Why Pelvic Floor Therapy During Pregnancy Might Be The Missing Link On Your Birth Team
Pelvic Floor Therapy During Pregnancy: Why It Matters
Pregnancy changes your body in incredible and remarkable ways—but it also places new demands on your muscles, joints, and pelvic floor. Many women are told pain, leaking, pressure, or discomfort are “normal” during pregnancy.
But common doesn’t mean normal—and you don’t have to just push through.One of our mottos at The HOPE Doctors in St. Pete is: “You don’t have to suffer, even if it’s common”
Pelvic floor therapy during pregnancy helps your body adapt, move well, and prepare for the birth you desire as well as prepare to optimize your postpartum recovery.
What Is the Pelvic Floor—and Why Pregnancy Affects It
Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that:
Support your bladder, uterus, and bowels
Help with continence
Coordinate with breathing and core muscles
Play a huge role in labor and postpartum recovery
If you’ve read any of our blogs, posts, or follow us at all, you know by now that your pelvic floor ALSO involves the REST OF YOUR BODY. It’s all connected. We don’t ONLY look at your pelvic floor muscles.
During pregnancy:
Your growing baby increases downward pressure
Hormones soften ligaments and joints
Posture and breathing change
Your core and pelvic floor must adapt together
A lot of moms-to-be struggle with core stretching, discomfort with positioning in seated or laying down, increased bladder/bowel changes, and even pain or heaviness/pressure.
Again, you don’t have to accept it as normal!
Common Signs You Could Benefit from Pelvic Floor Therapy
You don’t need to “wait until after birth.” Pelvic floor therapy can help if you’re experiencing:
Pelvic or tailbone pain
Pubic bone pain
Hip or low back pain
Urinary leaking or urgency
Pain with walking, rolling in bed, or standing
Feelings of heaviness or pressure
Pain with intimacy
Fear of labor or tearing
Trouble engaging your core
These are signals, not things to ignore.
In fact, evidence shows if you see a pelvic floor therapist while pregnant you are a lot more likely to have positive outcomes during labor and delivery, and your postpartum recovery will be better!
How Pelvic Floor Therapy Helps During Pregnancy
A prenatal pelvic floor therapist focuses on:
1. Reducing Pain
We address muscle tension, joint stress, posture, breathing, and movement patterns that cause pain.
2. Preparing Your Body for Birth
You’ll learn:
How to relax your pelvic floor
How to coordinate breathing for labor
Pushing strategies that protect your body
Positions that reduce tearing and strain
3. Supporting Core + Pelvic Stability
This improves:
Daily comfort
Exercise confidence
Postpartum recovery
4. Preventing Long-Term Issues
Prenatal care reduces the risk of:
Prolapse
Chronic pain
Persistent incontinence
Fear of movement after birth
What to Expect in a Pelvic Floor Therapy Session During Pregnancy
At The HOPE Doctors, sessions are:
1:1, private, and supportive
Focused on full-body movement (not just Kegels)
Education-driven
Adapted for each trimester
Your plan may include:
Breathing strategies
Core + pelvic coordination
Gentle mobility
Functional movement training
Labor prep education
We also have a labor and delivery workshop EVERY month for a low cost to you! We only take a select amount of couples for this 🙂
When Should You Start Pelvic Floor Therapy?
You can begin at any stage of pregnancy, but earlier support means:
Less pain
More confidence
Better recovery
It’s never “too early” to prepare your body for birth and build confidence.
We are the best option to see during pregnancy to make sure you are doing the right type of exercise and can stay active too!
Pelvic Floor Therapy Sets You Up for Postpartum Recovery
Think of prenatal pelvic floor therapy as prehab for birth.
You’re not just preparing for delivery—you’re preparing for:
Healing
Lifting your baby
Returning to exercise
Feeling like yourself again
How We Help at The HOPE Doctors
At our St. Petersburg clinic, we specialize in holistic pelvic health care for soon to be moms. Our goal is to help you feel:
Seen. Empowered. Strong.
We combine movement, education, and personalized care so you can move through pregnancy with confidence—and into motherhood without fear.
Ready to support your body through pregnancy and beyond?
Book a prenatal pelvic floor consultation with The HOPE Doctors today OR sign up for our labor and delivery workshop!
Labor & Delivery Workshop
📍 Serving St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay Areas!
