Your pelvic floor plays an important role in how you move, breathe, and support your body during your pregnancy and beyond. Yet, despite its many functions, pelvic floor health is something many people know very little about until they experience symptoms or begin preparing for birth.
Whether you are currently pregnant, newly postpartum, or simply looking to better understand your body, learning about your pelvic floor can help you feel more informed, confident, and supported through every stage of motherhood.
Why Pelvic Floor Health Matters During Pregnancy
Pregnancy brings significant changes to your body. As your baby grows, your pelvic floor experiences increasing demands while your posture, breathing patterns, and core function continue to adapt.
Understanding your pelvic floor during pregnancy can help you prepare for birth and make informed decisions about your movement and recovery.
During pregnancy, pelvic floor education can help you learn how to:
Coordinate your breath with movement and manage pressure through your core.
Recognize the difference between contracting and relaxing your pelvic floor.
Understand how your pelvic floor functions during labor and delivery.
Explore birth preparation strategies, including pushing techniques.
Identify symptoms that may benefit from additional support from a pelvic floor physical therapist.
Birth preparation involves more than strengthening. Learning how to release and relax your pelvic floor, coordinate your breathing, and work with your body can be valuable tools as you prepare for labor.
Every pregnancy and birth experience is different, which is why individualized guidance from qualified healthcare professionals can be so helpful.
Pelvic Floor Health After Birth: Supporting Your Recovery
Your body continues to change after delivery as your abdominal wall, pelvic floor, and other tissues recover. Whether you have had a vaginal birth or a cesarean birth, your postpartum recovery deserves attention and support.
You may have questions about returning to exercise, rebuilding core strength, or understanding symptoms that feel unfamiliar. Pelvic floor education can help you better understand what your body needs during this stage.
Postpartum pelvic floor education may cover topics such as:
Core and pelvic floor rehabilitation: Learning how to gradually reconnect with your deep core muscles and pelvic floor.
Diastasis recti (DRA): Understanding abdominal separation, how it can be assessed, and what may help support recovery.
Breathing and pressure management: Exploring how breath and movement work together during everyday activities and exercise.
Returning to movement: Understanding how to approach exercise progressively as your body heals.
Recognizing symptoms: Learning when concerns such as urinary leakage, pelvic heaviness, or pain may warrant evaluation by a pelvic floor physical therapist.
Diastasis recti, commonly called abdominal separation, occurs when the connective tissue between the two sides of the abdominal muscles widens during pregnancy. It is a common change, and its presence alone does not determine whether you have a problem. A qualified professional can help assess your abdominal wall and guide you toward appropriate exercises and strategies.
You do not have to wait until symptoms become disruptive to seek information or support. Learning about your pelvic floor can be a proactive part of postpartum recovery.
Join Our Pelvic Floor Workshop at Pilates House Lemont
We're excited to welcome Deepa Sheth of Revive Pelvic Therapy to Pilates House Lemont for the 3rd time! This educational Pelvic Floor Workshop is focused exclusively on pregnancy and postpartum.
This workshop is designed to help you better understand your pelvic floor, learn about its role and function, and explore practical exercises you can incorporate into your movement journey.
What we'll cover:
For prenatal participants:
General pelvic floor health, anatomy, and function
Birth preparation and pushing strategies
Breathing, relaxation, and pelvic floor coordination
Additional tips to help you prepare for labor and delivery
For postpartum participants:
Core and pelvic floor rehabilitation
Diastasis recti (DRA) education and how it can be assessed
Breathing and pressure management
Practical exercises to explore as part of your recovery
Following the educational portion, Deepa will demonstrate and guide participants through exercises to try during the workshop.
What to bring: Please bring your own yoga or Pilates mat.
Whether you're preparing to welcome your baby or navigating life after delivery, this is an opportunity to learn, ask questions, and gain a better understanding of your pelvic floor in a supportive environment.
Ready to join us? Reserve your spot here.
Please note: All workshop bookings are final and non-refundable.
