How Can Physical Therapy Help During Pregnancy?
–Nikki Zebrowski PT, DPT, OCS–
People tend to encounter physical therapists when their body goes through some sort of change– often, injury or surgery. You might, however, not immediately think of physical therapy to help your body undergo a different kind of change– pregnancy!
Many physical changes take place in your body to accommodate your growing baby. Your posture changes, your center of gravity changes, you undergo hormonal changes, and your ligaments and muscles need to adapt.
There are two big reasons to see a physical therapist during your pregnancy:
You’re in pain or discomfort.
Sometimes, the changes your body undergoes during pregnancy result in discomfort or pain. You might feel discomfort in your lower back or sacroiliac (SI) joints, sciatic (nerve) pain, or pain in or around your pelvis.
Discomfort might be common during pregnancy, but this doesn’t mean you have to just live with it!
Seeing a physical therapist, particularly one who specializes in pelvic floor, can be helpful in decreasing or alleviating these symptoms. A pelvic floor physical therapist uses knowledge of exercise, pelvic floor anatomy, breathing patterns and pressure management, and strength training to prescribe movements that will help stabilize and strengthen your low back, hips, and trunk. Pelvic floor physical therapists uniquely positioned to address both orthopedic complaints and assess the pelvic floor in preparation for labor and birth, which brings me to my next point: you don’t need to be in pain to see a physical therapist during your pregnancy.
2. You want to be prepared for labor and birth.
Seeing a physical therapist during your pregnancy can help you maintain strength, independence, and confidence in the capacity and resilience of your body. You can see a physical therapist as soon as the first trimester to establish a solid foundation of core muscle activation and coordination and to learn how to use breathing patterns to your advantage. We’ll work with you to develop a safe exercise regimen that matches your level of fitness. As you near your due date, a pelvic floor physical therapist can help you prepare your body for labor and birth as well establish expectations and good pelvic floor habits postpartum.
For all the benefits listed above, consider seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist to support you during your pregnancy even if you aren’t dealing with pain or discomfort. If you have questions or concerns about whether pelvic floor physical therapy would be a good fit for you, talk to your OB/GYN and/or email Nikki at nikki@outlierphysicaltherapy.com. She would love to go on and on about how PT can help you!