Pregnancy & Postpartum

What are symptoms in pregnancy that can be treated?

During pregnancy, you experience tremendous hormonal shifts and changes in body shape and posture, and these changes can cause pain. Pain is a symptom of imbalance in the body.

It is not necasary to suffer with pain during pregnancy. Common pregnancy pain includes sciatica, low back pain, pelvic girdle pain (SI joint, pubic symphysis pain, hip pain), varicose veins and pelvic pressure from prolapse. 

Pregnancy can also cause changes in bladder and bowel function. While there is increasing pressure on the bladder and bowels, it is important to understand how to maintain good function. Bladder changes are one of the most common issues during pregnancy. Even during pregnancy, you should be able to wait at least 2 hours between urinating! Constantly having to go to the toilet can be disruptive, and leaking urine is NEVER normal. Bowel function also is impacted by hormeones and pressure of the growing baby and can cause diarrhea to constipation. Even pregnant people should be pooping once a day, and pelvic therapy can help!

Women also face challenging postpartum changes, including:

Abdominal muscles weaken and separate

Abdominal and pelvic muscles work best when they work as a team. As baby grows and eventually exits the body, there are changes in abdominal muscle and pelvic muscle length and support, that can create separation of the abdominals. This can impact the strength of the core and pelvic muscles. Vaginal and cesarean deliveries can both impact pelvic muscle tone and function. When the muscles are weak, you may notice "doming" or separation of the abdominals when lifting or changing positions. This can indicate need for a thourough evaluation to determine the best progression for your body. 

Urinary incontinence and frequent urination

Urinary incontinence affects one in three women during and after pregnancy, but is never considered normal. Urinary leaking and urinary frequency can be a result of pelvic muscle dysfunction and typically improves significantly with pelvic rehabilitation. Doing "kegels" is not the answer. In fact, just squeezing the pelvic muscles may make symptoms worse, as many times the muscles are already tight and need to be stretched before strengthening. 

Sexual dysfunction may occur

Your pelvic floor muscles are also essential for a satisfying sex life. During the postpartum period, women may find that sex is painful, or they don’t get as much pleasure during sex. At Inland Pelvic Health and Physical Therapy, we treat pelvic function that includes improving sexual health. Every body deserves to have pain free intercourse with successful orgasm. 

How does pelvic physical therapy help with pregnancy changes?

Pelvic physical therapy is a specialized approach that focuses on the joints, muscles, tendons, and fascia (connective tissues) in your pelvis and abdomen. Pelvic physical therapy utilizes a hollistic approach by assessing and treating the the whole body. Understading the connection of different body parts and systems allows for a comprehensive treatment plan. Pelvic therapy will also incude a specific vaginal pelvic muscle assessment and treatment. The pelvic exam will include an assessment of pelvic organ position (prolapse) as well as connective tissue health (scar tissue, hormeone changes, etc), and muscle function. By assessing the pelvic muscles internally, it can be determined if the pelvic muscles are imbalanced, weak or tight. Once we determine the combination of factors that are influencing your symptoms,  the muscles can be retrained to regain function. 

We tailor every plan to individual patients, we want to meet you where you are at right now and continue to support and challenge you as you progress through your pregnancy and postpartum story. 

How can I get pelvic physical therapy during and after pregnancy?

Your obstetrician, midwife, or doula may recommend pelvic physical therapy, but you don’t need a referral. You can schedule a consultation without a referral if you want the support with pregnancy and postpartum changes.

The Pelvic Physical Therapists at Inland Pelvic Health are fully trained to perform an evaluation and assess your muscle strength, pelvic alignment, posture, and range of motion. They may also perform an internal exam to evaluate the pelvic floor muscles. The way that internal examinations are performed is safe for pregnant bodies through the duration of pregnancy. Then they create an individualized treatment plan targeting your unique health care needs.

Call Inland Pelvic Health & Physical Therapy today or use the online booking feature to schedule an appointment and take the first step toward regaining your pre-pregnancy body.