Importance of Pelvic PT During Pregnancy
Did you know that pelvic health PT can be beneficial during pregnancy? If you saw one of our recent Instagram posts titled “Top 5 Reasons You Should See Pelvic PT During Pregnancy” you got a little sneak peak into today’s topic. For a long time, pregnancy has been treated as a disadvantage and considered a time when women are “fragile” or “delicate.” Pregnancy is anything but fragile or delicate. It’s time we start empowering women to take charge of their health and embrace this amazing experience. Your body is working hard, but so can you, Mama. Let’s dive into the world of the benefits pelvic PT can offer during pregnancy and beyond.
It blows my mind when patients tell me they were told by their birth provider that pelvic PT wouldn’t help them during pregnancy. I’ve also had birth providers ask me if I think there would be any benefit to referring patients during pregnancy. Are we being serious?! The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity per week during pregnancy. Do you know who is an exercise and muscle expert? A physical therapist! Who’s better to assist with exercise modifications and be able to manage musculoskeletal symptoms of pregnancy than a physical therapist?
Low back and pelvic pain is commonplace with up to 90% of women experiencing it at some point during their pregnancy. Being engaged in pelvic floor PT can allow us to address symptoms when they start. We shouldn’t be waiting until symptoms are preventing the ability to walk or just saying it’s just something to deal with until delivery. Being an orthopedic and pelvic physical therapist, I have a lot of skills including manual therapy, pelvic positioning techniques and supportive taping which can help reduce symptoms and allow you to feel better throughout your pregnancy.
Most importantly, pelvic PT can help you prepare for labor and delivery. How many people go into their first delivery feeling confident they know what to do? Very few! Women are not taught how to push. They are not taught how to breathe properly. They are not taught how to prepare the pelvic floor to reduce the risk of birth related pelvic floor injuries. Pelvic floor injuries sustained at delivery have effects on the physical and mental well-being of mothers even years later. The risk of these injuries can significantly be reduced if we improve awareness of services that are available.
Pelvic PT can be initiated two to four weeks after delivery, even before you have your six week follow up with your birth provider. There is new evidence to support the sooner we start getting your core muscles to return to proper function, the sooner you will be able to get back to being active. This is even more effective if you already had PT in pregnancy to set the network of motor planning. Had a C-section? Even more important to have your pelvic PT assist with monitoring wound healing and promote scar mobility. We can also help you with ergonomics for lifting and carrying your child.
They say it takes a village to raise a child, but it also takes a village to raise and empower a mother. Pregnancy is a wondrous time in life but we can’t enjoy it if the aches and pains are making us miserable. If you don’t have a medical condition which contraindicates exercise, let’s keep you going. For those of you who have a family member or a friend who’s expecting, maybe consider gifting them something that will support them during their journey– pelvic floor PT, lactation consultant or a doula. I guarantee they will appreciate it more than that wipes warmer you have in your Amazon cart.
