Preparing for Birth in Hillsborough, NC: The Benefits of Pelvic Floor Therapy as Prenatal Prevention
Pregnancy is a beautiful journey, but it also brings significant changes and challenges to a woman’s body. One area that bears a lot of impact during this time is the pelvic floor. Many women only become aware of pelvic floor therapy after giving birth, often to address postpartum issues like incontinence, pain, or prolapse. However, incorporating pelvic floor therapy as a preventive measure before delivery can enhance labor outcomes and accelerate postpartum recovery. Here, we explore why pelvic floor therapy is an essential component of a healthy pregnancy and a smoother recovery.
Understanding the Role of the Pelvic Floor in Pregnancy and Delivery: The pelvic floor acts as a support structure for the growing baby, providing stability to the uterus and assisting in pushing during labor. But as the pregnancy progresses, the additional weight, the change in the center of gravity and hormonal changes place stress on these muscles, making them more vulnerable to dysfunction. By beginning pelvic floor therapy before delivery, you can help your pelvic floor keep its integrity through the pregnancy and withstand the pressures of delivery.
Benefits of Pelvic Floor Therapy for Expectant Mothers:
Connection of the Pelvic Floor: Pelvic floor therapy during pregnancy is less about building strength and more about developing that mind/ body connection and flexibility in the pelvic floor muscles, which are crucial for childbirth. Coordination with your breath into your pelvic space can reduce the likelihood of perineal tearing and help manage pain during labor.
Improves Pushing Technique and Control: At The Perinatal Pelvis we teach effective breathing and muscle control techniques that can be extremely helpful during labor. Proper breathing and relaxation techniques reduce strain on the muscles, allowing for a more efficient pushing phase and potentially shortening labor time.
Reduces the Risk of Incontinence: Pregnancy can put immense pressure on the bladder, leading to stress incontinence (unintentional leakage during activities like coughing or sneezing). Pelvic floor therapy can target and strengthen the muscles that control urination, reducing the likelihood of incontinence both before and after delivery.
Lowers the Risk of Prolapse: Pelvic organ prolapse (the dropping of pelvic organs into or outside the vaginal area) is a potential postpartum condition that can arise due to weakness and difficulty managing intra-abdominal pressure. By strengthening these muscles beforehand, pelvic floor therapy can help reduce the risk of prolapse.
Facilitates Faster Postpartum Recovery: Women who undergo pelvic floor therapy before delivery often experience a faster and smoother postpartum recovery. If you have done the preventative work through your pregnancy to establish ROM, strength, coordination and endurance of your pelvic floor it responds faster after delivery and ultimately gets you feeling better in your body faster.
Prepares an Appropriate Mindset: The Perinatal Pelvis recognizes that pregnancy, delivery and postpartum is not just physical, it is highly emotional and mental. Preparing your mindset, setting reasonable expectations for postpartum healing, and navigating this new role as a mother is something that should be given priority.
What to Expect in Prenatal Pelvic Floor Therapy:
Here at The Perinatal Pelvis we focus 4 keys elements of prenatal care:
Breathing Techniques: Deep diaphragmatic breathing to relax and activate the pelvic floor muscles. Breathing not only helps with effective pushing techniques but also activates our vagus nerve which can help with pain during labor.
Pelvic Floor Function: The pelvic floor has the job of stability, elimination, support and sexual pleasure. Pregnancy can make those functions more difficult therefore being intentional about addressing all the functions of the pelvic floor through pregnancy is important.
Mindset: Pregnancy and delivery brings a lot of stress, uncertainty and change. We incorporate guided meditations, journal prompts and help you map out a personalized birth plan.
Body Mechanics Training: Guidance on posture, lifting, and movement to reduce strain and protect the pelvic area during pregnancy. Catching the aches and pains that come with pregnancy before they become chronic helps you stay as active as possible through your pregnancy and recovery.
When to Start Pelvic Floor Therapy in Pregnancy:
Starting as early as the second trimester is ideal. This timing allows the body to adapt and grow with the exercises, ensuring optimal strength by the time of delivery. But even if you’re later in your pregnancy, it’s never too late to benefit from pelvic floor therapy.
Taking a proactive approach with pelvic floor therapy before delivery can bring profound benefits for both labor and postpartum recovery. By preparing your pelvic floor muscles, you’re giving yourself the best possible foundation for a healthy and empowering childbirth experience. If you're an expectant mother, consider adding pelvic floor therapy to your prenatal care plan for better strength, control, and recovery during this incredible journey. If you are local we would love to provide you with a 15 minute free consultation to see if pelvic floor therapy is the right decision for you. Also make sure to ask about our pregnancy bundle.
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