Pregnancy and Delivery
Pelvic Floor Therapy for Pregnancy and Delivery
About Pregnancy Preparation
Preparing for pregnancy involves more than just getting set up for a new family member—it also involves both mentally and physically preparing your body! Not just for childbirth, but also pregnancy in general. This is because pregnancy causes a wide range of bodily changes that can unfortunately result in some not-so-ideal symptoms.
During pregnancy, the pelvic floor takes on extra weight and pressure as your body experiences shifts in many of its muscles, bones, and ligaments. Your center of gravity shifts, your spine changes, and your uterus enlarges and moves. All of these bodily changes can cause a lot of new and often uncomfortable symptoms during and after pregnancy, such as:
- Aches and pains (in the lower back, hips, pelvis, pelvic girdle, and more)
- Urinary incontinence
- Constipation
- Dyspareunia
- Diastasis recti
- Pelvic organ prolapse
- And more
Many people have the impression that these symptoms are normal, or are just something that naturally comes along with the many challenges of pregnancy. However, that is not true! These symptoms can be better prevented and better managed by giving your body some love; especially your pelvic floor!
The pelvic floor plays a huge role in pregnancy, as the body experiences a total transformation during this time. Obviously, it plays a main role in delivery, too—regardless of whether you are delivering vaginally or via c-section. However, even outside of childbirth, the pelvic floor supports your pelvic organs, stability, and important functions like bowel movements, urination, and sexual appreciation throughout your entire pregnancy!
As a pelvic floor physical therapist, Dr. Laura Meihofer sees many patients for pelvic floor strengthening before, during, and after their pregnancy—helping them achieve optimal pelvic floor health and strength during this time. This allows patients to provide a healthy body for themselves and their baby. By strengthening their pelvic floor and addressing any weaknesses or dysfunctions, they can have a much easier pregnancy, childbirth, and even postpartum recovery experience!
How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help
Pelvic floor therapy can help manage and prevent conditions that commonly arise as your body changes throughout pregnancy, such as the symptoms described earlier. Some ways Dr. Meihofer can help support you during this time include:
- Pelvic floor screening: Assessing the current health and condition of your pelvic floor, and what may need to be addressed (tightness, weakness, incoordination, etc).
- Delivery Preparation: Establishing a plan for delivery and how to prepare the body beforehand, such as perineal stretching, body positioning, and more.
- Learning Pushing Mechanics: The pelvic floor plays a main role during delivery. Learn how “pushing” during labor actually works!
- Whole-Body Strengthening: As mentioned before, the body experiences massive changes during pregnancy. To help offset big changes during pregnancy and prevent problems with pain and pressure, your physical therapist will help strengthen other parts of your body in addition to your pelvic floor.
- Dietary Suggestions: Discussion on proper fiber and fluid intake to help support healthy bowel movements.
- Product Suggestions: Advice and suggestions on helpful pregnancy and postpartum products, such as belly bands, v-slings, and much more (which you can find here).
Seeking out a pelvic floor therapist can seem intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be! There is so much to gain and nothing to lose from improving the health of your pelvic floor. Dr. Meihofer has years of experience helping patients who are pregnant, postpartum, or planning to be pregnant improve their pelvic floor health. You can learn more about Dr. Meihofer in her bio page!
Dr. Laura Meihofer is an out-of-network provider and does not accept insurance including Medicaid or Medicare. You are responsible for full payment at the time of services. Documentation for out-of-network insurance benefits will be provided upon request.
Choose a Service That’s Best for You!
Pelvic floor physical therapy for pregnant patients can be provided in multiple ways! Explore Dr. Meihofer’s service options below to find one that best fits your health goals, availability, and needs.
You can choose to get started immediately by booking an in-person or telehealth evaluation, or have your questions answered with a free discovery call!
Conditions Related to Pregnancy
Not seeing your specific condition or symptom here? No worries, Dr. Meihofer has experience with many different pregnancy-related pelvic floor conditions! But if you still have questions regarding your unique case, you can schedule a free discovery call below to see if pelvic floor therapy is right for you.
