Why Prenatal Physical Therapy Matters
We've talked before about the importance of physical therapy after pregnancy, but it's just as important to consider it during the prenatal period. Your body changes throughout pregnancy, and it helps to think about the support you can get along the way. Between 50 and 70% of pregnant women experience back pain, and while the reasons vary from person to person, most cases can be traced to some combination of added weight, a shifting center of gravity, increased hormones, and stress.
That's why an OB-GYN might recommend staying physically active during pregnancy, it offers real benefits, including a psychological lift, better aerobic fitness, and a lower risk of excessive weight gain. According to the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week, spread throughout the week.
Maintaining Pelvic Health
The pelvic area is a crucial part of the body to prepare for pregnancy and childbirth. Prenatal physical therapy can help you prepare by learning how to push, how to relax your muscles, and how to condition your muscles and tissue to make it easier to push when the time comes. A physical therapist will guide you through a series of exercises, and a comprehensive history and assessment is always completed for every patient beforehand.
Managing Stress Urinary Incontinence
Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) is when a woman involuntarily leaks urine while exercising or exerting herself, a common, if under-reported, occurrence during pregnancy. Prenatal physical therapy helps you gain control over SUI by strengthening the muscles around the pelvis and bladder and by adjusting behaviors that can contribute to it. In one report, 80% of women who actively underwent prenatal physical therapy said they had no issues with incontinence during pregnancy or postpartum.
Relief From Pregnancy-Related Pain
Physical therapists work with you to build a treatment plan that reduces pain by identifying and addressing its causes. Lower back pain is a common reality for many expecting mothers, as the uterus and baby grow, the center of gravity shifts forward, often causing women to slump. Physical therapists provide exercises tailored to your needs as an expecting mother, and with proper treatment, most of this pain can be resolved.
Working With Your Care Team
Some expecting mothers may have questions about starting physical therapy, but you'll still receive guidance and clearance from your OB-GYN along the way. Your physical therapist will provide exercises specific to what you need to make pregnancy easier and healthier, and will guide you through the proper use of each exercise so you get the most benefit.