Pregnancy and childbirth mark profound chapters in life. They force us to change, shift, and grow – both physically an emotionally. Many people who are pregnant are striving to be the healthiest that they can be, and are searching for the best information around how to keep moving and stay comfortable through their pregnancy, while also having anxieties around the delivery process. There’s a lot of information out there, and my pregnant clients often tell me that they don’t know where to start and are surprised how helpful physiotherapy can be. So, let’s talk about it!

Understanding the Body’s Changes

Pregnancy brings about significant physiological transformations – hormonal fluctuations, weight gain, postural adaptations to name a few. These changes can lead to discomfort, pain, and changes in how you’re able to live your day-to-day life. Working with a physiotherapist who has additional training in perinatal care and pelvic health can help you make sense of these changes and support you through them.

Exercise Therapy for Strength & Stability: Tailored exercises play a pivotal role in promoting strength, flexibility, and stability during pregnancy. Most people who are pregnant should work to maintain 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity daily. Your physiotherapist will help you decide what that activity could look like and make suggestions on targeted routines to alleviate common discomforts, enhance posture, and prepare the body for labor and delivery.

Manual Therapy for Pain Relief: It’s not always all about the pelvic floor! Traditional physiotherapy techniques, such as manual therapy and soft tissue massage can provide effective pain relief for pregnancy-related issues like back pain, pelvic girdle pain, and sciatica. Hands-on interventions can restore mobility, ease muscle tension, and enhance overall comfort (Spoiler Alert: Manual Therapy techniques will almost always be paired with some exercise therapy)

Pelvic Floor Education and Rehabilitation: It is sometimes about the pelvic floor. Pregnancy often leads to pelvic floor dysfunction, affecting bladder control, pelvic stability, and sexual function. During pregnancy, we want to determine if you are at risk of pelvic floor dysfunction, and address what we can before your delivery. We can provide a whole bunch of education around labour and delivery, and work to reduce the risk of tearing!

Education & Self-Care Strategies: Physiotherapists have a lot of valuable tips on self-care strategies to empower pregnant people. From ergonomic advice to relaxation strategies, to breathing techniques – A physiotherapist will work with you to improve your day-to-day activity and help you maintain a positive pregnancy experience.

Physiotherapy serves as a comprehensive resource for people who are pregnant and preparing for delivery. Let’s move away from the idea that people who are pregnant can’t exercise or lifts. Let’s promote overall well-being, and empower people to navigate this amazing and transformative stage of life with confidence and vitality.

Ready to prioritize your maternal health and well-being?

Book an appointment with me! It will be the first step towards a healthier pregnancy and postpartum journey. Whether you’re seeking guidance on exercise therapy, traditional physiotherapy techniques, or specialized pelvic floor rehabilitation, I’m here to support you every step of the way.

Not sure you’re ready to book an appointment? Reach out instead! I’m happy to chat with you about whether physiotherapy is right for you.