Why see a Women’s Health Physiotherapist During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy is a transformative journey that can bring joy and excitement, but it also presents physical challenges and changes to a woman's body. As you prepare for the arrival of your little one, visiting a women's health physiotherapist can be immensely beneficial in ensuring a smoother pregnancy, labour, and postpartum recovery. Let's explore into why this proactive step is crucial for every expecting mother:

1. Helping you Feel Comfortable and Improve Pain During Pregnancy

A women's health physiotherapist specialises in the unique needs of women's bodies, we understand the changing demands on your body as well as changing hormone levels and how this can impact how you feel. There are common pains which arise during pregnancy which we are well placed to provide you with tailored exercises, stretches and advice based on your needs.

2. Provide Safe Exercise Guidance During Pregnancy

Exercise is recommended in every uncomplicated pregnancy to help improve outcomes. However, it can be really scary knowing where to start. Particularly if you have experienced miscarriage in the past. Pelvic health physiotherapists are trained to provide exercise to help keep you feeling good during pregnancy. We know that exercise can improve birth outcomes as well as decrease the risk of gestational diabetes and hypertension. So if you’re pregnant and don’t know where to start, your pelvic health physiotherapist is a great resource to help guide you.

3. Preparation for Birth

Birth place significant demands on a woman's body, particularly the pelvic floor muscles.

During birth the uterus contracts to help push the baby out, the pelvic floor muscles need to relax to allow baby to pass through. Let me repeat that. The uterus contracts, the pelvic floor needs to lengthen to allow baby to pass through.

There is emerging evidence that if a pregnant woman is aware on how to contract and relax their pelvic floor prior to birth this can reduce the length of the second stage of labour.

We can also teach you how to perform perineal massage. Perineal massage is a technique that can be performed from 34 weeks of pregnancy and has been shown to decrease the risk of grade 3&4 perineal tearing, reduces the risk of anal incontinence and severity of postpartum perineal pain.

Additionally, learning optimal labor positions and breathing techniques from a physiotherapist can facilitate a smoother delivery. By being mentally and physically prepared for childbirth can positively impact your birthing experience.

4. Discuss Ways to Improve Early Postpartum Care

It is not always a given that you will be seen by a pelvic health physiotherapist in the hospital after delivery. If you are, often it is the first or second day after delivery where you are quite often sleep deprived and have just been through a major life event. It is not always the best time to be taking on new information.

By reviewing with a women’s health physiotherapist in pregnancy, we can discuss simple ways to take care of yourself in this time. From teaching you how to take that first poo after delivery to ways to help with abdominal separation. We can help prepare you ahead of time so it is not something you have to worry about immediately after birth.