The pelvic floor is a group of muscles
Those muscles help hold the bladder, bowel, and uterus. They work with the deep core. Pregnancy and delivery change them. After birth it is common to leak a little, feel heavy, hurt with sex, notice a gap down the middle of the belly, or feel unsure about getting back to exercise.
Common does not mean you have to live with it and stay quiet. It also does not mean a website should hand you a workout.
What a pelvic floor visit can look like
- A real talk about the birth, how you are healing, and what you want back
- A look at breathing, posture, and how the core and pelvic floor share the work
- A plan for lifting the baby, walking, and exercise that matches today, not some ideal timeline
At LMNOPeds this is Delainey, a pelvic floor occupational therapist. She comes to the house, so you do not have to pack a newborn for one more clinic trip.
When to call someone today
Call your OB or midwife right away for heavy bleeding, fever, chest pain, a bad headache, or thoughts of hurting yourself or the baby. For leaking, pain, pressure, or a belly that still feels unsupported weeks later, a pelvic floor visit is a fair next step once your medical team says you can be seen.
This page does not replace postpartum medical care. It is here so you know the option exists.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Optimizing Postpartum Care. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 736. Obstet Gynecol. 2018;131(5):e140-e150. Asks for contact with a maternal care provider within 3 weeks, a comprehensive visit by 12 weeks, and referral for continence concerns. doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002633 ↗
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 736 Summary: Optimizing Postpartum Care. Obstet Gynecol. 2018;131(5):949-951. doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000002628 ↗