Pregnancy Physical Therapy
Pelvic health physical therapy tailored to those who are expecting and preparing for birth in the Durham, NC community and beyond.
Pregnancy & birth is a huge physical undertaking. You deserve support during this time of life.
These sessions focus on preparing your body for birth during pregnancy and ensuring that you feel great while you are pregnant. You do not need to live with pain and feeling uncomfortable just because you’re pregnant. Whether this is your first baby or any pregnancy thereafter, pelvic physical therapy during your pregnancy can better your experience while you’re pregnant, help you prepare for and have the best possible outcomes for birth, and give you a space to ask any questions about what to expect while you are expecting.
What we can address in pregnancy physical therapy:
Birth preparation: strengthening, mobility, positioning, and more
Pain associated with your growing baby: lower back pain, hip pain, abdominal pain
SI joint pain/instability
Diastasis concerns and how to ensure there is not an excessive separation of your abdominal muscles during pregnancy
Incontinence or constipation
Safe strengthening during pregnancy as well as how to run, do yoga and pilates, and more while you are pregnant
…and more
To get started, click the button below to book your FREE discovery call with me. On the call, you can ask any questions you have as well as get a general idea of what treatment for you may look like. If you’re now postpartum and are looking for support, head here.
If you’re looking for someone to help you feel good during pregnancy and prepare your body for birth, I’ve got you.
You don’t need to guess when it comes to your care. Pelvic PT for women who are pregnant can help you avoid pain, stay strong and remain active during pregnancy, avoid unnecessary secondary effects of pregnancy (like incontinence and excessive diastasis), as well as prepare you for birth as much as possible.
What to expect at Durham Pelvic during your Pregnancy PT sessions
My approach is designed to give you the best results in the most efficient way. Each session is 60 minutes long and one-on-one with me. You will not be passed off to a different therapist each session.
This means that we’re able to develop and refine your specific treatment plan. This way, what we’re doing in therapy is always helping you get to the goal that we’ve set together. No sessions or time wasted and always time to discuss any changes and updates that need to be made.
My approach is a blend of manual techniques and exercise and is tailored to your needs, always.
Have more questions or want to get started? Schedule a FREE 15-minute discovery call with me to chat about what symptoms you’re having and how Durham pelvic can help you.
Pregnancy Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Breakdown
Pelvic floor physical therapy can be extremely valuable during pregnancy, from early on in your first trimester all the way into your third trimester to address pregnancy-related concerns as well as avoid pregnancy-related aches and pains.
Here are some of the most common things that I treat and help my pregnant patients with:
Birth preparation: In sessions, we work to prepare the whole body, mentally and physically, for birth so that you can lower your risk for birth-related trauma. This is also a great place to ask any questions you have related to birth, what to expect, how to push, when to change positions during birth, what birth positions exist and how to use them, how to utilize partner positions, and more.
Core strengthening: Strengthening the core muscles is a focus within our sessions as well as core lengthening. It is normal and expected to have some abdominal muscle separation during pregnancy to accommodate your growing baby and while your baby is growing, we can work together to ensure that you maintain optimal strength and coordination of the abdominal muscles so that you can have an optimal recovery after birth.
Leaking: It’s very common to leak with increased pressure (the baby!) on top of your pelvic area. The good news: you don’t have to deal with leaking throughout your pregnancy. We can go over strategies to mitigate this, which will also help you postpartum.
Pelvic floor muscle relaxation: We work a lot on relaxation of the pelvic floor muscles. This helps prepare your pelvic floor for birth; we need the muscles to relax and lengthen during the birth process, rather than being bound up and tight so that the baby can pass through the birth canal with ease, rather than fighting against tight muscles. When the pelvic floor is able to relax, there is a lower risk for birth-related trauma. Since strengthening of the pelvic floor is typically well-known, it’s important to note that all of the kegels in the world won't help you push the baby out, but in sessions, we will go over what will help with those pushes during birth.
Breathing for birth: We’ll cover breathing strategies to use during birth that can help you have a better birth experience overall as well as help with pelvic floor muscle relaxation.
Common diagnoses during pregnancy: Pain during pregnancy (back pain, hip pain, SI joint pain, etc.), leaking/urinary incontinence, pelvic organ prolapse, pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, diastasis, and more.
Strengthening in general: Safe strengthening is a must. We will go over lifting, carrying, exercise guidelines, and more so that you’re prepared to do any necessary tasks after birth as you are able. We will also cover typical fitness-related questions, such as “can I do XYZ type of exercise or exercise class while pregnant” and anything else you want to cover.
PS: If you’re postpartum and are looking for support, learn more about postpartum physical therapy here.
Frequently Asked Questions about Pregnancy Pelvic PT
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Common reasons to see a pelvic PT during pregnancy or after baby:
Urinary leakage or urgency
Pelvic pressure or heaviness
Pain with intercourse
Lower back or pelvic pain
Constipation
Diastasis recti (abdominal separation)
Preparing for birth
Recovering from childbirth (vaginal or cesarean)
Scar tissue concerns
Pelvic organ prolapse symptoms
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You can begin at any time during pregnancy.
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Learn how to relax your pelvic floor to prepare for birth
Proper pelvic floor strengthening
Prepare for labor and delivery
Prevent potential issues during birth like tearing and prolapse
Learn techniques for pushing and delivery
Address strength and mobility issues that may contribute to typical pregnancy-related symptoms like back pain, hip pain, foot pain, and more.
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Common indicators include:
Urine leakage when coughing, sneezing, or exercising
Persistent back or pelvic pain
Difficulty controlling bowel movements
Feeling of pressure or heaviness in the vagina
Pain with intercourse
Difficulty emptying bladder or bowel
Separation of abdominal muscles that isn't improving
Scar pain or restricted mobility
Any pregnancy-related pain like back pain, hip pain, pelvic pain, SI joint pain
