PREGNANCY

PREGNANCY & YOUR PELVIC FLOOR

Pelvic Floor Health During Pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body undergoes significant changes that can impact pelvic floor function. Pelvic Floor Dysfunction is a common concern, but with appropriate care and exercises, many issues can be managed or prevented.

Why Pelvic Floor Health Matters:

  • Prevention of Stress Urinary Incontinence: Stress urinary incontinence refers to urine leakage that occurs with activities like coughing, sneezing, or exercising. Strengthening your pelvic floor can help prevent this issue.

  • Assessment Timing: It is recommended to schedule your pelvic floor assessment early in your second trimester. This proactive approach helps to address any concerns before they become more problematic as your pregnancy progresses.

Consultation Options:

  • Initial Pregnancy Pelvic Floor Consultation: This appointment is ideal for pregnant women who do not currently experience symptoms like pelvic pain or urinary leakage but want to prevent potential issues and improve birth outcomes. If you experience symptoms such as stress urinary incontinence, which may have developed due to hormonal changes or other factors, this consultation provides time for both assessment and targeted treatment. It helps in managing symptoms and preventing them from worsening as your pregnancy progresses.

What to Expect:

  • Knowledge and Exercises: Your physiotherapist will provide guidance on exercises and strategies to strengthen and support your pelvic floor, tailored to your specific needs.

  • Ongoing Support: If symptoms arise, such as urinary leakage, your physiotherapist will work with you to address and manage these concerns effectively throughout your pregnancy.

For comprehensive care and support, scheduling a pelvic floor assessment early in your pregnancy can contribute significantly to your overall comfort and health during this important time.

PREPARING FOR BIRTH

Improving Vaginal Birth Outcomes with Pelvic Floor Function

Maximising pelvic floor function is key to enhancing your vaginal birth experience. During our pregnancy pelvic floor consultations, our physiotherapists focus on crucial aspects of pelvic floor health to support a smoother labor and delivery process.

Key Areas of Focus:

  1. Pelvic Floor Relaxation:

    • Assessment: We evaluate your ability to fully relax your pelvic floor. Women with an overactive pelvic floor—where muscles can contract but not fully relax—are at an increased risk of a prolonged second stage of labor. This can lead to a higher likelihood of interventions such as instrumental delivery or episiotomy and severe perineal injuries, including 3rd or 4th degree tears.

    • Intervention: Identifying and addressing issues with pelvic floor relaxation is crucial for improving overall pelvic function and reducing labor complications.

  2. Bearing Down (Pushing) Effectively:

    • Assessment: We assess how your pelvic floor muscles respond to bearing down or pushing. Ideally, the pelvic floor should elongate in response to this pressure. However, poor coordination can result in unintended pelvic floor contraction.

    • Training: If issues are detected, we provide cues and techniques to help you improve your ability to relax your pelvic floor during pushing. This can help reduce the risk of a prolonged second stage of labor.

Benefits of Consultation:

  • Enhanced Birth Outcomes: By addressing pelvic floor relaxation and coordination, you can decrease the risk of labour complications and improve your overall birth experience.

  • Personalised Guidance: Our physiotherapists offer tailored advice and exercises to prepare your pelvic floor for a smoother labor and delivery.

Scheduling a pregnancy pelvic floor consultation can provide you with valuable tools and insights to optimise your pelvic floor function and support a more favourable birth outcome.

PERINEAL MASSAGE

Understanding Perineal Health During Childbirth

The perineum is the area between the vaginal opening and the back passage (anus). During childbirth, your pelvic floor must stretch significantly—more than 300%—to accommodate the passage of the baby. This considerable stretching can sometimes lead to perineal tears.

Reducing the Risk of Perineal Tears:

  • Research Insights: Studies suggest that women who are preparing for their first vaginal delivery may reduce their risk of perineal tearing by 9% and episiotomy by 24% with appropriate interventions.

  • Perineal Massage: One effective strategy to prepare the perineum for childbirth is perineal massage. This technique helps to increase the elasticity of the perineal tissues, potentially reducing the likelihood of tears.

What to Expect During Your Consultation:

  • Discussion of Perineal Massage: During your birth prep appointment, our physiotherapists will discuss the benefits and techniques of perineal massage. This practice can be started from 34 weeks of gestation to help prepare your perineum for delivery.

  • Guidance and Support: If you have any questions or concerns about how to perform perineal massage, we offer detailed guidance and support through our birth prep consultations.

By addressing perineal health proactively, you can improve your chances of a smoother childbirth experience. If you’re interested in learning more about perineal massage or other aspects of pelvic floor health during pregnancy, please contact us to schedule a consultation.

PELVIC GIRDLE PAIN

Managing Pelvic Girdle Pain During Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a special time, but it can also bring discomfort and pain that may overshadow the joy of this experience. Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) is a common condition during pregnancy, characterised by pain in the back, hips, and pubic region.

Common Symptoms of Pelvic Girdle Pain:

  • Pain Standing on One Leg: Discomfort when standing on one leg, such as when dressing or getting dressed.

  • Pain Walking Up Stairs: Increased pain or difficulty when climbing stairs.

  • Pain Getting In and Out of the Car: Discomfort when entering or exiting a vehicle.

  • Pain Lying on Your Side in Bed: Trouble or pain when lying on your side, particularly at night.

  • Pain Rolling Over in Bed: Discomfort when shifting positions in bed.

  • Radiating Pain: Pain may sometimes extend into the upper parts of your legs.

What Causes Pelvic Girdle Pain?

During pregnancy, your body undergoes significant changes, including increased movement in the pelvis. These changes can lead to postural compensation and stress on the pelvic joints and muscles, resulting in pain.

How Physiotherapy Can Help:

Physiotherapy aims to address pelvic girdle pain by:

  • Treating Muscles and Joints: Physiotherapy focuses on the muscles and joints of the pelvis to improve biomechanics and function.

  • Reducing Pain: Through targeted exercises and manual therapy, physiotherapists help alleviate pain and improve mobility.

  • Improving Function: By adjusting movement patterns and strengthening key areas, physiotherapy helps reduce discomfort and enhance daily function.

If you are experiencing symptoms of pelvic girdle pain, consider scheduling an ‘Initial Musculoskeletal Consultation’ with us. Our physiotherapists can provide a thorough assessment and personalized treatment plan to help manage and alleviate your pain, allowing you to enjoy your pregnancy more fully.