Top 5 Things a Pelvic Floor PT Can Help With During Pregnancy

May 2

When most people think about pregnancy support, they think about their OB, midwife, or maybe even a doula.

But one piece that’s often missing—and can make a huge difference in how you feel during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum—is pelvic floor physical therapy.

Because your body is changing quickly.
And sometimes those changes feel empowering…
…and sometimes they feel uncomfortable, confusing, or just plain frustrating.

The good news? You don’t have to just “deal with it.”

Here are five of the biggest ways pelvic floor physical therapy can support you during pregnancy.

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist working with pregnant woman

1. Managing Pain (Back, Hips, Pelvis, and More)

Let’s start with one of the most common reasons people come in during pregnancy—pain.

This can look like:

Low back pain
Hip pain
Pelvic pain or pubic bone discomfort
SI joint pain
Pain with walking, rolling in bed, or getting in and out of the car

And while these are common, they are not something you have to just push through.

In pelvic PT, we look at how your whole body is moving and adapting to pregnancy. We work on improving mobility where things feel stiff, adding support where your body needs more stability, and helping you move in ways that feel better day-to-day.

Often, even small changes can make a big difference in how you feel.

2. Understanding and Connecting to Your Pelvic Floor

A lot of people have heard of “Kegels”… but many aren’t actually sure what their pelvic floor is doing.

And during pregnancy, it’s not just about strengthening.

It’s about awareness and coordination.

Your pelvic floor needs to:

Support your growing baby
Relax and lengthen for birth
Work together with your breath and core

In sessions, we help you feel and understand what’s happening in your body so you’re not guessing.

Instead of being told what to do, you start to feel how to do it—and that makes everything more effective.

3. Preparing Your Body for Labor and Birth

This is one of the most valuable (and often overlooked) parts of pelvic PT during pregnancy.

We help you prepare for birth in a way that’s practical and grounded, not overwhelming.

This can include:

Practicing breathing and pushing strategies
Learning positions that support pelvic opening
Working on pelvic floor relaxation (this is a big one!)
Improving hip and pelvic mobility to create more space

The goal isn’t to control birth.

It’s to help you feel more prepared, more confident, and more in tune with your body so you can work with it when the time comes.

4. Supporting Your Core (Without Overthinking It)

Your core changes a lot during pregnancy, and there’s a lot of information out there about what you “should” or “shouldn’t” be doing.

Pelvic PT helps simplify this.

We focus on:

How your breath and core work together
Supporting your abdomen as it expands
Reducing strain and pressure through your system
Helping you stay active in a way that feels good

This isn’t about doing everything perfectly.

It’s about helping your body feel supported as it changes.

5. Addressing Symptoms Like Leaking, Pressure, or Heaviness

These are things many people experience during pregnancy—but don’t always talk about.

Things like:

Leaking with coughing, sneezing, or exercise
A feeling of heaviness or pressure in the pelvis
Difficulty fully emptying the bladder
Increased urgency or frequency

These symptoms are your body’s way of asking for support.

And pelvic PT can help you understand why they’re happening and what to do about them—so you feel more comfortable and confident as your pregnancy progresses.

Pregnant woman resting on exercise ball with physical therapist assisting.

A Whole-Body, Whole-Person Approach

One of the biggest things we focus on in pelvic floor physical therapy is that everything is connected.

Your movement, your breath, your nervous system, your daily habits, your stress levels—they all play a role in how your body feels.

Which is why working alongside providers like pregnancy and postpartum dietitians can be so powerful.

Because nourishment, energy, digestion, and overall health all impact how your body adapts, heals, and functions during this season.

It’s not about doing more.It’s about having the right kind of support.

How We Can Support You

If you’re pregnant and want to feel more comfortable, more confident, and more connected to your body, pelvic floor physical therapy can be a really valuable part of your care team.

At Awake Pelvic Health & Wellness, we help you navigate pregnancy with a whole-body, hands-on, and individualized approach—so you’re not just getting through it, you’re actually feeling supported along the way.

You can learn more about our pregnancy pelvic floor physical therapy services here: https://www.awakepelvichealth.com/woodbury-pregnancy-pelvic-floor-therapy

Or explore more about our clinic and how we support clients here: https://www.awakepelvichealth.com/

Written by Dr. Hannah Strom, pelvic floor physical therapist and owner of Awake Pelvic Health & Wellness in Woodbury, MN. At Awake, our team of pelvic health physical therapists specializes in helping women feel more confident, connected, and supported in their bodies throughout pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.

Dr. Hannah Strom

Dr. Hannah Strom is a pelvic floor physical therapist and the founder of Awake Pelvic Health & Wellness in Woodbury, Minnesota. She specializes in helping people improve pelvic health, core function, and whole-body movement through a holistic approach that integrates movement, nervous system regulation, and hands-on care. Learn more at https://www.awakepelvichealth.com/.