I have been told many times since being pregnant that my body will never be the same again. To look forward to not being able to sneeze without peeing myself and don’t even think about stepping foot near a trampoline!! All of these tales are not uncommon but also not something we should just sit back and accept.
Throughout my pregnancy so far, i have had a few niggles that I have had assessed by a women’s health physio. I wanted more clarity and guidance on how to improve or stabilise my symptoms. I also wanted to ensure that I wasn’t doing anything to exacerbate them. Hopefully I could see if there was anything recommended to help me.
So why did I choose a women’s health physio?
For me I wanted to see someone fully clued up, firstly on pregnancy and the changes my body was going through, but also someone who can help with other female related issues. Issues like incontinence, prolapse and pelvic girdle pain that can and often do occur for women.
What did I go to see the physio for?
The first visit, i went for pelvic girdle pain which was affecting me through my lower back. This was specifically one sided in the sacroiliac joint. I also was suffering with a bit of incontinence after i had emptied my bladder. The second visit around 10 weeks later was to assess pelvic girdle pain or symphysis pubis disfunction through the front of my pelvis and my pubic bone.
What did the physio do?
On both visits, i was fully assessed to see how my body is currently moving. They also looked for any weakness or imbalance that may be leading to the pain. I also had some hands on assessment to work out which muscles are tighter/not moving as you would hope they should. From here, I was given directions on what i needed to do going forward. For me, this was specific exercises and stretching. After the first visit i was also told to limit the amount of time spent on one leg for 2 weeks. This meant no lunges, no putting trousers on stood up etc.
Pelvic Floor
In terms of my pelvic floor. This is the bit a lot of my clients ask me the most questions on and the thing so many people seem nervous of. It should be noted that any internal examination is completely up to you. You are not forced to do anything that you are uncomfortable with. It just helps to give a better image of what is going on within your core.
Both physios were so lovely which meant it was not embarrassing or uncomfortable at all. Most of the assessment was done on feel rather than sight and we chatted throughout. They get you to do both long and short holds of your pelvic floor. Amongst other tests, a grade will be given to rate your pelvic floor function from 1-5. They can also give directions on how to perform your exercises more effectively or teach you from the basics. I went from my first exam having an overactive pelvic floor (I wasn’t fully emptying my bladder and holding too much tension) to having a normal functioning pelvic floor by my second appointment.
We all have a pelvic floor, male or female and incontinence is not uncommon especially as we age. You do not have to be pregnant or ever have carried a baby to suffer with it. If you think something isn’t quite right, go and get it checked. More often than not there are things you can do that are easy to help ease the problem and often get you to a much better place.
Pregnancy and Postpartum
For those who are pregnant, post pregnant or even planning to get pregnant, women’s health physios are a brilliant avenue to explore for more information. They can give you a much more comfortable pregnancy and post part journey. They can check for a diastasis, prolapse, pelvic floor dysfunction and much more. Without fail, they are someone you should see post birth before considering exercising again. I will be booking in for around 6 weeks post birth for my full MOT check up.
If you work with a PT, the guidance of a women’s health physio can bulletproof your workout plans post baby and get you to where you want to be in a much safer and more effective way.
If you have any questions, please feel free to message me by email or Instagram for more information.