Pregnancy
Your body is doing something extraordinary. Let's make sure it feels supported every step of the way.
Pregnancy brings profound physical changes and your pelvic floor is at the centre of many of them. From the moment your uterus begins to grow, your pelvic floor is working harder, carrying more load and responding to a cascade of hormonal changes that affect every muscle and ligament in your pelvis.
At Fitt Physiotherapy we support women throughout every stage of pregnancy, from early assessment and symptom management in the first and second trimester, through to birth preparation in the final weeks. Whether you have specific symptoms or simply want to give yourself the best possible foundation for birth and recovery, we're here for you.
When to come in and why early matters
We recommend your first pelvic floor assessment in the second trimester, ideally between 14 and 20 weeks. Coming in early allows us to:
✦ Establish your individual pelvic floor baseline before the later demands of pregnancy
✦ Identify and address any existing dysfunction before it worsens
✦ Manage symptoms, leaking, urgency, heaviness or pelvic pain, while there is still time to make a real difference
✦ Provide guidance on safe exercise, load management and pelvic floor care throughout pregnancy
You don't need to be experiencing symptoms to benefit from an early assessment. Proactive care in pregnancy consistently leads to better birth and recovery outcomes.
Common symptoms we treat during pregnancy:
✦ Stress urinary incontinence — leaking with coughing, sneezing, laughing or exercise
✦ Urgency and urge incontinence
✦ Pelvic heaviness or pressure
✦ Pelvic girdle pain
✦ Constipation and bowel concerns
✦ Pelvic floor overactivity or tension
Preparing your body for birth
Birth preparation is one of the most impactful things you can do in the final weeks of pregnancy and it's something we feel passionately about at Fitt Physiotherapy.
Our birth preparation pathway includes an online course, a face to face workshop and an in-clinic practical appointment, all designed to work together to give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to approach birth feeling genuinely prepared.
The evidence is clear:
✦ Perineal massage from 34 weeks reduces the risk of severe tearing by up to 64%
✦ Pelvic floor relaxation training reduces the risk of prolonged second stage and instrumental delivery
✦ Effective pushing technique, assessed using transperineal ultrasound, significantly improves second stage outcomes
More information on our birth prep options coming soon. Our online & face to face workshop are due to launch mid-late 2026. Currently we offer in clinic one on one support.
Pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy
Pelvic girdle pain, sometimes called PGP or symphysis pubis dysfunction, is one of the most common and most undertreated conditions of pregnancy. It affects up to 1 in 5 pregnant women and can range from mild discomfort to severely limiting pain.
Common symptoms include:
✦ Pain over the pubic bone or symphysis pubis
✦ Pain in one or both sides of the lower back or buttocks
✦ Pain standing on one leg — dressing, climbing stairs
✦ Pain getting in and out of the car
✦ Pain rolling over in bed or turning over at night
✦ A clicking or grinding sensation in the pelvis
✦ Pain that radiates into the inner thighs
Pelvic girdle pain is not something you should have to push through. It is highly responsive to physiotherapy, including manual therapy, targeted exercise, load management strategies and supportive bracing where appropriate.
If you are experiencing pelvic girdle pain please book an Initial Musculoskeletal Consultation, the sooner it is assessed and treated the better your response will be.
Staying active safely throughout pregnancy
Regular exercise during pregnancy has significant benefits for both you and your baby, including reduced risk of gestational diabetes, better postpartum recovery, improved mood and reduced rates of perinatal depression.
Current guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week throughout pregnancy for women without contraindications.
However, as your body changes, your exercise program needs to change with it. What's safe and appropriate at 12 weeks looks very different at 32 weeks. Our physiotherapists can review your current exercise routine at any stage of pregnancy and provide guidance on modifications, load management and pelvic floor safe movement to keep you active and well right up until birth.
Supporting you from the very beginning.
Whether you're newly pregnant or approaching your due date, we'd love to see you.