Let’s Start With This
One of the most common patient populations I work with is pregnant and early postpartum women. And honestly—it makes complete sense.
Your body goes through significant changes during this time. We’re talking about physical changes like posture shifts, back pain, core weakness, pelvic pain, and abdominal separation… but also the less talked about pieces, like identity changes and learning to navigate a completely new version of your body.
Your body is doing something incredible. It’s strong. It’s capable. It’s amazing.
But that doesn’t mean you won’t experience challenges along the way.
Things such as:
- Leakage
- Pressure or heaviness
- Pain with intimacy
- Weakness throughout your core
These are very common during pregnancy and early postpartum… But they are not something you just have to live with. That’s one of the biggest things I teach my patients.
And something that’s really important to understand—many of these issues aren’t just about how you deliver. Whether you have a vaginal birth or a C-section, a lot of the core weakness and resulting symptoms postpartum are actually due to pregnancy itself, not just the method of delivery.
What Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Actually Is
Pelvic floor physical therapy focuses on the muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues that support your bladder, bowel, uterus, core and spine.
As a pelvic floor PT, I’m not just looking at strength. I’m assessing how these muscles function as a system:
- Can you coordinate them?
- Can you relax them?
- Are they activating at the right time during movement?
From there, we build a plan together—one that’s based on what you need. Not a generic, cookie-cutter program.
Especially not “just do Kegels.”
Why This Matters During Pregnancy
Your body is constantly adapting—hormonally, structurally, and mechanically.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help:
- Reduce pelvic pain and low back pain
- Improve core support as your belly grows
- Prepare your body for labor and delivery
- Teach effective pushing strategies
- Reduce the risk of severe tearing
- Support a smoother postpartum recovery
And this isn’t just anecdotal—there’s solid research behind it.
Prenatal pelvic floor training has been shown to:
- Reduce the duration of the second stage of labor
- Lower the risk of urinary incontinence during pregnancy and postpartum
And here’s something I tell my patients all the time: You don’t have to wait until something feels “wrong” to start.
This is something you can absolutely advocate for proactively with your OB or midwife.
Postpartum: You’re Not “Bouncing Back”—You’re Rebuilding
We hear “bounce back” all the time. I don’t love that phrase.
Because the reality is—your body isn’t meant to snap back. It’s meant to heal, adapt, and rebuild. And that process takes time.
Research shows that what we often call the “fourth trimester” can physically impact your body for up to 1–2 years postpartum.
So if things feel off for longer than you expected… you’re not behind. You’re human.
After delivery—whether vaginal or C-section—your body needs rehab, not just rest.
Pelvic floor physical therapy can help:
- Restore core strength and function
- Improve bladder and bowel control
- Address diastasis recti (abdominal separation)
- Reduce prolapse symptoms or pelvic pressure
- Improve pain with intimacy
- Support a safe return to exercise (running, lifting, jumping, or just daily life with your kids)
Research supports that:
- Postpartum pelvic floor muscle training significantly reduces urinary incontinence
- Early rehab improves long-term pelvic health and overall quality of life
“But Isn’t This Normal?”
I hear this all the time, and I want to gently challenge it:
Common does not mean normal.
Leaking, pain, pressure, or discomfort are often brushed off as “just part of motherhood.”
But these are actually signs your body could use support. And the sooner you address them, the better your recovery—and long-term function—will be.
When Should You See a Pelvic Floor PT?
During pregnancy:
- Pelvic pain
- Back or hip pain
- Leakage
- Or even just for proactive labor prep
Postpartum:
- Around 6 weeks (or when cleared by your provider)
- Before returning to exercise
- If anything feels “off”—even slightly
What to Expect in a Session
If you’ve never been to pelvic floor PT, it can feel a little intimidating. I promise—it’s not as scary as it sounds! Everything is tailored to you and your comfort level.
A big part of what I do is education:
- Healthy bladder habits
- Return to intimacy
- Labor and delivery prep
- Building confidence in your body again
And again—this is not just Kegels.
If your goal is to get back to running, we’ll build a structured plan for that.
If your goal is to feel strong carrying your baby or keeping up with your kids, we’ll work toward that.
My goal is to help you feel confident, capable, and supported in your body again.
The Bottom Line
Pelvic floor physical therapy should not be a hidden secret.
In an ideal world, it would be standard care for anyone who is:
- Pregnant
- Planning to become pregnant
- Postpartum
You deserve support.
And as a mom—someone who gives so much of yourself every single day—you deserve care too.
You’ve got this 🤍
