Birth Prep

Why is pelvic health physiotherapy useful in pregnancy?

Pelvic health physiotherapy is a useful for treating pelvic girdle pain, which is common during pregnancy. We can assess where the source of the pain is and treat with manual techniques, advice and education.

What about birth preparation?

If you are planning on having a vaginal delivery, then having a pregnancy MOT appointment is hugely beneficial. During a pregnancy appointment, we can assess your pelvis and pelvic floor muscles to help you get to know that area better. This can potentially create some space in your pelvic outlet, to allow the baby to descend effectively.

It is also a good way to know if your pelvic floor muscles are tight or have a normal resting tone prior to birth. We can teach you how to relax them further and how to to perineal massage (properly :) It is also useful to learn how to breathe effectively to lengthen the pelvic floor, for during the pushing stage thus prevent having to over-strain. We can also assess if there is pelvic floor weakness during pregnancy and if kegels are the right thing for you to be doing at this stage.

Lastly, during a pregnancy physiotherapy appointment, we go through some birth biomechanic techniques, which are useful positions to be in during labour, which can make the most of gravity, the pelvic shape and its associated ligaments/muscles with an overall goal of a baby descending more effectively.

When is the best time during pregnancy to have an appointment like this?

If you are experiencing some pelvic pain or pelvic floor symptoms (bladder urgency, bladder leakage, painful sex or vaginal heaviness) then you can come along at any point during pregnancy.

If you would are not experiencing any of the above and would like to focus on birth prep, then 37 weeks or soon after is the perfect time to come along.

We also run a 45 min online workshop every 8 weeks about getting ready for birth

More info and booking available HERE