The Benefits of Pelvic Floor Exercises During Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a time for preparation: preparing for a growing belly, preparing for a baby, and preparing to become a mother. In addition to those wonderful things, pregnancy is also a time for preparing your pelvic floor to support the growing baby and to give birth. Pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy should be one of your top priorities.
During pregnancy, the majority of care you are receiving is from prenatal appointments with your provider. However, what many of those appointments lack is time to discuss pelvic floor changes that you will experience as your baby grows inside your womb.
Additionally, the pelvis will undergo tremendous strain during birth. It’s imperative that you know how to help this part of your body and prepare it for one of the biggest moments of your life. At Pillar Physio, Georgetown, Texas, we are committed to helping women achieve their best pelvic floor health.
Your Pelvic Floor and Pregnancy
During pregnancy, your body releases the hormone called relaxin. This hormone helps loosen the ligaments in your body, specifically in your pelvic floor. Relaxin allows your body to stretch and become flexible as your baby grows and demands more space.
Your pelvis also experiences severe strain while growing and supporting a baby. This causes weakness to occur and can sometimes cause damage.
During labor and delivery, the uterine muscles contract and move your baby down the birth canal, all while your pelvis is opening wider for the baby to pass. As you can imagine, your pelvic floor does some tremendous work, which is why pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy are important.
6 Benefits of Pelvic Floor Exercises During Pregnancy
If you are expecting or planning to conceive, consider adding pelvic floor exercises to your pregnancy care routine. Your body will thank you for participating in pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy.
Related: 6 Exercises To Prevent Diastasis Recti
Strengthening
Muscles need exercise in order to operate well. Consider if you wanted to enter a weight lifting contest, you would need to exercise to work your way up to lifting heavy weights. You wouldn’t go to the contest having no training beforehand and expect to win the contest.
This same concept applies to your pelvic floor and birth. In order for your body to have optimal performance, you need to exercise it to strengthen it. Strengthening your pelvic floor will help decrease any incontinence you might experience in pregnancy and it will help when the time comes for labor and delivery.
Pain Relief
As a pregnant woman, you will experience many aches and pains during your pregnancy. These pain areas could include the lower back, pelvis, and hips. Pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy can help relieve those discomforts.
Prepare for Birth
Preparing for birth is like preparing for a marathon. Your body will be required to go to great lengths to bring your baby Earthside. Your baby and your body are going through a lot of preparation for this great event.
Pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy can help your body prepare for birth. It can improve flexibility and endurance. This can make it easier for when it comes time to push.
Related: 7 Benefits of Pelvic Floor Therapy After Birth
Perineal Care
To help prepare for childbirth, it’s important to also add perineal care to your prenatal routine. Pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy can assist with perineal care by offering perineal massage.
A perineal massage is a technique used to guide and stretch the perineum, which is the area between the vaginal opening and the anus. During birth, this part of the body must stretch to allow the baby’s head to pass. Perineal massages help prevent tearing and reduce your risk of needing stitches in that area.
Breath Work
Pelvic floor therapy helps you learn how to breathe deeply by helping you learn how to properly engage your diaphragm. During childbirth, your breathing is an important part of the laboring process. It can help stabilize you and help you focus during contractions.
Your pelvic floor therapist will work with you to establish areas where your breathing can be improved to help with posture and core strength. Breath work will also be important for postpartum healing and recovery, especially when it comes to strengthening your core again. This breath work can also help prevent diastasis recti, also known as ab separation during pregnancy.
Education
When you have more knowledge about a certain topic, it gives you more confidence. You generally aren’t afraid of something that you know enough information about. This applies to pelvic floor therapy. During treatment, you will learn from your therapist all of the important parts of the pelvis and how it is a crucial part of your body.
Learning how to take care of your pelvic floor during pregnancy will help you understand how to heal after pregnancy. You will be able to take all of the pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy and apply them to your life.
Pelvic Floor Exercises During Pregnancy Is Prenatal Care
Your prenatal care should always include pelvic floor exercises. While your provider is likely focused on the growth and development of your baby, your body also deserves care during pregnancy. At Pillar Physio, Georgetown, Texas, each patient who comes to us gets the full care and respect they deserve.
If you are pregnant, it’s time to get your assessment scheduled now so that you can begin caring for your pelvis before your due date. Your body will thank you when you take the time to strengthen and exercise your pelvic floor during pregnancy.
Contact us today to get scheduled with one of our specialized pelvic floor therapists. Pillar Physio has helped countless women in our community. Bring us along on your pregnancy journey and let us help you in this next part of your life.
