Pregnancy and Pelvic Floor Health: What You Need to Know



Pregnancy can be an exciting time for many women, but it can also come with a host of changes and challenges. One of the areas that may be impacted during pregnancy is the pelvic floor. Pregnancy can put extra strain on these muscles, which may lead to problems with pelvic floor health. In this article, we'll discuss what you need to know about pregnancy and pelvic floor health including how to maintain good pelvic floor health during pregnancy and what to do if you experience problems.

Changes to the Pelvic Floor During Pregnancy


During pregnancy, the pelvic floor undergoes a number of changes. As the uterus grows, it puts extra pressure on the pelvic floor muscles, which can weaken them. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can also impact the pelvic floor, as they can make the muscles more relaxed.

Maintaining Pelvic Floor Health During Pregnancy



Maintaining good pelvic floor health during pregnancy is important to help prevent problems like the urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. Here are some tips for maintaining pelvic floor health during pregnancy:

Do Kegel exercises - Kegel exercises involve contracting and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles and these exercises can help strengthen the pelvic floor and improve bladder and bowel control.

Maintain a healthy weight - Excess weight can put extra pressure on the pelvic floor muscles, so it's important to maintain a healthy weight during pregnancy.

Practice good posture - Good posture can help take pressure off the pelvic floor muscles. Try to avoid standing or sitting for long periods of time and make sure to use good posture when lifting heavy objects.

Use the bathroom regularly - It's important to empty your bladder regularly to prevent urine from accumulating and putting extra pressure on the pelvic floor muscles.

Consider using a support garment - Support garments, such as maternity belts, can help support the weight of the uterus and take pressure off the pelvic floor muscles.

Common Pelvic Floor Problems During Pregnancy

Despite your best efforts to maintain good pelvic floor health, you may still experience problems during pregnancy. Here are some common pelvic floor problems during pregnancy:

Urinary incontinence - Urinary incontinence is a common problem during pregnancy, especially in the later stages. It occurs when urine leaks out involuntarily.

Pelvic organ prolapse - Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the pelvic organs, such as the uterus, bladder, or rectum, sag into the vagina due to weakened pelvic floor muscles.

Hemorrhoids - Hemorrhoids are swollen veins in the rectum and anus. They can be caused by increased pressure on the pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy.

Painful intercourse - Painful intercourse can be caused by pelvic floor muscle tension or weakness.

What to Do If You Experience Pelvic Floor Problems During Pregnancy



If you experience pelvic floor problems during pregnancy, it's important to talk to your healthcare provider. Your provider can assess your symptoms and recommend treatment options. Here are some common treatment options for pelvic floor problems during pregnancy:

Physical therapy - Pelvic floor physical therapy can help strengthen the pelvic floor muscles and improve bladder and bowel control.

Medications - Medications may be prescribed to help manage symptoms such as urinary incontinence.

Surgery - In some cases, surgery may be necessary to treat pelvic organ prolapse or other pelvic floor problems. However, surgery is usually not recommended during pregnancy and may be delayed until after delivery.

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