Physical Therapy
for Pregnancy & Postpartum
While the process of labor and birth is often portrayed as passive (a woman lying on a bed), it is really quite a dynamic, active event. Just like any other physical event, the more someone has trained for it, the better she will perform.
From the book: Pregnancy Fitness
by Julia Di Paolo
Pregnancy Physical Therapy
Treatment and Prevention of Common Pregnancy Conditions
-
Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction
-
SI Joint Dysfunction
-
Coccydynia (tailbone pain)
-
Pain in hips, low back, ribs, neck/shoulder
-
Abdominal and/or Round Ligament pain
-
Plantar Fasciitis
-
Sciatica
-
Constipation
-
Bladder Leakage
​
Prepare for Labor and Delivery
-
Well Women Physical Therapy utilizes movement and positioning principles from Spinning Babies and The Miles Circuit in addition to skilled Manual Therapy techniques and Therapeutic Exercises to improve the symmetry and stability of the pelvis, hips, and trunk while assisting in facilitating a soft tissue environment in which Baby can find an optimal birthing position - ideally head down and left occiput anterior (LOA).
-
Practice movement principles, comfort measures, and labor positions to optimize
-
Pelvic Biomechanics in Labor​
-
The 7 Cardinal Movements of Birth
-
-
Prepare the Pelvic Floor
-
Understanding the 5 S's of Pelvic Floor Muscle Function​
-
Pelvic Floor Breathing for Pregnancy, Labor, and Birth ("push practice")
-
Engaging the Perineal Tissues via Massage ("perineal stretching")
-
Understanding Ways to Reduce Risk for Perineal Trauma
-
-
Breech Baby
-
Learn key movement patterns, stretches, positions, and exercises which may help baby to turn head down or support a successful External Cephalic Version (ECV).
-
-
Want PT and birth support? Check out our Birth PhysioDoula service!
"Seeing Jasia postpartum was the absolute best thing I could have done for myself. I loved going in to see her. She is friendly and personable. I felt immediately comfortable in her care. Her knowledge and expertise were able to work miracles on my body. Everything was customized to my body and my goals."
Cheryl
Postpartum Rehabilitation
Treatments for Common Postpartum Conditions
-
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy for pain, prolapse bowel, or bladder issues
-
Postpartum pelvic floor and core rehabilitation
-
Diastasis Recti - yes, this is treatable without surgery!
-
"Closing" an open birth pattern in the pelvis and achieve symmetry for function
-
C-section recovery and scar tissue management
-
Perineal tissue trauma recovery and scar management
-
Return to pain-free (and enjoyable) intercourse!
Self Care & Ergonomic Training for Pain-free Infant Care
-
Posture Re-Training to help return to a non-pregnant body!
-
Feeding Positions to reduce neck/shoulder pain
-
Lifting and carrying training to prevent injury
-
Movement assessment for return to work and exercise
Diastasis Recti
A very common condition in which the superficial abdominal muscles separate during pregnancy as the belly grows. In some women, this separation closes on its own in the postpartum phase. When it doesn't, mom can feel like no matter what they do to exercise their core they continue to have a "mommy pooch".
Physical Therapy treatments are very effective at treating this condition using manual therapy techniques, therapeutic taping, and neuromuscular re-education for appropriate core activation. Self-treatment can be taught and provided as a home exercise program so you can continue to make improvements at independently. Many women experience full approximation of the muscles in as little as 3-4 weeks.