When To See Your Pelvic Floor PT During Pregnancy

You might already know that pelvic floor physical therapy can help improve pelvic pain and incontinence during pregnancy, but did you know it's helpful to see a pelvic floor PT during pregnancy even if you don't have issues?

I love establishing care with pregnant women early on in pregnancy to help guide them through their future physiological changes, prevent issues before they arise, and address questions or concerns as they arise.

No matter who you are, pregnancy is going to stress your core system and challenge your ability to maintain core and glute activation.

Women that work with me during pregnancy develop a better understanding of their body's physiological changes, the support needs of their abdominal wall and pelvic floor, and are prepped for an empowered birth and recovery.

I help women decrease their risk of tearing during birth, decrease issues with abdominal separation, and heal faster postpartum.

So when is the best time to establish with a pelvic floor physical therapist?

This will depend on your needs. If you are having a healthy, pain-free pregnancy, I recommend starting with a pelvic floor physical therapist early in the second trimester.

If you tore during your previous birth, suffer from urinary incontinence, prolapse, pelvic pain or constipation, then you should establish earlier.

Many physical therapists prefer to not perform pelvic exams until the second trimester, and I am in that category as well. That said, there is quite a bit we can do to help your symptoms without performing a vaginal exam.

The earlier you can come in, the less your uterus will weigh, and the easier it will be to address faulty movement patterns and restore core strength.

Once we clear the first trimester, we can begin to assess the pelvic floor internally. This is a critical aspect of prenatal pelvic floor physical therapy that no other provider will offer.

This assessment will inform you on the health of your pelvic floor and what you need to do moving forward in your pregnancy to ensure that it remains healthy.

Conclusion

It is safe and encouraged to seek the help of a pelvic floor physical therapist at any time during pregnancy if you are experiencing aches and pains.

Pelvic floor physical therapy is an extremely important part of your prenatal care. In these visits I set the foundation for clients to move through pregnancy with healthy core activation and help to minimize issues such as pelvic pain, pee leaks, prolapse and rectus diastasis.

I also guide women in the best practices to prevent tearing during labor, the best positions to labor in, and set up a framework for early postpartum rehabilitation.

I cannot stress enough the importance of prenatal physical therapy. I have seen time and time again the amazing benefits my clients get from working with me in the prenatal period. If you are currently pregnant and haven't yet made your appointment, make sure you book it today!