8 Reasons You Need Pelvic P.T. During Pregnancy
“Pregnancy and childbirth are some of the most amazing and challenging experiences a woman’s body can go through.”
Let's be real, pregnancy it can be leave us feeling like our bodies are no longer ours. We feel weak, tired, and uncomfortable. We hardly recognize our bodies! A skilled pelvic physical therapist can help you feel strong, comfortable, and empowered throughout your pregnancy and beyond.
1.EMPOWERMENT: During this transformative time, pelvic floor physical therapy is like a secret weapon for women. Your PT can help women feel more confident about their bodies, providing them with essential knowledge about birth positions, safe exercises, and good sleeping habits. They can also teach women how to relax and contract their pelvic muscles with proper breathing techniques, empowering them to be in control of their bodies during pregnancy
2. REDUCE TEARING: Pelvic floor physical therapy can also reduce the risk or severity of tearing during delivery. Yes, some tearing is common during childbirth, but with the help of a good pelvic PT, women can gain awareness and flexibility in their pelvic muscles, making them less prone to tearing during delivery. Your PT may use biofeedback, breathing techniques and perineal massage to help you be more in control during delivery.
3. BETTER BIRTH OUTCOMES: Studies have shown that staying active during pregnancy can lead to better birth outcomes. With the help of pelvic floor physical therapy, women can enjoy a lower risk of postpartum depression, shorter hospital stays, and healthy birth weight for the baby.
4. FASTER RECOVERY: Pelvic floor physical therapy can also speed up postpartum recovery. After giving birth, women may experience a variety of physical changes, including weakened pelvic floor muscles, abdominal separation (known as diastasis recti), and back pain. These changes can make everyday tasks, such as carrying a baby or lifting objects, uncomfortable or even painful.
5. PREVENT AND HEAL DIASTASIS RECTI: A pelvic PT can work with you to develop a personalized exercise program that can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, improve posture, and reduce back pain. What’s more, a pelvic PT can teach the woman how to safely and effectively engage her core muscles, which can help improve abdominal separation.
6. PREVENT AND TREAT INCONTINENCE: Postpartum women sometimes experience urinary or bowel incontinence, which can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help women regain control over these bodily functions by teaching them exercises and techniques to strengthen their pelvic floor muscles.
7. REDUCE PAINFUL PENETRATION: It's not uncommon for postpartum women to experience pain during sexual intercourse as well. Pelvic floor physical therapy can address this issue by teaching the woman relaxation and breathing techniques to help reduce pain during intercourse.
8. WELLBEING SUPPORT: Lastly, many postpartum women experience a range of emotions, including anxiety, depression, and mood swings. Pelvic floor physical therapy can be a safe space for women to discuss these emotions and receive support and guidance as they navigate the postpartum period.
