There’s plenty of help for pelvic pain in pregnancy
Pelvic health issues are so common in pregnancy that many women assume they’re normal. But Jilly Bond, women’s health physiotherapist at St Joseph’s Hospital, Newport, says many of these problems are easily treatable
Pelvic health sits within the incredibly specialist field of physiotherapy. In fact, to qualify as a pelvic health physiotherapist takes years of additional training.
I sometimes call it “Australia physio” because it covers everything down under – from bladder problems and vaginal health, to musculoskeletal pain and pregnancy wellbeing.
During pregnancy, women’s bodies experience a sudden change in biomechanics as your centre of balance changes and your body prepares to grow and change in shape.
This change is normal – after all women’s bodies are designed for pregnancy – but you might be surprised at how many women experience pelvic health symptoms during and after pregnancy which aren’t normal and can be easily treated.
PELVIC PAIN
One of the most common issues women come to me with during pregnancy is something we call “pelvic girdle pain”.
During pregnancy, hormones are released to help the body become more flexible to accommodate the growing baby.
This allows extra movement in the pelvic bones which can result in pain in the groin, between the legs, in the hips or the back.
Up to a third of women experience some pelvic pain during pregnancy, ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain which can even cause some women to become wheelchairbound.
A lot of women assume this is a normal part of pregnancy, so they just get on with it and don’t seek medical help.
But pelvic pain during pregnancy isn’t normal, and there’s no reason why women should have to live with it when it can be easily treated by a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist.
After completing a full pregnancy wellbeing ‘Mummy to Be’ assessment, to work out where the pain is coming from, we work with women to put together a tailored programme of exercises, acupuncture and supportive belts if needed.
Many of these exercises, once taught, can be easily repeated at home to help build up strength in the pelvis which has long-term benefits.
The majority of women who come to me are completely pain free in around six weeks.
INCONTINENCE
Incontinence is a really common problem for women both during and after pregnancy.
It’s an issue which is often trivialised but can be incredibly debilitating and ruin lives.
I get really frustrated when I see adverts for Tena Lady, and other products which paint incontinence as a normal part of everyday life.
At St Joseph’s Hospital, we offer a ‘Mummy MOT’ for women at any stage after giving birth – from new mums to women with adult children.
Around one third of women suffer with incontinence to some degree during or after pregnancy, and some suffer in silence for years due to embarrassment or thinking nothing can be done about it.
No amount of incontinence is normal and, using a programme of exercises put together by a pelvic health physiotherapist, it’s easy to cure.
The same goes for any issues with the back passage after giving birth – anything from prolapse to trauma caused by pressure or tearing.
During pregnancy some women experience a feeling of heaviness. This is only normal during the very late stages of pregnancy, if experienced in earlier stages it could be a symptom of prolapse and can be easily treated at any stage.
Something as simple as doing daily pelvic floor exercises at home, at work or even on your commute can make a huge amount of difference.
THE ‘MUMMY TUMMY’
While some degree of stretch is normal during and after pregnancy, the “mummy tummy” caused by separated abdominal muscles isn’t normal.
A lot of women push themselves straight back into the gym or do situps after pregnancy to get their flat stomach back, but these exercises are very high-pressured and can be counter-productive.
Sit-ups can make the mummy tummy bulge more, and high-intensity cardio could make incontinence worse as well.
With the help of a pelvic health physiotherapist, and the right exercises, you could get your flat tummy back in around three months and get back to the gym doing the exercise you enjoy.
One thing I always recommend for women both during and after pregnancy is pilates.
At St Joseph’s we’re one of very few hospitals which runs pilates classes taking women right through from the early stages of pregnancy, up until their baby is around a year old.
Not only does it build up strength and tone muscles, it also teaches mindfulness and allows women to meet and bond with a group of others all going through the same thing.
The women who attend our groups end up with friends for life. They often set up group chats to announce births and continue to meet up after their babies are born.
All of these issues are common, and they can all be debilitating and embarrassing for women to deal with and seek help for.
I would say the most important thing to remember is, if you’re experiencing any of these issues, you don’t have to accept them as a normal part of life.
If you’re experiencing any of the above pelvic health issues, St Joseph’s Hospital offers a confidential service with a team of specialist Women’s Health physiotherapists.
■ For more information, or to book an appointment, call 01633 820 300 or visit www.stjosephshospital.co.uk.