Pregnant? Here’s How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help With Labor

When the surging hormones and new aches dampen the joy of being pregnant, pelvic floor physical therapy can help.

This non-invasive approach helps women of any age strengthen and lengthen core muscles and those at the bottom of the torso to reduce the pain and discomfort of pelvic floor dysfunction, but can be especially effective for pregnant women.

Help in any trimester

During pregnancy, the expanding uterus puts pressure on the body. As a pregnancy progresses, pelvic floor muscles stretch to eventually allow the baby to move down the birth canal. Exercising these muscles before the baby is due helps strengthen them enough to support the uterus and baby.

“This is more than just Kegels. Exercises include breathing education, pelvic floor relaxation techniques, pelvic floor contraction, hip strengthening and low back strengthening,” said physical therapist Joanna Fisher of the Hartford HealthCare Rehabilitation Network in Westport.

Read more: https://healthnewshub.org/preg...