Prenatal

The only reason you would need to avoid pelvic PT during pregnancy is if your OBGYN has placed you on bed rest. Otherwise, pelvic PT is a very safe and conservative way to support your pregnancy, so you don’t need specific approval from your OBGYN.

We do ask for your OB to provide a “clearance” form for internal examination and treatment. This is simply to keep everyone on the same page and ensure we work together as part of your birth team. If your OBGYN has cleared you for intercourse during pregnancy, rest assured that our internal exam or treatment is much less invasive.

A common misconception about pregnancy is that you need to stop exercising or only do “pregnancy-safe” exercises. This belief isn’t backed by evidence. In fact, most exercises you did before pregnancy are safe to continue!

A few exceptions:

• Lying on your back: After the first trimester, about 25% of women may feel lightheaded when lying on their back due to pressure on the blood vessels to your heart. If you’re in this group, avoid exercises in this position after 13 weeks. However, if you don’t feel lightheaded, you may tolerate short periods on your back.
• Lying on your stomach: Once you have a noticeable bump, exercises that involve lying on your tummy should be avoided.
• High-risk sports: Avoid activities with a risk of physical contact or falling to prevent impact injuries.
• Barbell movements: Avoid movements like cleans, clean and jerks, and snatches once the bar path crosses your growing belly.

Always listen to your body and modify as needed to stay comfortable and safe during your pregnancy!

No, it’s not bad to do core exercises while pregnant! This is a common myth that isn’t backed by evidence.

In fact, avoiding all core exercises during pregnancy can lead to less favorable healing outcomes. When you skip core exercises, your muscles weaken, making it harder for them to support your body as it changes. This can increase the risk of pregnancy-related aches and pains and result in a more challenging postpartum recovery due to muscle deconditioning.

That said, some core exercises are more beneficial during pregnancy than others. Always listen to your body, and consider working with pregnancy specialists or a pelvic PT to ensure you’re doing exercises that support your unique needs.

Absolutely! Many pregnant women come to us not because of a problem, but to ensure they’re doing safe and effective exercises throughout their pregnancy. We work with women to prevent pregnancy or postpartum conditions, such as urinary leakage, fecal leakage, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pressure, pain during intercourse, diastasis recti, and general pain.

Consistent prenatal PT has a big impact. Our patients who regularly attend prenatal sessions recover faster and more smoothly than those who either didn’t attend or only came sporadically.

We also offer 1:1 birth prep sessions that focus on preparing you for labor and delivery. In these sessions, you’ll learn to control your pelvic floor muscles (both engaging and relaxing), practice pushing techniques, and assess various birthing positions to find what feels best for your body. We’ll also discuss early, middle, and active laboring positions. Your partner or birth support person is welcome to attend to better support you during delivery.

Research supports that consistent pelvic floor PT can help reduce labor times, decrease the risk of severe perineal tearing, lower the chance of instrument-assisted delivery, and improve postpartum recovery.

If you are experiencing any symptoms, then ASAP! Symptoms include but are not limited to: Pubic Bone Pain, Lightning Crotch, Round Ligament Pain, Hip Pain, Back Pain, SI Joint Pain, Sciatica, Pelvic Heaviness, Prolapse, and Leakage. 

Some patients start their prenatal PT journey in the first trimester, especially if they’re experiencing aches and pains. This is more common in women who are on their second pregnancy or beyond, as symptoms often appear earlier.

Most patients start in the second trimester when they’re feeling less nauseated and might start to notice some discomfort. If you’re not experiencing pain, the second trimester is also a great time to work on preventing pregnancy-related pain and postpartum issues.

Starting pelvic PT in the third trimester can still be beneficial, especially for birth prep and pain management. However, the earlier you start, the more likely you are to see the full range of benefits during pregnancy and postpartum recovery.

No, it is not normal to experience pain during pregnancy. While you may feel some discomfort from your baby pushing on your ribs or bladder, you should never be in pain. Many providers might tell you that pain is “normal,” but if that were true, why do only about 50% of pregnant women experience it?

If you’re feeling pain, it’s important to seek help sooner rather than later. The longer you wait, the worse it can get, making it harder and more time-consuming to manage.

Common causes of pain during pregnancy include muscle imbalances, weakness, hormonal changes that affect your joints, and shifts in posture or walking patterns. These issues are often more noticeable in women experiencing their second (or more) pregnancies or carrying multiples.

What can you do about it? Get a pelvic floor physical therapist on your team! A pelvic floor PT will assess your whole body to find the root cause of your pain and treat it. They’ll also prescribe corrective exercises to help stabilize your body, preventing pain from returning or even occurring in the first place.

Pelvic PTs bring a unique skill set that complements your other birth team members. We are the only providers trained in internal pelvic floor muscle examination and treatment. The tools and techniques you’ll learn during your pelvic PT sessions are not covered by any other birth provider.

This is crucial because if your pelvic floor muscles aren’t functioning properly, it can slow down labor and increase the risk of complications. Working with a pelvic PT ensures your body is well-prepared for labor and delivery, helping you have a smoother experience.

A 1:1 birth prep session with a pelvic PT offers a unique experience that goes beyond what you learn in a general birth education class. In these personalized sessions, you receive an individualized assessment of how your body and pelvic floor function in different birthing positions and how your pelvic floor muscles respond when you practice pushing.

Pelvic PTs are the only providers trained to fully examine and treat pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, which can arise during pregnancy. In fact, research shows that only 50% of women do not know how to properly engage and relax their pelvic floor muscles. This one-on-one assessment can address that gap, teaching you how to effectively use your pelvic floor during birth. This knowledge not only helps reduce the risk of prolonged labor, complications, and severe perineal tearing but also gives you more confidence going into delivery.