4 ways Pelvic Physical Therapy can help you prepare for childbirth.
Preparing for childbirth is confusing, there’s so much information to sort through. Breastfeeding classes, childbirth preparation classes, all of the instagram and TikTok messaging. Pelvic physical therapy can help you sift through that information, connect you with resources (doulas, lactation consultants, midwives/OBs), show you HOW to wear those postpartum wraps. AND pelvic physical therapy can help to try and make birth “slightly easier”.
Labor is not easy, but with the right support team and knowledge, we can try to make it slightly easier. Here’s 4 ways pelvic physical therapy can help you prepare for childbirth.
Improving body balance. We assess your muscles and ligaments in order to help improve body balance. This decreases stress on your back, hips, pelvis, and hopefully helps to restore an aligned birth with the goal of making birth slightly easier. This may help decrease risk of injury during birth and hopefully improve your birth experience overall.
Teach your partner positioning and hands on techniques. This will help your partner to have a greater understanding of how to help you during labor. I usually spend at least an hour long session with you and your partner discussing mind set, posture, pain relieving strategies, and looking at different positions that may help improve your birth experience and decrease risk of injury during birth - including tearing.
Be on your team for ALL the support. I am here for you. I am your campion and a person to help with physical and emotional support. Pelvic physical therapists will help to connect you with resources for your physical and mental health. We work with your doula, chiropractor, lactation support, midwife/OB in order to help design a plan that will best benefit YOU and your family. We are great at answering questions and helping you to find the right gadgets so that you don’t need to purchase them to just try them out. Not sure if that belly binder will help? Ask us first!
Preparing for childbirth means preparing for postpartum. If we can help decrease your risk of injury and help you meet your birth plan, then you will be set up for a more optimal postpartum recovery. We can offer suggestions to help decrease perineal tearing, improving your pelvic floor muscle (Kegel) strength and motion, teach you all the breathing and pain reduction techniques. Education is our most important tool. Because when you understand how the body works, you are more empowered to optimize your recovery.
Whether this is your first birth or sixth, pelvic physical therapy has a lot to offer you to help you and your partner navigate the complex world of childbirth. And if we can help you feel more empowered with the right education and tools, then we hope to make birth slightly easier and help set you on the right path to recovery.
Love,
Ann
