Pregnancy
Your body, your birth and beyond.
As a pelvic PT, I do not think that anyone should be in pain during pregnancy, and no one should “wait until the baby comes” to be pain free.
Hip, low back and pelvic girdle pain are common during pregnancy. Sometimes they worsen later in pregnancy and often times with additional pregnancies.
Understanding Pregnancy Related Pain
The pelvic floor muscles together with the ligaments, hold the bones of the hip girdle together creating a stable unit. During pregnancy, changes in hormones increase ligamentous laxity, and the pelvic girdle begins to widen to accommodate the growing baby.
These changes put increase strain on the pelvic floor muscles to work harder. This is often one of the drivers for pain during pregnancy, occurring in the pelvic girdle, pubic symphysis, low back, hip or tailbone.
The deep core muscles work together with the pelvic floor to stabilize the pelvic girdle and lower back. During pregnancy, abdominal muscles also become stretched and lengthened, creating weakness and contributing to decreased stability and pain.
At the same time, other muscles (hip flexors, adductors, deep hip rotators) will begin to activate in patterns that they are not primarily used for to assist in movement. This can create other muscle tightness and tension, leading to additional pregnancy pain.
How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help
Soft tissue work, stretching, and learning how to activate the pelvic floor with the deep core helps to reduce pregnancy pain and make movements easier (getting in/out of bed or the car, dressing, stair climbing).
Addressing changes in posture, breathing, and muscle imbalance can resolve these symptoms and help prepare you for birth.
Normal movement is important in the end of pregnancy to prepare the body for labor and delivery, and then postpartum time period after.
Staying Active During Pregnancy
Today, women more than ever are in the gyms, and maintaining levels of fitness throughout pregnancy. Understanding alignment and coordination of muscle control during pregnancy changes is crucial to maintaining successful fitness routines and goals.
I believe it is important for bodies to move, at all levels and during all time periods, and pregnancy is one of them!
Labor and Delivery Prep
As a Doula, I cannot emphasize birth education and labor prep enough. All of my prenatal sessions incorporate birth education, resources, positioning, breathing and labor prep as well.