Pelvic Floor Physio for Clients During Pregnancy

Strengthen Your Pelvic Floor as Your Pregnancy Progresses With Get Right Physio

Pregnancy is among the most exciting but nerve-wracking times for expectant parents. As the prospect of childbirth looms, ensuring you’re in the best shape possible can make both your pregnancy and labour more comfortable and less daunting.

Our team of physiotherapists at Get Right Physio in the Great Toronto Area work with soon-to-be mothers all the time. We help them to reduce pain, strengthen pelvic muscles before giving birth, improve bladder control, and enhance overall well-being during pregnancy.

Request a consultation with one of your expert therapists today and learn how pelvic floor physiotherapy can support you before and during your upcoming pregnancy.

What Happens to the Pelvic Floor During Pregnancy?

Pregnancy causes significant changes to your body throughout the entirety of the gestation period, and one part of your body that’s particularly affected is your pelvic floor. Your pelvic floor is made up of a set of muscles that lie between the pubic bone and tailbone. These muscles work to ensure your uterus, bladder, and bowel function properly.

Increased pressure is put on your pelvic floor during pregnancy as the baby grows. Not only that, but the hormones released at this time can also cause the muscles to soften and weaken. These muscles can stretch to twice their size during labour, further impairing your pelvic floor.

What Does Physiotherapy for the Pelvic Floor During Pregnancy Entail?

Pelvic floor physiotherapy typically consists of a range of exercises and practices that promote the strengthening of your pelvic floor muscles, which in turn serves to alleviate pain, minimize incontinence, and prepare the body for delivery.

Your first session will usually comprise a series of external and internal tests to assess the strength of your pelvic floor and the ability of these muscles to relax. At this time, your therapist will also check for associated disorders like incontinence, prolapse, sexual dysfunction, poor posture, and pain.

After your therapist has evaluated your pelvic floor muscles, they’ll create a personalized programme. This plan will focus on key exercises to improve muscle strength and flexibility throughout your pregnancy and in the lead-up to childbirth. Many women also continue pelvic floor physio postpartum to help with discomfort and ensure the muscles fully heal.

Some of the main goals for pelvic floor physiotherapy during pregnancy include:

Strengthening the muscles to assist the uterus as the baby grows
Using breathing techniques to relax the muscles
Reducing pain and discomfort
Preventing poor posture as a result of poor muscle tone

Benefits of Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy During Pregnancy

Pelvic floor physiotherapy is among the best ways to support your body as you move through the different stages of pregnancy. Below are just some of the benefits of physical therapy for your pelvic floor during pregnancy.

The changes in your body throughout pregnancy and the increasing size of your baby can cause you a considerable amount of pain. During your physiotherapy sessions, you’ll strengthen your pelvic floor, abdomen, and back, helping you reduce aches and pains in each of these areas.

Your therapist will work with you on breathing techniques to release muscle tension on your pelvic floor. These multi-functional exercises help you loosen your pelvic muscles during delivery and can also allow you to decompress to relax your mind.

Many women struggle with the side effects of a weak pelvic floor during pregnancy, and these can include urinary or fecal incontinence, pain during intercourse, and prolapse. As greater pressure is placed on the pelvic floor, physiotherapy can help you build up these muscles to reduce the risk of encountering such issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

When Should I Start Pelvic Floor Physio for Pregnancy?

While there’s no wrong or right time during your pregnancy to start pelvic floor physiotherapy, it’s recommended you consult a therapist as you move into your second trimester. It’s best to start strengthening your pelvic floor muscles while the baby is still small, as you can effectively enhance your muscle strength and flexibility before you begin carrying much additional weight.

However, it’s perfectly fine to commence physiotherapy in the first or third trimester, and the right time for you will depend on your specific needs, pending approval from your obstetrician or midwife.

Is Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Safe During Pregnancy?

As long as you work closely with a trained physiotherapist and avoid over-exerting yourself, pelvic floor therapy is very safe and highly beneficial during pregnancy. Throughout each session, you’ll learn how to use the correct form to complete specific exercises safely, and you’ll also find relief from unpleasant and painful pregnancy side effects.

It’s important to note that this timeframe may be adjusted for different clients.

How Often Do I Need to Attend Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy Sessions During Pregnancy?

While there’s no optimum number of times you should attend pelvic floor physiotherapy, many women choose to partake in weekly sessions for around 6-8 weeks. Depending on the symptoms you encounter during pregnancy, you may require a weekly visit for longer or periodic sessions throughout each trimester.

Outside of in-person physio sessions, many of the exercises you work on with your therapist can be implemented into your everyday life, including at your house or condo. Your therapist will talk you through which practices are suitable for you to continue to do in your own time.

What Exercises or Techniques Are Involved in Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy for Pregnant Women?

There are a multitude of exercises that are used as part of pelvic floor physiotherapy. Below are a few examples:

Kegel exercises
Deep squats
Lunges
Glute bridges

Prepare for Childbirth at Get Right Physio With Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy

Relieve yourself from pelvic pain and give yourself the best preparation for a smooth delivery by attending physiotherapy sessions to strengthen your pelvic floor ahead of childbirth.

Our team’s tried and tested exercises will help you loosen up your pelvic floor, improve your muscle capabilities, and make use of breathing techniques. Each of these comes together to mitigate discomfort and reduce pain.

Find out how we can help women like you train your pelvic floor by arranging a consultation with one of our therapists.

Step 1

Contact us at:

647-370-5162
hello@getrightphysio.com
Complete intake form.

Our intake specialists are waiting to assist you.

Step 2

Let us learn about you:

Speak to our client coordinator so we can understand your unique circumstances to match you with the right therapist to help you reach your goals.

Step 3

Our team comes to you!

We will book you in within 24-48 hours at a time that works best for you. Our therapist shows up at your door with everything needed to get you closer to your health, mobility and client-centred goals!

Contact Us To Book Appointment!

*Extended health benefits can be used for in-home physiotherapy

     Excellent  
     Based on 62 reviews 
    
 
 
   
 
 
        
   M 
 2024-01-10
 
 
  Thankyou for your  kindness and caring care for our loved ones! Kindness these days is very rare and refreshing and very very powerful in healing and prospering! Ara, Claudia,Snehal and Sharon You Rock! All staff were very kind and helpful!! Many thanks and much love and light 💓Molly and Steven 🤘
  
 
       
   Bob Weese 
 2024-01-09
 
 
  I was very happy with the physiotherapy services and the encouragement I received from Sabrina. She was always punctual and cheerful.  The advice and exercises she provided were appropriate for my age and condition and helpful in strengthening my legs and arms.
  
 
       
   Enza Pasquale 
 2024-01-02
 
 
  Thanks you to Get Right Physio and especially Sabrina for getting my 90 year old mother back on her feet after hip replacement surgery. I was very pleased with the company’s professional expertise and for sending us the right therapist for my mother. Sabrina was very kind, knowledgeable and understanding. I would not hesitate to use the company again.
  
 
       
   A Shah 
 2023-12-19
 
 
  Claudia was highly professional and had a wealth of knowledge to answer all my questions about pelvic floor health and muscle pain post partum. She was friendly and really took the time to teach me the exercises and go at a pace I was comfortable with. Highly recommended!
  
 
       
   Catherine Leslie 
 2023-12-12
 
 
  Claudia and her team were instrumental in rehabilitating my mom after her stroke. Claudia is a true professional with a wealth of knowledge but she also has a genuine kindness that instantly put my mom at ease. Claudia has a personalized approach, she took the time to understand not just the physical aspects of my mom's condition but also her unique needs and goals. Claudia communicates clearly and prioritized my mom's safety and wellbeing. Her home exercises and practical tips helped to integrate rehabilitation seamlessly into our daily lives.  My family and I are grateful for Claudia's hard work with my mom.
  
 
       
   Korice Moir 
 2023-12-05
 
 
  Claudia is a wonderful physiotherapist. You are in good hands here!
  
 
       
   Chito Wong 
 2023-11-27
 
 
  Amazing service and very meticulous in making sure that client is comfortable and understands the exercises.
  
 
       
   Ann Bank 
 2023-11-14
 
 
  I have experienced many physiotherapy clinics over the years and found the treatments I received from Get Right physiotherapist Izabela to be top notch.  I especially liked that she came to my home to give them.
  
 
       
   Michael Falagario 
 2023-10-27
 
 
  My wife used their in-house services. She felt very comfortable with Claudia, and was really happy with her overall results through physiotherapy. The fact that she came to us was a big bonus! Highly recommend!
  
 
       
   Karen Young 
 2023-10-18
 
 
  The quality, responsiveness and kindness of Claudia’s team is outstanding.