Pregnancy & Postpartum Physical Therapy

You can start pelvic floor physical therapy at any point during pregnancy.You don’t need to wait until the third trimester—or until you have pain or other symptoms. Earlier visits may focus on staying active and comfortable as your body changes, while later visits can include more specific preparation for labor and delivery, including mobility, birth positions, breathing, and pushing strategies

No. An internal pelvic floor exam is always your choice. We’ll talk through the different ways we can assess your pelvic floor, including what an internal exam may help us understand and whether it would be useful for your specific goals. There is also plenty we can assess and treat without an internal exam. You decide what feels right for you, and consent is ongoing throughout your care.

Yes. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help you prepare for the physical demands of labor and birth. We can work on hip and pelvic mobility, breathing and pelvic floor coordination, labor and birth positions, and different pushing strategies. As you get closer to delivery, we encourage you to bring a partner or support person so you can practice positions and hands-on support techniques together in a calm environment before it’s go time!

If you’re ready, you can start postpartum physical therapy before your six-week checkup. Early visits can focus on recovery, breathing and rib cage mobility, gentle movement, managing pain or pressure, bladder and bowel concerns, and making everyday activities with your baby more comfortable. As your body heals, we can gradually progress toward rebuilding strength and returning to exercise.

No. You don’t need to be cleared for exercise before starting postpartum physical therapy. Postpartum PT doesn’t mean jumping straight back into exercise. Early visits can focus on recovery, breathing and rib cage mobility, gentle movement, pain or pressure, bladder and bowel concerns, and strategies for everyday activities like lifting, feeding, and carrying your baby.

As you heal, we can gradually progress toward strengthening and returning to exercise while respecting any restrictions or recommendations from your medical team.

Yes—pelvic floor physical therapy can be beneficial after a Cesarean delivery, too. Pregnancy itself places significant demands on your pelvic floor, core, breathing system, hips, and pelvis, regardless of how your baby is delivered. After a C-section, PT can also address abdominal and scar mobility, reconnect your core and pelvic floor, and help you gradually rebuild strength and return to the activities you enjoy.

Pelvic floor physical therapy can help with many common postpartum symptoms (and after you’ve had a baby, you’re always postpartum). Whether it’s been six weeks or several years, you can still get support for leaking or urinary urgency, pelvic pressure or heaviness, constipation, pain with sex, pelvic or abdominal pain, diastasis recti, C-section or perineal scar concerns, and hip or low back pain. You may also simply feel like your body moves or functions differently than it used to. We can help you understand those changes, rebuild strength and confidence, and get back to the activities that matter to you.

Yes. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help with diastasis recti, but treatment is about more than just closing the gap. We look at how your breathing, rib cage, abdominal muscles, pelvic floor, and whole body work together. Treatment focuses on improving coordination, managing pressure, and progressively rebuilding core and whole-body strength so you can feel confident with lifting, exercise, and everyday activities.

Returning to running or higher-impact exercise postpartum is less about reaching a specific week and more about whether your body is ready for the demands of the activity. We look at strength, pelvic floor function, impact tolerance, and symptoms such as leaking, heaviness, pain, or pressure. From there, we can build a gradual return-to-running or exercise plan that meets you where you are and progresses toward your goals.

Absolutely, your baby is always welcome to come with you! We know that finding childcare can be difficult, especially in the early postpartum months. Bring your baby along, and we’ll work around feeding, soothing, or whatever else comes up during your visit. Your appointment doesn’t have to be perfect to be productive.