When To Start Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy in Pregnancy
You’re pregnant! And you probably have 1000 questions about what you should do next. One of the first things you should do is establish care with a pelvic floor physical therapist.
Why, you ask? Let’s take a look!
During pregnancy, your body is going to experience many changes such as:
Your belly is going to grow, which is going to cause your center of gravity to shift forward and increase the curve in your lower back.
Your arches in your foot will collapse, potentially contributing to foot and knee pain.
Pregnancy is an exciting time that comes with many changes and challenges.
Pelvic floor physical therapy started early on in pregnancy can help prepare the body for the upcoming changes, manage common pregnancy symptoms that may arise, prepare you for labor and delivery, and set you up for postpartum recovery.
What is Prenatal Physical Therapy?
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy during pregnancy is a specialized form of pelvic physical therapy aimed at supporting pregnant mamas as their bodies go through significant changes.
Not only does the pelvic floor need to be addressed as it supports the weight of the growing baby from below, but so does the rest of the body, from head to toe.
A pelvic floor physical therapist has specialized training to work with pregnant women and understands the unique challenges that come as the fetus grows.
Benefits of Starting PT During Pregnancy
A lot of people think that pelvic floor physical therapy is just a part of postpartum recovery, and while PT is a crucial part of healing from childbirth, pelvic floor physical therapy during pregnancy has many benefits.
Seeing a pelvic floor therapist during pregnancy and postpartum can help you feel good, address any pelvic floor issues before/if they arise, help you prepare for birth, as well as many other things.
And you don’t need to have anything wrong to see a pelvic floor PT during pregnancy.
In fact, seeing a pelvic PT proactively in the prenatal period can set you up for success as your pregnancy progresses and with postpartum recovery.
Working with a pelvic floor physical therapist while you’re pregnant offers many benefits.
Aches and Pains Relief During Pregnancy
Your pelvic floor PT can address common pregnancy-related aches and pains such as round ligament pain, hip and back pain, symphysis pubis dysfunction, and pelvic pain. Reducing pain is something we help with a lot; your pregnancy does not need to be miserable!
General Pelvic Floor Symptom Relief During Pregnancy
We also help with issues such as leaking, pelvic heaviness (pelvic organ prolapse), and general pelvic floor dysfunction during pregnancy (which just means that your pelvic floor muscles are being assessed and you are reassured that muscle function is completely normal or if they need a little help.)
Relaxation of the Pelvic Floor and Birth Preparation
A vital component of pelvic health PT in pregnancy is learning how to relax the pelvic floor.
Contrary to popular belief, Kegels aren’t always necessary in pregnancy because the pelvic floor needs to be relaxed in order to push the baby out, not engaged in a Kegel.
Fitness During Pregnancy
There are a myriad of benefits for both mom and baby from working out during pregnancy, and remaining active throughout pregnancy is something your pelvic PT can help with.
Working out safely during pregnancy is something that is very important, and your pelvic floor physical therapist can help you customize your exercise program to keep you safely active.
Birth Preparation
Beyond pain relief and assessment, prenatal sessions can help reduce the risk of pelvic floor injury during delivery.
Your pelvic floor physical therapist can also give you exercise guidance and modifications throughout your pregnancy, as well as help you prepare your pelvic floor muscles for relaxation during all stages of labor to helo with vaginal delivery and to prepare your pelvic girdle not only for a growing baby, but also for birth and the postpartum period, where healing begins.
This includes learning optimal labor positions for the individual, practicing pushing techniques, perineal massage, and so much more.
Every woman should proactively see a pelvic PT in pregnancy to get the in-depth information you need to make labor and delivery as smooth as possible.
When Can You Start Pelvic Floor PT While Pregnant?
When should you start pelvic floor physical therapy in pregnancy?
Our recommendation is to start after the first trimester, usually around 14 weeks.
The first trimester is when the risk of miscarriage is naturally high, and although it is highly unlikely that pelvic floor physical therapy would cause any issues, we prefer to err on the side of caution.
Your energy levels should also be improving in the second trimester, which makes exercising easier!
However, it’s never too late to start Pelvic PT in pregnancy, even in the third trimester.
Ideally, if you are not having any issues in pregnancy, we will see you once a month until the 30 week mark, until we see you once a week for birth preparation.
However, if you are having issues such as pain or leakage, we will see you more frequently.
Signs That You Should Start Pelvic Therapy Sooner Than the Second Trimester
If you are experiencing pelvic, hip, or back pain or urinary incontinence in the first trimester, you can start pelvic PT prior to the second trimester.
It is likely that your pelvic floor PT will wait until the second trimester to begin internal work, but they can provide external manual therapy, exercises, and stretches to help with your symptoms.
What to Expect at a Pregnancy Pelvic PT Visit
When you come in for your first visit, your pelvic floor PT will ask you questions about how your pregnancy is going, if you are experiencing any aches and pains, your exercise habits (exercise is safe and should be continued throughout pregnancy!), and your birthing plan and birthing goals.
They will also ask in what setting you are planning to deliver, whether you are planning an epidural, if you have a doula, and other questions related to delivery.
They will then do a physical exam and assessment which may include postural and movement analysis, checking hip and back range of motion, and, with your consent, get a baseline of your pelvic floor function.
As long as you are not on any kind of pelvic rest, an internal exam from a PFPT is safe during pregnancy.
Your therapist will then go over her findings with you and will come up with a plan for how frequently you need to attend sessions.
Where to Find Pregnancy Pelvic Floor PT in Thousand Oaks
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy during pregnancy has so many benefits, from supporting you throughout pregnancy, addressing any pregnancy related aches and pains, keeping you safely exercising, and preparing you for labor and delivery.
The ideal time to start is in the second trimester, around 14 weeks.
Starting early allows you to build awareness and strength in your pelvic floor, learn strategies for managing pressure and posture changes, and prepare your body for a smoother birth and recovery.
If you’re pregnant and wondering when to begin, the best time is now, before discomfort sets in. A pelvic floor physical therapist can help you feel more confident, comfortable, and connected to your body as it changes.
We'd love to help you at Cappuccino Physical Therapy. We offer pelvic floor PT during pregnancy as well as the postpartum period and proudly serve the Conejo Valley.
Contact us to get started today. We'd love to help. Have questions before you begin? Submit a contact form or give us a call and we'll be in touch.
