weeks) to help to prepare you  for childbirth.  At this visit you will ensure you can release those muscles properly.  You might even learn some perineal massage/release techniques that you can do on your own as you prepare for childbirth.

Why else might you see PFPT during pregnancy?

Dealing with some back pain? It’s often because your core has weakened or is not engaging properly to hold your growing baby, resulting in back pain.  This is where it becomes important not only to work with PFPT, but to ensure you are exercising properly, incorporating your pelvic floor work into every exercise you do! Doing the wrong exercises can make your aches and pains worse.

You’ll also want to consult your PFPT if you feel any pelvic pain, bladder weakness, or heaviness in your pelvic floor.

Tip: check out this video on prenatal exercises to avoid (and what to do instead).