Pregnancy Physical Therapy
Prenatal Care
At Envision Pelvic Health & Wellness, we are here to support you whether you’re experiencing pain, urinary leakage, constipation, or just want to optimize your pregnancy and prepare for delivery.
We want you to continue to feel your best throughout pregnancy, and not let aches or pains, or fear of leaking, stop you from feeling your best.
Throughout your pregnancy, we will provide personalized treatment plans, education, and help you feel empowered going into your delivery.
Common Pregnancy Conditions We Treat
Urinary Leakage or Urgency
Pelvic Pain
Low Back Pain or Hip Pain
Round Ligament Pain
Pubic Bone Pain / Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction (SPD)
Diastasis Recti / Ab Separation
Pelvic Pressure / Pelvic Organ Prolapse
Constipation
Mommy’s Wrist (Carpal Tunnel)
Fatigue or Weakness
Every pregnancy has a story. Whether it’s your first, your path to parenthood has been complicated, or you’re a second, or third-plus time parent, we want you to fully enjoy this journey. If you’re dealing with low back or pelvic pain, leakage, constipation, or simply want to feel your best, the experts at Envision Pelvic Health & Wellness are here to support you every step of the way.
Birth Prep
We want you to feel empowered and educated going into your delivery, no matter how you’ll give birth. At Envision Pelvic Health & Wellness, we provide hands-on support and education for both you and your partner so you feel confident and prepared for the big day.
As pelvic floor experts, we’ll guide you through birthing positions that reduce stress and strain on your pelvic floor during a vaginal delivery, or equip you with the knowledge you need to optimize early recovery after a cesarean section.
Our patients who attend birth prep sessions with us report feeling more confident, relaxed, and improved postpartum recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We recommend starting pelvic floor physical therapy earlier in pregnancy when possible. Establishing care early allows your pelvic floor physical therapist to understand your baseline, address changes as they happen, and create a personalized plan to help prevent or minimize common pregnancy symptoms like pelvic pain, back pain, urinary leakage, and pelvic pressure.
Starting early also gives us time to support you throughout pregnancy and transition into birth preparation as you get closer to delivery. You don't need to wait until something hurts to see a pregnancy pelvic floor physical therapist!
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Pregnancy physical therapy can help with pelvic pain, low back pain, hip pain, pubic bone pain, urinary leakage, pelvic pressure, constipation, painful intercourse, and difficulty staying active. Pelvic PT can also help you prepare your body for labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery.
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Yes. Pelvic floor physical therapy during pregnancy is safe and can be tailored to your trimester, symptoms, activity level, and pregnancy. Your pelvic floor physical therapist will modify treatment as needed and coordinate with your medical provider when appropriate.
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No treatment can guarantee that tearing won't occur. However, pelvic floor physical therapy during pregnancy can help improve pelvic floor awareness, relaxation, mobility, and coordination. We can also teach perineal massage and strategies to help you feel more prepared for vaginal delivery.
Want to learn more? Read this blog.
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Envision Pelvic Health & Wellness provides pregnancy pelvic floor physical therapy in Chicago with one-on-one care tailored to your symptoms, pregnancy, and birth goals. We serve patients throughout Northwest Chicago and surrounding communities, including Norwood Park, Edison Park, Park Ridge, Niles, Des Plaines, and Jefferson Park.
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Absolutely! Partners are always welcome at your physical therapy visits. We especially encourage partners to attend birth preparation sessions, where they can learn labor positions, hands-on support and counterpressure techniques, breathing strategies, and ways to help you feel supported and prepared for labor and delivery.
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Urine leakage is common during pregnancy, but that doesn't mean you have to live with it. Changes in pressure, posture, breathing, core function, and the pelvic floor can all contribute to leaking. A pelvic floor physical therapist can help determine what's contributing to your symptoms and create an individualized treatment plan.
Want to learn more? Read our blog.
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An internal pelvic floor assessment may be recommended, but it is never required. We discuss the purpose of the assessment, obtain your consent, and consider your pregnancy history and any precautions from your OB or midwife. There are also many ways we can assess and treat the pelvic floor externally.
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Yes! Pelvic floor therapy for birth preparation can help you learn how to relax and lengthen the pelvic floor, coordinate your breathing and pushing, practice labor and delivery positions, improve hip and pelvic mobility, and learn perineal massage.
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In Illinois, you can typically see a physical therapist without a physician referral. If there are pregnancy-related precautions or concerns, we may recommend coordinating care with your OB, midwife, or other healthcare provider.
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Wear comfortable clothes that you can easily move in. Athletic clothes, leggings, shorts, and a comfortable top are all great options. During pregnancy physical therapy, we may assess your strength, mobility, breathing, posture, and movement, so wear something that helps you feel comfortable moving around.
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No! You don't need to be experiencing pain, leaking, or other symptoms to benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy during pregnancy. Pregnancy PT can be proactive, helping you stay strong and comfortable as your body changes, prepare your pelvic floor and core for birth, and establish a plan for postpartum recovery.