Pelvic health services
1:1 Pelvic Health Physiotherapy
I provide services to people who are at various stages of the transformative journey: whether you are trying to conceive, currently pregnant, preparing for birth, or navigating the postpartum period. This time can be filled with anticipation and excitement, however, it can also bring about feelings of intimidation and uncertainty. You may find yourself wondering about birth, how your body will feel in postpartum, how you'll navigate recovery, and how you can prepare for the physical changes that lie ahead.
I provide guidance and support in reclaiming your sense of self and in establishing a safe and supportive return to the activities and lifestyle you love.
Concerns I can help you with
Prenatal Pelvic health
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Equip yourself for the momentous event of childbirth, whether you're considering a vaginal birth or a c-section. Through education, exercises, mobility work, techniques for pelvic floor relaxation, learning how to properly perform perineal massage - we’ll make sure you're mentally and physically prepared for birth and help to ease the transition into the 4th trimester.
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Pregnancy is a time of major change to the pelvic floor and core, which can lead to common pelvic health concerns (ie. leaking, heaviness/pressure, pain, etc). We’ll focus on beneficial pelvic floor and core work that will serve you throughout pregnancy and into postpartum. Increasing your resilience and adaptability to support your body and well-being.
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Embrace a balanced and invigorating fitness regime tailored to your pregnancy's unique stages. With a blend of aerobic, strength training, and flexibility exercises, we’ll make sure that the exercise you engage in benefits both you and your baby. We’ll also spend our sessions demystifying common exercise myths during pregnancy to keep you informed and confident.
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Combat the discomforts of pregnancy with specialized physiotherapy techniques and ergonomic advice. In these cases we delve into manual therapies, stretching routines, and posture changes to alleviate the strains on your pelvic girdle and lower back. With a holistic approach, you'll learn self-management strategies to foster sustained relief and improved mobility throughout your pregnancy.
Postpartum Pelvic Health
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There are different considerations for rehab post vaginal birth and C-section birth, but both require care and attention.
Care post cesarean section can be overlooked, some think because they did not have a vaginal delivery they do not require the same care. However, regardless of the method of delivery, the body had the same stresses over the past 10 months. This can impact your pelvic floor, core, and lumbopelvic region.
Post birth care covers everything from scar tissue management, to gentle mobility exercises, learn to reconnect with your pelvic floor and core, and strategies to alleviate discomforts. With education and physical support we’ll bolster your recovery process, ensuring you reclaim strength, confidence, and well-being in the postpartum phase.
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Addressing pelvic organ prolapse requires a blend of expert knowledge and compassionate care. There are a number of potential contributing factors which we will assess for and work to address in sessions. I aim to empower you with the tools and understanding to manage symptoms and do the activities you enjoy.
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The overall widening/elongation of the connective tissue (linea alba) that runs down along the abdomen, this is a normal adaptation to pregnancy to accommodate the growing baby! In postpartum we work to rehabilitate the whole core. It’s important to note here, that it’s not all about the width of the gap.
Through a combination of core strengthening exercises and functional movement training, I’ll help you rebuild core integrity and confidence.
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The postpartum phase can bring about unique physical challenges, including discomfort in the pelvic girdle and lower back. By combining therapeutic exercises, manual therapies, and ergonomic recommendations we’ll work to alleviate pain, restore balance, and offer you strategies to enjoy motherhood with increased comfort and mobility.
general pelvic health
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Urinary Incontinence:
The pelvic floor muscles are involved in evacuating or retaining fluids when appropriate. For example, if the pelvic floor muscles are not able to adequately meet the demands of the downward pressure from activities such as: coughing/sneezing, carrying/lifting, bend/squat, push/pull, walk/running/jumping, for example. This can result in leaking, which is stress urinary incontinence.
Another concern may be an overactive bladder, urge, or frequency, which may or may not involve incontinence. This can look like: having to hurry to the bathroom, needing to use the bathroom frequently throughout the day, leaking before getting to the toilet, having to go to the bathroom several times through the night, you may think you have a “small bladder.”
Fecal Incontinence:
As mentioned above, the pelvic floor muscles are involved in evacuation, they are also involved in retaining stool. If the pelvic floor muscles are not able to adequately meet the demands of the downward pressure from activities such as coughing or laughing for example, this can result in fecal incontinence.
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Addressing pelvic pain requires a nuanced, individualized, and compassionate approach. Whether you're facing dyspareunia (pain with sex), vaginismus, vulvodynia, symptoms related to endometriosis, or interstitial cystitis, we’ll create a custom therapeutic protocol to suit your specific needs.
With a blend of education, pelvic floor relaxation techniques, and pain management strategies, you’ll feel empowered to lead a life free from debilitating discomfort.
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As the body navigates the perimenopausal phase, unique pelvic health challenges can arise. With a custom created program protocol designed to guide you through this transition with grace and empowerment, we’ll focus on hormonal health, pelvic floor integrity, and symptom management. Through comprehensive support and care we’ll help you embrace this next phase with vitality and confidence.
My approach
I aim to create a safe and welcoming space where you can openly discuss your experiences, concerns, fears, and aspirations, as well as a reliable place to ask those pelvic health questions you can’t find the answer to anywhere else.
If you have any questions, please reach out at nicole@upliftphysio.com
