Physiotherapy during Pregnancy

Pregnancy can be a beautiful and challenging time. Your body adjusts and changes throughout pregnancy to accommodate your growing baby. These changes can sometimes lead to pain and discomfort.

​

Areas which are often affected during pregnancy are:

​

• The Sacroiliac joint (back of the pelvis)

• Pubic symphysis (front of the pelvis

• Lower back

• Mid back

• Wrists

 

An experienced pelvic health physiotherapist can help reduce your pain and discomfort. . We will carry out a safe and thorough assessment and tailor an individualized treatment plan, which may consist of soft tissue release, manual therapy, activity modification, and exercises.

​

Pregnancy and exercise

​

If you are healthy and your pregnancy is normal, exercising during pregnancy can benefit both you and your growing baby. However, there is often confusion around the type and intensity of exercise that is appropriate. Cindy can help provide clarity around staying active throughout pregnancy and, if required, prescribe individualized, trimester-appropriate exercise plans.

​

Pelvic health during pregnancy

​

Pelvic health is vital during pregnancy, and it is often the first time in our lives we think of how our bladder, bowel, and pelvic floor work. If you have any pelvic health concerns during your pregnancy, we recommend seeing one of our physiotherapists for a pelvic health check. This will usually consist of a pelvic floor assessment, strengthening, bowel health advice, and, later in your pregnancy, birth preparation.

​

Birth preparation

​

We now have emerging evidence of the effectiveness of specific birth preparation techniques.

​

Perineal massage may:

• Reduces the risk of 3rd and 4th degree perineal tears by 64%

• Reduces the likelihood of an episiotomy

• Significantly reduces the second stage of labour

• Significantly less likely to experience perineal pain post-birth

• 30% reduction in risk of anal incontinence

Pelvic floor muscle training may: 

• Significantly reduces the second stage of labour.

• Significantly increases the likelihood of an intact perineum

 

Our expert pelvic health physiotherapists can help prepare your body for birth, reduce the risk of injuries during birth, keep you active, and reduce pain and discomfort.