Sarah is 32 years old and pregnant for the first time. She’s 28 weeks along and starting to think about giving birth.
Sarah's not sure what to expect!
She’s read about perineal massage but is not sure when or how to do it. She also heard that Kegels could help with delivery, so she does some every now and then. Recently, she’s started to feel pain in her groin, especially when she’s rolling over in bed or trying to put her pants on.
If you’re like Sarah, you could get answers to your questions AND help with pain by working with a pelvic floor physical therapist!
Pelvic floor physical therapists have completed all the requirements for physical therapy practice AND additional coursework to specialize in pelvic floor issues. These issues include peeing, pooping, sex, pregnancy, postpartum, pelvic pain and more. They focus on the muscles “down there,” the ones we take for granted when everything is working well.
But when things stop working well, we may experience pain, urine leakage, and constipation. These are common issues during pregnancy!
If you are one of these people, then you are not alone! And like Sarah, most pregnant people are told “it’s normal” and to put up with it until they deliver. Of the women who experience lower back or pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy, only 15-30% of them receive treatment for it.
We can do better!
Working with a pelvic floor physical therapist during pregnancy can help you:
Address current aches, pains, or pelvic floor issues
You do not need to suffer from pain for months as you await the birth of your baby. Pelvic floor physical therapists can help you stay active during pregnancy in a comfortable way. They can also help you gradually build up your pelvic floor and core endurance to increase your physical activity safely.
Prepare your pelvic floor for a vaginal and/or Cesarean birth
Pelvic floor physical therapists can help teach you different pushing options, different labor and delivery positions, and stretches to reduce the likelihood of perineal tearing. Whether you are having a scheduled C-section or not, we can also discuss what recovery will look like and what support you may need.
Prepare for & navigate postpartum recovery
We do better when we’re prepared, and that goes for postpartum recovery too! Pelvic floor physical therapists will share what’s common, normal, and what you can do to improve your recovery. We’re here to bust myths and provide individualized advice for you! Our patients love continuing to work with the same pelvic floor physical therapist they saw during pregnancy after they deliver.
PS: It’s never too late to see a pelvic floor physical therapist! You can visit our pelvic floor physical therapists in San Fransico at our Financial District location. Whether you’re 2 months or 20 years postpartum, the pelvic floor is a resilient part of your body!
Back to our friend Sarah. She found a pelvic floor physical therapist that is a board-certified women’s health specialist to work with through Agile PT. Fortunately, she had the convenience of in-person and virtual appointment options. The pelvic floor physical therapist taught her exercises to help with her pelvic girdle pain, strategies for rolling in bed, and how to prepare her body for a vaginal delivery. She plans to go back to her same pelvic floor physical therapist postpartum, once she’s settled into life as a first-time parent.
Did you know that pelvic floor physical therapy is the standard of care for postpartum women in France? Let’s make it standard of care in the US too! To find an Agile pelvic health specialist near you visit: https://agilept.com/about/staff/
Dr. Monika is a Physical Therapist who helps people to reclaim their function and joy in life by conquering pelvic pain, urinary incontinence, sexual dysfunction, GI issues, and pain during pregnancy/postpartum. She believes that no one should have to suffer because of the stigma society has when it comes to pelvic health. Monika partners with each client to create an individualized treatment program specific to their goals.
Monika earned her Bachelors in Health Science and Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Springfield College. She then went on to complete rigorous post-professional residency training at Brooks Rehabilitation to specialize in Women’s Health. She is one of less than 400 board certified Women’s Health Clinical Specialists in physical therapy in the country. Monika continues to pursue her love of learning and teaching through presenting at national conferences, teaching professional continuing education courses, and frequently lecturing to healthcare providers and local community groups. To share her love of pelvic health with more people, she founded the website Lift Laugh Kegel. Dr. Monika loves to eat, travel, and cook.
