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Bumps, Babies and Beyond - Physical Therapy in the Peripartum time of life.
- stephanytritt
- Jun 30
- 2 min read
At Foothill Physical Therapy, we specialize in supporting patients through the unique physical changes of pregnancy and the postpartum period. Pelvic health physical therapy can be tailored for individuals who are currently pregnant or have given birth —whether vaginally or by C-section.
During pregnancy, your physical therapist will work alongside your doctor, midwife/doula and can help in a variety of ways. Physical therapy can:
Due to your changing body, you may experience pain or discomfort. PT will help you manage discomfort by promoting strength and stability in your pelvic floor and core muscles, exploring various positions for more comfort with daily activities and for improved sleep, while providing manual work to soothe overworked muscles.
Prepare you for labor and delivery. Not only do you need a strong pelvic floor to support your growing baby, but you need a flexible pelvic floor for delivery and to minimize injury. Along with perineal massage, you will learn breathing techniques that work with your pelvic floor and various birthing position options.
Guide exercise as pregnancy progresses to keep up your stamina, strength and coordination while keeping baby safe.
Once you’ve had your baby, your physical therapist will be there to guide you through the fourth trimester and beyond. Your body needs to recover to be able to care for yourself and your child. We understand that this can be a tumultuous time in your life - you have this little human to nurture, and you’re trying to find out where you fit in this new role. Self care, with the help of your physical therapist, plays a vital role in:
Emotional well-being, therefore we address issues such as low back pain, which can triple the risk of postpartum depression.
We can help you re-connect with your core and pelvic floor to avoid common (but not normal!) symptoms of urinary/fecal incontinence, pain with intimacy and pelvic organ prolapse.
In the abdominal region, you’ll receive guidance on managing and closing a diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA). If you’ve had a C-section you’ll learn how to care for, and mobilize your scar. This will help with the connection to your core and prevent dysfunction that can develop with scar and fascial adhesions.
Pelvic pain—the area spanning from the hips to the tailbone to the pubic bone—can emerge during pregnancy or even up to two years postpartum, often disrupting basic activities like walking or turning in bed. While this discomfort may resolve naturally, physical therapy offers targeted support for more persistent cases.
If you are pregnant or navigating life after childbirth, we invite you to schedule an assessment so we can create a treatment plan personalized to your goals. After the initial visit, sessions are 55 minutes which allows time to ask questions about what to expect, what is normal to better understand YOUR symptoms - and get the specific treatment you need.
References:
Berg-Poppe, Patti PhD; Hauer, Michaela BS; Jones, Cassandra BS; Munger, Mattison BS; Wethor, Cassidy BS. Use of Exercise in the Management of Postpartum Diastasis Recti: A Systematic Review. Journal of Women's Health Physical Therapy 46(1):p 35-47, January/March 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/JWH.0000000000000231
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