Your core comprises the diaphragm, the abdominals, the pelvic floor, and the back muscles– and all of these muscles go through significant changes during pregnancy, birth, and recovery. Depending on which muscle groups are feeling the pressure, you might be experiencing the following:
- Stress, stretching, or abdominal separation
- Incontinence and/or prolapse
- Heartburn or difficulty breathing
- Pelvic girdle pain
- Back, hip, pelvic, and pubic symphysis pain
(… to name a few!)
If you’re feeling uncertain or uncomfortable right now, I can help! With education, exercise, and expert advice, I’ll help make pregnancy, birth, and recovery easier on your body and mind.
Pelvic Health Physiotherapy Can Help You:
Relieve Pain & Discomfort
Relieve back, hip, and pelvic pain, and reduce heartburn.
Prepare for Labour
Support your body and mind with education & exercise.
Recover From Birth Faster
Get a head start on postpartum recovery during pregnancy!
Get Pregnancy & Postpartum Support
Individual Physiotherapy Appointments
One-on-one pelvic floor and pregnancy physiotherapy use education and exercise to make your pregnancy more comfortable while preparing your mind and body for birth and recovery.
We are currently offering in-person appointments in North Vancouver or online telehealth appointments.
Core & Pelvic Floor Program with Hypopressives
Core & Pelvic Floorgroup classes combine hypopressives, breathing techniques, postural correction, and strengthening exercises to reset and retrain the deep core. You’ll learn to utilize your muscles fully, and we’ll go beyond Kegels and squats!
Growing with You: A pre-post natal course with occupational and physical therapists
This course is a new model of care. It promotes skills for well-being during your pregnancy and as a new parent. Before and after birth is a time of physical, emotional, and occupational change. In the nine hours of the program:
Your pelvic health physiotherapist will explain the changes and pelvic health and issues that go hand-in-hand with pregnancy. We’ll cover pain, incontinence, recovery, and so much more.
Our occupational therapists will talk about the potential challenges of becoming a mother. Feeding, sleeping, and fussy babies are often underappreciated until it’s real. We will help you be prepared.
“After two kids very close together and a traumatic vaginal delivery, not only did Cheryl help fix my original issue, she helped improve my lower back and hip pain. My husband was also appreciative of my “vagina class” as he called it, as it taught me some new tricks!”
Negar Namiranian, Registered Nurse
Frequently Asked Questions for Pregnancy & Postpartum Pelvic Health
Not necessarily. Not everyone needs an internal pelvic floor physio exam because we can make accurate assumptions about the issue by taking an in-depth history. Also, many GPs are now doing more of an exam than just a pap test, so there’s no need to duplicate.
But, if you need an exam, know it’s a normal part of our day. It can even be a good experience! 98% of women comment that they’re pleased having had an exam because they feel better knowing what’s going on with their Pelvic Floor. Many women say they would prefer not to have an exam initially, but once they start working on a program, they return and want to confirm what they’re feeling (or not feeling).
Yes, pelvic floor physiotherapy is very beneficial, even if you had a C-Section. This is because pregnancy is a risk factor for pelvic floor issues– not just vaginal birth.
And pelvic floor concerns can affect everyone- not just new moms. Some women had six kids without a single pelvic floor issue, and women who never had babies had concerns. Things like prolapses, incontinence, and painful sex can affect anyone at any stage of life. Even men deal with pelvic health concerns.
So, it’s always worth a chat to see if there are things you might want to change or work on!
Yes! Pain is only one indicator of a problem, and some issues can be prevented or caught sooner by looking at symptoms other than pain. For example, bowel issues can be a window into a pelvic floor issue, but they don’t always involve pain. You do not need to wait until you’re in pain to get support for your pelvic floor issues!
There are great new guidelines for pregnancy and exercise.
