pregnancy and postpartum care
Did you know that prenatal and postpartum pelvic floor physical therapy treatment and referral is a standard of care in other countries outside of the United States?
This is regardless of whether or not you are struggling with symptoms relating to your journey with trying to conceive, pregnancy, or following your delivery and frequently helps to catch pelvic floor issues early on before they become an issue.
Because having a baby is not considered adequate medical treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction and frequently makes these conditions worse, not better.
Not only are there things that we can do during your journey of trying to conceive for pelvic floor issues that may pop up, but pelvic floor physical therapy can be used as preventative treatment during pregnancy to prepare for your upcoming delivery and postpartum to help your body heal post-baby.
prenatal care
Maybe you’re struggling with different aches and pains during pregnancy. Or maybe you’re not and are feeling great. Regardless, there are so many things we can do during your pregnancy experience in pelvic floor physical therapy to help you feel empowered and stay strong.
During your pregnancy we are able to stay ahead of any potential (and common) forms of pelvic pain that may pop up as your baby continues to grow, like pubic symphysis and sacroiliac joint pain. And we are able to address any discomfort that you may experience along the way to prevent things from flaring up and getting worse.
I love helping my pregnant clients feel strong in their bodies throughout their pregnancy by incorporating different forms of strength training exercise. Because pregnancy is not a medical condition and does not mean that your body is fragile.
With pelvic floor physical therapy during pregnancy and while trying to conceive we have the ability (and time) to actually prepare you and your body for your upcoming labor. At Flora I educate my clients who are expecting on a ton of information including birthing and labor positioning, appropriate breathing mechanics, and perineal massage to help prevent your risk of tearing during delivery.
postpartum care
Feeling like your baby has a ton of appointments, but you are left to care for yourself and your body following delivery on your own? It can be incredibly overwhelming as a parent when trying to care for a child while also making your health a priority.
Newborn babies on average have at least three visits with a medical care provider within the first six weeks following birth while new parents only have one. That is a staggering statistic and emphasizes the need for more support for people in the immediate post-delivery period.
At Flora Physical Therapy I am able to offer in-home, virtual, and in-clinic treatment options for clients that are newly postpartum to make caring for your body more accessible. I complete a comprehensive whole body assessment for my postpartum clients to address any aches or pains you may be experiencing to ensure that you are feeling your best.
Are you a runner, do you lift weights, or are you just wanting to get back into physical activity following delivery and don’t know where to start? We are also able to complete a comprehensive return to running screen following delivery as well as create a specialized return to exercise program that is created just for you based on your goals and what you’re wanting to get back to.
Want to learn a little more about caring for your body following delivery? Check out my blog posts:
what we can work on together
So regardless of whether you are newly postpartum, still on your journey with trying to conceive, are pregnant, or are years following your pregnancy and delivery, pelvic floor physical therapy is appropriate for you.
If you are struggling with symptoms that you have been told are “normal” or that you have been experiencing and didn’t realize it was something you didn’t have to “just deal with,” I would love to work with you. Because postpartum is forever. Things that I have been able to help my clients successfully treat include:
Neck, shoulder, upper back, or low back pain from caring for, carrying, and feeding your little one
Low back, sacroiliac joint (SIJ), groin, hip, abdominal, or pubic symphysis pain during and following pregnancy
Looking to prepare for your upcoming delivery and learn more about birthing positioning, appropriate breathing mechanics, and how to appropriately and effectively do perineal massage
Abdominal doming or coning (“diastasis recti”) with movement or exercise
Discomfort or pain at your cesarean or perineal scar tissue from your delivery
Swelling in your legs or at your vulva or genitals during your pregnancy or following delivery
Wanting to stay active during pregnancy or get back into exercise or running postpartum
Pain during sex and intimacy during pregnancy or following delivery or a fear of returning to intimacy for fear that it will hurt
Issues with your bladder
Issues with your bowels
And pretty much any other pelvic floor issue you can think of
ready to get started at flora?
what clients are saying about flora
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i cannot say enough positive things about flora physical therapy! i started seeing dr. brook for support during pregnancy with pelvic discomfort. she has been an absolute game changer during everything. i have seen a lot of improvements since i started physical therapy with her and would absolutely recommend her to everyone i know!
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dr. brook has been wonderful working with me to prepare for childbirth as well as addressing any pregnancy aches and pains that have come up along the way. she has a wealth of resources that she is always willing to share. i cannot recommend her enough.
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dr. brook is such a great pt to work with for pelvic floor issues. since pregnancy and becoming a mother, i have experienced many side effects and discomforts as part of a compromised pelvic floor. after a few appointments working with scar tissue, some stretching, and dry needling i can already notice significant improvements! i would recommend her to anyone instantly.