Experience Painless Pregnancy Through Pelvic Floor Therapy
Pregnancy changes everything but pain doesn’t have to be your baseline. With pelvic floor therapy you can stay active, manage symptoms, and feel confident from bump to birth.
Quick Truths About a “Painless Pregnancy”
These are the principles I live by in clinic:
Pain during pregnancy isn’t “normal” or inevitable. It’s common and addressable.
Active pregnancies are safe when you have the right guidance. That sets you up for postpartum success.
Pubic symphysis pain needs modification, not a full stop. We adapt daily movements and exercise so you can keep living your life.
“Stop everything” is not a strategy. You’ll still need to squat, hinge, carry, and lift a small human, sooner rather than later. Let’s keep you ready.
Leaking is often treatable during pregnancy.
Pregnant people aren’t fragile. You simply benefit from experienced care and a few specific considerations.
Why You’re Hurting: What Changes During Pregnancy
As your center of gravity shifts, your pelvis tips forward, your ribcage can flare, and tissues like the psoas and round ligament work harder. That combo can create:
Pelvic girdle pain (front pubic symphysis or back SI joints)
Low back pain and sciatica (lumbar/sacral irritation)
Mid-back/rib pain as the belly grows
None of this means you’re broken, it’s your body adapting. We help it adapt better.
How Pelvic Floor Therapy Helps You Feel Confident
Movement assessment: We start with what you do all day: work tasks, childcare, workouts and how you’re doing them. Small changes in how you squat, get out of the car, or lift groceries can dial pain down fast.
Targeted modifications: We’ll coach you on what you should feel during movements. If you’re feeling tension in the wrong places, we tweak foot position, breath, or load until your body cooperates instead of complains.
Breathing for birth (and comfort): Coached breath that lengthens (rather than clenches) the pelvic floor makes a difference, especially when pushing. Many people learn to bear down in ways that actually tighten the pelvic floor; we retrain that pattern.
Birth confidence: We’ll cover what your pelvic floor, core, and diaphragm are doing, how to spot unhelpful cues, and how to advocate for yourself. It’s not one-size-fits-all, we tailor it to your goals and your body.
Stay Active - Safely (Not “All Gas” or “All Stop”)
You don’t need to PR your rope climbs at 38 weeks, but you also don’t need to park on the couch for ten months.
Use the talk test: Heart rate varies wildly in pregnancy. If you can talk and breathe through activity, you’re likely in a safe zone.
Watch for pressure mismanagement: If you see doming or bulging along the midline (linea alba) during a movement, it’s a “modify this” cue. We adjust load, breath, or position, not your goals.
Athlete brain vs. parent brain: If you love intensity, we’ll keep the mental benefits while reducing pelvic floor strain. If you’re nervous to start, we’ll build capacity with confidence.
Preparing Your Postpartum Now
Pregnancy is a moving target; postpartum is the recalibration. Training breathing, core coordination, and pressure management now makes the return to lifting, running, and play faster and safer later.
Pro tip: pre-schedule your postpartum visits. Life gets busy (and loud). If it’s on the calendar, it happens.
FAQ: Painless Pregnancy Basics
Is pain normal in pregnancy?
It’s common, not mandatory. Pain usually signals a pattern we can improve (alignment, load, breath, or daily mechanics).
When should I see a pelvic floor PT?
Anytime: pre-conception, first trimester, or when a symptom shows up. Earlier often means easier wins.
How do I know if I’m overdoing it?
You can’t maintain the talk test, you see ab doming, your symptoms spike during/after sessions, or you’re bracing/clenching to get movements done.
Can leaking really improve while pregnant?
Often, yes. Breath, pressure strategies, and targeted strengthening/relaxation patterns help.
Ready for Experienced Care?
Our physical therapy office specializes in working with pregnant and postpartum people. Flexible scheduling is available, call or text to book. Let’s help you feel confident and move comfortably through pregnancy and beyond.