Pregnancy and childbirth bring incredible changes to your body. As your baby grows, your muscles, joints, ligaments, and pelvic floor adapt to support both you and your baby. While these changes are completely normal, they can also contribute to discomfort, pain, and pelvic floor dysfunction during pregnancy and after delivery.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is a safe, evidence-based approach that can help you prepare for birth, manage pregnancy-related symptoms, and support your recovery after childbirth. Whether you're expecting your first baby or recovering months after delivery, pelvic floor physiotherapy can help you move more comfortably, improve your confidence, and support your long-term health.

What Is the Pelvic Floor?

The pelvic floor is a group of muscles and connective tissues that form a supportive "hammock" at the base of your pelvis. These muscles play an important role in:

• Supporting the bladder, uterus, and bowel

• Maintaining bladder and bowel control

• Supporting your core and spine

• Sexual function

• Pregnancy, labour, and postpartum recovery

During pregnancy, these muscles experience increased pressure as your baby grows. Labour and delivery can also place significant demands on the pelvic floor, making rehabilitation an important part of postpartum recovery.

How Can Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Help During Pregnancy?

Many people assume discomfort during pregnancy is simply something they have to live with. While some changes are expected, many symptoms can be improved with physiotherapy.

Pelvic floor physiotherapy can help manage:

• Pelvic girdle pain

• Low back pain

• Hip pain

• Pelvic pressure or heaviness

• Urinary leakage

• Pain with movement or exercise

• Constipation

• Core weakness

Your physiotherapist will complete a thorough assessment and develop a personalized treatment plan based on your stage of pregnancy, symptoms, and goals.

Treatment may include education, exercise, breathing strategies, hands-on treatment, movement modifications, and pelvic floor muscle training.

Preparing Your Body for Birth

Pelvic floor physiotherapy isn't only for treating pain—it can also help prepare your body for labour and delivery.

During your prenatal visits, I may help you:

• Learn how to properly contract and relax your pelvic floor muscles

• Improve pelvic mobility

• Practice breathing techniques for labour

• Learn effective pushing strategies

• Prepare your body for the physical demands of childbirth

• Understand positions that may improve comfort during labour

Many people are surprised to learn that learning how to relax the pelvic floor is just as important as strengthening it.

How Can Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Help After Birth?

Whether you had a vaginal or a cesarean birth, your body goes through significant physical changes during childbirth.

Postpartum pelvic floor physiotherapy can help with:

• Urinary leakage

• Pelvic organ prolapse symptoms

• Perineal pain or scar discomfort

• Cesarean section scar mobility

• Diastasis recti (abdominal muscle separation)

• Pain during intercourse

• Persistent low back or pelvic pain

• Returning safely to exercise

Every postpartum recovery is unique. I can assess your healing and guide you through a gradual return to exercise, lifting, running, and other activities.

What Happens During a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Assessment?

Many people feel unsure about what to expect during their first appointment. Your assessment begins with a conversation about your symptoms, medical history, pregnancy or birth experience, and goals. I may assess:

• Posture

• Breathing mechanics

• Core muscle function

• Hip and back strength

• Movement patterns

• Pelvic floor muscle function

With your informed consent, an internal pelvic floor examination may be offered because it is considered the most accurate way to assess muscle strength, coordination, relaxation, and overall pelvic floor function. However, an internal examination is never required. Your comfort and preferences are always respected, and your treatment plan can be adapted if you choose not to have an internal assessment.

Is It Too Late to See a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist?

Not at all.

While many people benefit from seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist during pregnancy or shortly after delivery, it's never too late to seek care. Whether you're six weeks postpartum, six months postpartum, or several years after having children, treatment can still help improve symptoms such as urinary leakage, pelvic pain, abdominal weakness, and difficulty returning to exercise.

When Should You See a Pelvic Floor Physiotherapist?

Consider booking an assessment if you are:

• Pregnant and experiencing pelvic, hip, or back pain

• Leaking urine when coughing, sneezing, laughing, or exercising

• Feeling heaviness or pressure in your pelvis

• Recovering from a vaginal or cesarean birth

• Concerned about diastasis recti

• Experiencing pain during intercourse

• Planning to return to running, weightlifting, or high-impact exercise after having a baby

• Looking to prepare your body for labour and delivery

Early assessment can help address symptoms before they become more persistent and provide guidance throughout pregnancy and recovery.

Take the First Step Toward a Stronger Recovery

Pregnancy and postpartum recovery are significant physical journeys, and you don't have to navigate them alone. Pelvic floor physiotherapy provides personalized, evidence-based care to help you manage discomfort, prepare for birth, recover after delivery, and return to the activities you enjoy with confidence. Whether you're expecting your first baby or adjusting to life after childbirth, pelvic floor physiotherapy can support your recovery every step of the way. If you're pregnant or postpartum and would like to learn how pelvic floor physiotherapy can help, book an assessment today and take the first step toward feeling stronger, more comfortable, and confident in your body.