When should you see a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist for perinatal care?

I often get asked when should I see a pelvic health physiotherapist during pregnancy and after having a child?

P R E N A T A L🤰

There IS benefit to seeing a pelvic health PT during pregnancy. I provide education on lifestyle management, such as diet, physical activity, sleep and stress management, posture and breathing. (With a view of course to promoting fitness of the pelvic floor muscles). I teach you how to relax your pelvic floor (this is NOT the same as kegels!), which is key for effective pushing during labour.

P O S T N A T A L 🤱

➡️ Most soft tissue healing comes in the first 4 weeks! The 4th trimester is the best opportunity to get tissues on track for optimal healing. ⁣⁣

➡️ 3-6 weeks postpartum is a good general window in which to make an appointment. Much will depend on when you are ready for an internal exam. THAT SAID... you can even find value in a visit where they don’t lay hands on you! Much can be discerned and supported through discussion and visual evaluation.

➡️ Around 4 weeks postpartum is a good time to book your visit. Part of the reason for this (further to the above) is that if any issues are discovered, I can flag these back to your primary care provider before that typical 6-week “graduation” milestone. ⁣

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Ideally though, you’ll see me BEFORE birth, and together, we can establish the postpartum plan that best suits your unique recovery journey.

🌟 With that said, if you are 1, 2, 5, 10+ years since having a child and noticing some issues like incontinence, painful intercourse, diastasis rectus abdominis, etc… it is NEVER too late to go and see a pelvic health physiotherapist!

Book an appointment here: https://raisethebarphysio.janeapp.com to start your healing journey 💌