The time of pregnancy & motherhood is a time of joy, anticipation, love & kodak moments.
Our amazing body changes considerably to grow, birth & nurture a little person. These changes are thanks to significant hormonal & postural changes.
Pregnancy hormones, such as relaxin, estrogen & progesterone, increase early in pregnancy in order to create space for the growing baby, acting along the abdominal wall & ribcage. They also prepare the pelvic joints & pelvic floor for childbirth.
This softening of connective tissues & muscles in our body can lead to aches & pain in muscles and joints. There is also increased strain experienced by the abdominal & pelvic tissues, & ligaments that suspend the pelvic organs (bladder, uterus & bowel).
Postnatally, your body is undergoing further changes, healing wounds & stretched connective tissue of the abdomen & pelvic floor, & returning organs to their pre-pregnancy positions. Postural changes associated with early motherhood (think prolonged feeding positions, carrying postures, lack of sleep etc) may also cause issues which detract from the early motherhood experience.
So if you are pregnant, have recently given birth, experience any pains or incontinence, or if you simply want to learn more about your wonderful nurturing body, please get in touch.
Antenatal & Postnatal Care for:
Pelvic Girdle Pain: Sacro-iliac joint (SIJ) & pubic symphysis dysfunction
Piriformis syndrome
Wrist & hand pain – Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
Neck pain & headaches
Rib & thoracic pain
Round ligament pain
Oedema (swelling)
Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment
Rectus diastasis & abdominal wall instability
Postural dysfunction due to associated with growing bump & breasts
Exercise in pregnancy prescription
Active Birthing Advice
Perineal Massage education
- Return to exercise & sport advice
Postural Dysfunction from repetitive baby cares & prolonged breastfeeding / feeding postures
Breastfeeding conditions of the breast – blocked ducts, mastitis, cracked nipples
Scar management post Caesarean & Vaginal deliveries
Pelvic Floor Muscle & Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (3rd & 4th degree tear) rehabilitation
Painful intercourse (Dyspareunia)
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction:
- Overactive, underactive & uncoordinated Pelvic Floor Muscles
- Bladder pain, voiding dysfunction, reduced sensation, urinary frequency/urgency, Urge &/or Stress urinary incontinence
- Defecation dysfunction, constipation, heamorrhoids/fissures, faecal urgency, faecal/flatus incontinence
Pelvic Girdle Pain: Sacro-iliac joint (SIJ) & pubic symphysis dysfunction
Piriformis syndrome
Wrist & hand pain – Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis
Neck pain & headaches
Rib & thoracic pain
Round ligament pain
Oedema (swelling)
Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment
Rectus diastasis & abdominal wall instability
Postural dysfunction due to associated with growing bump & breasts
Exercise in pregnancy prescription
Active Birthing Advice
Perineal Massage education
- Return to exercise & sport advice
Postural Dysfunction from repetitive baby cares & prolonged breastfeeding / feeding postures
Breastfeeding conditions of the breast – blocked ducts, mastitis, cracked nipples
Scar management post Caesarean & Vaginal deliveries
Pelvic Floor Muscle & Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injury (3rd & 4th degree tear) rehabilitation
Painful intercourse (Dyspareunia)
Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction:
- Overactive, underactive & uncoordinated Pelvic Floor Muscles
- Bladder pain, voiding dysfunction, reduced sensation, urinary frequency/urgency, Urge &/or Stress urinary incontinence
- Defecation dysfunction, constipation, heamorrhoids/fissures, faecal urgency, faecal/flatus incontinence
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to seek pelvic physio input in pregnancy?
You can seek my input at any stage in your pregnancy if you have concerns or questions, also if you are experiencing any muscle or joint pain.
Generally speaking from the 2nd trimester onwards is a good time to check in on your pelvic floor function, this will help get an understanding of your strength and ability to relax and lengthen these muscles (important for ‘pushing’).
From 32 weeks I teach you how to perform perineal massage and from 35 weeks to optimise your body for birth and prepare your early postpartum recovery kit.
When is the best time to seek pelvic physio after birth?
I am lucky to be able to support my clients at any stage in their early recovery, and will see Mama’s in their homes in the early 1-2 weeks to optimise their soft tissue healing, aid the diastasis recovery and problem solve anything that may have arisen during or after birth.
From 6 weeks after birth a pelvic floor assessment can be beneficial to assess function, potential prolapse assessment, scar rehab (both Caesarean section and perineal scarring), and give advice specific to you for returning to activity and intercourse.