Exercise Advice

A physiotherapist can guide you through safe and effective exercise during and after pregnancy. Exercises that can help your body prepare for birth and recover afterwards. A physio can assess your current condition and create a plan tailored to your unique needs. Staying physically active during and after pregnancy is important for weight management, mental wellbeing, reducing the risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia.  

Strengthening Pelvic Floor

Pelvic floor muscles are put under extra pressure throughout pregnancy and hormones which allow the pelvis to soften can also cause weakening and stretching of the pelvic floor muscles. There are exercises that can be done before, during and after pregnancy to strengthen these muscles and reduce the chance of developing symptoms such as urine and/or faecal incontinence, prolapse, lower back pain and pelvic pain. Research shows that pregnant women doing intensive, supervised pelvic floor strengthening programs were 56% less likely to leak urine during pregnancy, and 30% less likely to leak up to 6 months post-birth. It’s important to make sure you are doing pelvic floor exercises correctly, and this is where a physio can help! 

Relief from Aches and Pains

Aches and pains can be common in the lower back, pelvis, hips and hands but physiotherapy treatment can help. After baby is born it’s also common to experience neck pain from lifting and feeding. Physios can provide treatment such as massage, but also advice on posture, using heat or ice, exercises or stretches to decrease pain and positions or activities to avoid.  

Minimise Diastasis Recti

Diastasis recti occurs when the abdominals start to stretch as baby grows, causing a separation between abdominal muscles. It can present as a doming or bulging appearance in the tummy and is common during pregnancy. Some separation is normal, however it is possible to avoid extreme separation during pregnancy. A physio is able to show you exercises to strengthen your deep abdominal muscles and pelvic floor, and activities to avoid to prevent abdominal separation. Doing these things during pregnancy will help you improve your recovery after  giving birth.

Our Senior Physio Alisha has a keen interest in treating women’s health concerns and is here to help you through your pregnancy and beyond! For more info or to make a booking, please contact our reception team on (08) 6269 2061.

The post How Can A Physio Help You During Pregnancy? appeared first on Piara Waters Physiotherapy.