Why do a “Birth Prep” Visit with a Pelvic Physical Therapist?
If you are pregnant and wondering how to best prepare yourself for birth, then an individualized “Birth Preparation” visit is for you! Pelvic health physical therapy can help reduce pain and improve function during pregnancy, help your body recover after having a baby, AND help you get ready for the birthing experience. Having a greater understanding of your pelvic floor, core, and how this area of your body functions during labor and delivery is empowering and can even have benefits into postpartum (such as helping reduce tearing or urinary incontinence after birth).
So what exactly do we cover in a Birth Preparation Visit? This 90-minute visit includes:
The anatomy of your pelvic floor and core and how these muscles are impacted by pregnancy and childbirth (both vaginal and cesarean)
How to reduce your risk of and severity of tearing
Demo and practice of several labor/delivery positions to find what works for you!
Why pelvic floor relaxation is important for labor and delivery + exercises to relax and lengthen your pelvic floor
Breathing and core exercise strategies to improve pushing
Appropriate expectations for your bladder, bowel and sexual health postpartum
Timelines and realistic expectations for safely returning to exercise postpartum
Lifetime Access to TWO Prep for Birth Yoga videos
You will walk away with increased knowledge, confidence, and strategies + exercises that you can do at home right up until you deliver. Birth Prep Visits can be done at your home, in-clinic, or virtually, and we encourage you to have a birth partner with you if you’d like! At Awake Pelvic Health & Wellness we are passionate about partnering with birthing parents and their partners to enable a more empowered delivery and aide in the recovery that follows.
We also love to help you heal, recover, and return to the things you love after having baby, that’s why we offer Postpartum Physical Therapy services as early as 3-weeks after giving birth! Stay tuned for our next blog post to learn more.
Would you or someone you know benefit from a Birth Prep PT Visit? Reach out, we’d love to hear from you and be part of your journey! Schedule a free 15-minute consult call or email us to book a visit.
