How Can Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Help During Pregnancy?

Are you looking for a way to make your pregnancy as comfortable and positive as possible? Do you want to help ensure a smooth transition into parenthood? Pelvic floor physiotherapy is an increasingly popular form of therapy that can provide many benefits during pregnancy.

This gentle, non-invasive approach helps promote overall health and well-being through targeting specific muscles of the pelvic girdle to improve their strength, flexibility, coordination, and endurance.

Physiotherapy in Richmond Hill helps to strengthen and tone the muscles, as well as improve blood circulation and nerve supply. By understanding how pelvic floor physiotherapy works and its potential benefits during pregnancy, expectant mothers can be better prepared for this new experience in their lives.

What Does the Pelvic Floor Do?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and ligaments in the pelvis that support the bladder, bowel and uterus. They help to keep these organs in place and also help to control the flow of urine and stool.

The pelvic floor can be weakened by childbirth, obesity, age, or repeated straining due to constipation or chronic coughing. When this happens, you may experience problems such as urinary or faecal incontinence, pain during sex, or prolapse (when an organ falls out of place).

Need for Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help to treat problems such as urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, and constipation. It can also help to improve sexual function. It’s extremely beneficial in helping to maintain optimal pelvic health during pregnancy. Pelvic floor physiotherapy usually involves exercises that you do at home, as well as manual therapy techniques performed by a physical therapist.

Is Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Safe?

Physiotherapy is generally safe. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. Make sure that the therapist you work with is certified and experienced in pelvic floor physiotherapy. Don’t forget to inform your therapist about any health conditions you have or medications you’re taking. And finally, always listen to your body and stop if something feels uncomfortable.

Benefits of Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help to prevent or treat pelvic floor problems during and after pregnancy. It can help to improve bladder control, bowel control, and sexual function. It may also help to reduce the risk of developing stress incontinence after giving birth. The various advantages of pelvic floor physiotherapy for a pregnant mom are listed below.

Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor Muscles

Certain pelvic floor muscles help in keeping the bladder and uterus in place. These muscles also support the rectum and help with bowel movements. During pregnancy, the growing baby puts extra pressure on these muscles, and they can become weakened. This can cause you to leak urine when you laugh, cough, sneeze, or exercise. It can also lead to haemorrhoids or an infection of the vagina called vaginitis.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help you learn how to use these muscles correctly. Keeping your pelvic floor muscles strong and healthy is important during pregnancy, as they help to support your uterus and baby.

Proper Posture and Technique With Daily Activities

Your therapist can provide individualized instructions and exercises to help you maintain good posture and alignment throughout your pregnancy. This may help to reduce pain and fatigue, and can even improve your baby’s positioning for birth.

Fall Asleep Faster and Sleep Better

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help to relieve pain and tension in the hips and lower back, which are often major sources of discomfort and sleeplessness. Proper function of the pelvic floor muscles helps to keep the spine alignment correct and can improve overall breathing. Strengthening the pelvic floor muscles through targeted exercises can help to promote a sense of calm and relaxation, leading to a more restful sleep.

Treatment of Lower Back and Pelvic Pain During Pregnancy

The pelvic floor muscles support the uterus, bladder, and bowel. They can become weak and stretched due to the added weight of the baby and increased pressure on the pelvic floor from the baby’s head as it moves through the birth canal. Weak muscles can lead to instability and pain, so strengthening them can help to reduce or eliminate pain.

Selection of Birthing Position

There is no one perfect birthing position for everyone – each woman needs to find the position that is best for her. However, pelvic floor physiotherapy can help to identify any potential issues or problems that may make certain positions difficult or uncomfortable. For example, if you have a lot of tension in your pelvic floor muscles, this can result in pain or discomfort when trying to assume certain positions. Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help to release this tension, making it easier for you to find a comfortable position during labor.

How Does Physiotherapy Help Fertility Issues?

Physiotherapy can help to improve blood flow to the uterus and improve the function of the pelvic floor muscles. In addition, physiotherapy can help to correct any underlying postural problems that may be contributing to infertility. Physiotherapy can also be helpful in managing pain and stress, which can both have a negative impact on fertility.

What to Look for in a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist?

If you are looking for a pelvic floor physical therapist in Canada, the best place to start is by contacting your provincial association of physiotherapists. Most provinces have a directory of physiotherapists on their website, which will list pelvic floor physiotherapists near you.

When choosing a pelvic floor physiotherapist, it is important to consider their qualifications and experience. They should also have additional training in the evaluation and treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction. Look for a therapist who is up-to-date on the latest research and who uses evidence-based techniques. Ask your doctor or other health care professionals for a referral or do an online search.

Wrapping Up

It’s best to see a pelvic floor physiotherapist during your second trimester. By the second trimester, your baby has grown large enough that you should be able to feel them moving around and kicking. That’s also about when many women start to experience bladder leakage, so it’s a good time to get help. A pelvic floor physiotherapist can show you how to do exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.

Author Bio:

Cindy Williams is a blogger in Canada. She graduated with honors from the University of British Columbia with a dual degree in Business Administration and Creative Writing.