Pelvic Floor PT During Pregnancy — What to Know
- Nicole Cozean
- 15 hours ago
- 5 min read
Every pregnant person can benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy during pregnancy. This isn’t just about the pelvic floor itself—a pelvic PT is a true pregnancy expert. They can help you stay comfortable throughout pregnancy, prepare for delivery, and reduce the risk of postpartum issues so you feel strong and supported through every trimester.
Introduction
It’s honestly incredible how much the human body changes in the nine months of pregnancy. Hormones fluctuate dramatically, joints loosen, and weight distribution shifts as your body grows new life. Research shows that up to 50% of pregnant people experience back pain, 70% report pelvic girdle or hip pain, and 30–50% notice urinary leakage during pregnancy. Ligaments become up to 30% more flexible, and the way you breathe, move, and carry yourself all changes to accommodate your baby.
Pregnancy changes nearly every part of your body—how you move, exercise, sleep, and even how you eat. And yet, once a pregnancy is confirmed, most women only see their OB every few months. Those visits are focused on the health of the baby—but who is looking out for the health of the pregnant person? That’s where pelvic floor physical therapy comes in. Pelvic PTs are passionate about helping you stay as comfortable as possible, prepare your body for labor and delivery, and minimize postpartum issues. At PelvicSanity, our Pregnancy Program runs throughout the entire pregnancy—supporting women in the first, second, and third trimesters.
Pelvic Floor PT Keeps You More Comfortable Throughout Pregnancy
One of the biggest goals of pelvic floor physical therapy during pregnancy is helping you stay comfortable and active. Society often treats aches, pains, and discomforts as inevitable—something you just have to “put up with.” But that’s simply not true. Pelvic floor PTs can help relieve and prevent low or mid-back pain, pubic symphysis or groin pain, pelvic or hip discomfort, hand, wrist, or foot pain (such as carpal tunnel or plantar fasciitis), and pain with exercise or activity.
Beyond musculoskeletal issues, pelvic floor PTs can help with common pelvic health symptoms like painful intercourse, urinary urgency or frequency, waking up multiple times at night to pee, and constipation or bowel discomfort. All of these symptoms are common, but that doesn’t mean they’re normal—and they’re absolutely treatable. At PelvicSanity, we believe every expecting mother deserves care and support from someone who truly understands what their body is going through. Pregnancy may be natural, but that doesn’t
mean it’s easy—and you deserve to feel your best every step of the way.
How Pelvic PT Helps Prepare for a Smoother Delivery?
Childbirth is one of the most intense, powerful events the human body can experience. And yet, most women are given very little guidance on how to physically prepare for it. Pelvic floor physical therapy during pregnancy helps prepare your body for a smoother, safer, and more confident delivery.
Your pelvic floor muscles need to be able to relax, stretch, and move out of the way as the uterus pushes your baby out. But for many people, those muscles become tight and overworked during pregnancy—especially if you’ve had back, hip, or pubic pain. Tight muscles don’t stretch easily, which can make labor more difficult. This is why Kegels are not recommended during pregnancy for most people. Instead, pelvic PT focuses on helping those muscles learn to relax and lengthen. Pelvic PTs can also use biofeedback to assess how well your muscles relax in different birthing positions, help you determine optimal
delivery positions, teach breathing and pushing techniques, and perform and teach perineal massage to prepare tissues and reduce tearing risk.
Preventing or Treating Postpartum Issues?
Pelvic floor PT during pregnancy also helps set you up for a smoother postpartum recovery. By strengthening your foundation before delivery, you’re placing your body in the best possible position for healing. If you’re already dealing with incontinence, back pain, or pelvic pain before birth, those issues often worsen after delivery. Addressing them during pregnancy can prevent this and make recovery much easier.
Even with preparation, postpartum symptoms are common: urinary incontinence (~50%), low or mid-back pain (~75%), diastasis recti (~50%), pelvic organ prolapse (~30%), and painful intercourse (~30%). While these numbers might sound intimidating, early work with a pelvic PT helps your body bounce back more efficiently and reduces the severity or duration of these symptoms. And if they do occur, you’re already connected with a therapist who knows your body and can guide your postpartum recovery right away—no waiting, no guesswork.
How to Find a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist Who Specializes in Pregnancy Care?
As with any healthcare provider, experience matters. Unfortunately, many clinics list “pelvic health” as a service but only offer it part-time, or have one staff member who treats these cases occasionally. When searching for a pelvic floor PT for pregnancy, look for a clinic that specializes exclusively in pelvic health and offers a dedicated pregnancy or prenatal program. Ask about their experience working with pregnant patients, what conditions they treat, and whether they continue care postpartum.
At PelvicSanity in Laguna Hills, California, we have an entire Pregnancy Program dedicated to helping pregnant people get the support and care they deserve. We focus on keeping you comfortable and active during pregnancy, preparing you for labor and delivery, teaching perineal massage, breathing, and safe exercise, reducing anxiety around symptoms like urinary leakage or pain, and supporting postpartum recovery and healing. We’re here to be your expert guide through this time of extraordinary change and growth.
Where to Find Pelvic Floor Therapy for Pregnancy in Laguna Hills and Orange County?
PelvicSanity is a world-renowned pelvic health clinic located in Laguna Hills, California, serving Orange County and all of Southern California. Our Pregnancy Program supports expecting mothers through every trimester, helping them stay comfortable, confident, and prepared for delivery—and ensuring they have guidance and care in the postpartum stage as well.
If you’re local to Southern California (or able to travel to Orange County), you’ll be in the best hands with our experienced pelvic floor specialists.
👉 Request an Appointment today to get started with our pregnancy specialists at PelvicSanity.
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Who are We at PelvicSanity?
At PelvicSanity, it's our mission to support patients with pelvic pain and pelvic floor symptoms, regardless of where you live. We can help with:
In-person treatment for those in Southern California at the PelvicSanity clinic
Immersive Out-of-Town program for those able to travel
Remote Consultations to get you expert 1:1 help, advice and an action plan
Online patient courses on Interstitial Cystitis and Movement for Pelvic Health
A Facebook support group for patients called Finding Pelvic Sanity.
Dr. Nicole Cozean is the founder of PelvicSanity Physical Therapy in Orange County, CA. PelvicSanity treats patients from all over the world with remote consultations and the Immersive Out of Town Program. She also runs Pelvic PT Rising, training other pelvic PTs to better serve patients.
Named Physical Therapist of the Year, Dr. Nicole is author of the award-winning book The Interstitial Cystitis Solution and the first PT to serve on the ICA Board of Directors, Her passion is helping those with pelvic health issues - regardless of where they live - find lasting relief.
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