Your pelvic floor preparation is an important part of birth preparation….no matter how you’re planning to give birth.

why-get-a-pelvic-floor-check-during-pregnancy-birth-preparation-osteopath-brisbane-physio-post-natal — How does a pelvic floor assessment help you prepare your pelvic floor for birth and recovery

Getting ready for your baby isn’t just about setting up the nursery, or buying the right car seat —it’s also about making sure your body is prepared for pregnancy, birth, and recovery. One important (but often forgotten) part of this is your pelvic floor.

We’re osteopaths who love helping women feel strong and supported during pregnancy. Checking in on your pelvic floor before birth—not just after—can make a big difference in how comfortable you feel, how you prepare for birth, and how well you recover afterward.

Why check your pelvic floor during pregnancy?

Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that support your bladder, bowel, and uterus. Pregnancy places extra strain on these muscles, so a check-up can provide valuable insights into how your body is adapting to pregnancy and help guide strategies for optimal pelvic health.

Your pelvic floor muscles may be:

Overactive - too much tension, which can make birth and recovery more challenging
Underactive - lacking strength and coordination, which can lead to issues like leakage
Functioning well - in which case, we'll help you learn how to maintain that!

Understanding how your pelvic floor is working now allows us to guide you on the best ways to support it for birth and beyond.

Why check your pelvic floor if you’re hoping for a vaginal delivery?

Pelvic Floor Prep counts as Birth Prep (That Nobody Talks About!). Your pelvic floor isn’t just involved in supporting your baby—it also plays a role in how your baby moves through the birth canal. During a vaginal birth, your pelvic floor needs to:

Guide your baby’s head into an optimal position
Relax, soften, and lengthen to allow birth to progress smoothly

We can help with:

Teaching you to release and relax your pelvic floor muscles (essential for pushing!)
Perineal massage to help reduce the risk of significant tearing
Addressing any muscular or fascial restrictions that may impact pelvic floor function
Preparing your body for effective pushing (it’s nothing like in the movies!)
Identifying any whole-body restrictions or tensions that could influence your pelvic floor function

Should I still get my pelvic floor checked if I’m planning a c-section birth?

Yes! Even if you're planning a caesarean birth, getting your pelvic floor checked can still be important. Pregnancy places significant strain on the pelvic floor muscles due to hormonal changes, increased abdominal pressure, and the weight of the growing baby. A pelvic health assessment can help identify any weakness, tension, or dysfunction that may contribute to future issues like incontinence, pelvic pain, or discomfort postpartum.

Other reasons to check your pelvic floor during pregnancy:

You have New pelvic floor symptoms:

Pregnancy can bring some unexpected changes to your body, and your pelvic floor plays a big role in managing them. Have you noticed any of the following symptoms?:

Leaking when you laugh, sneeze, or cough?
Rushing to the bathroom all the time?
Discomfort during intimacy?
A general feeling of “something’s not quite right” down there?

A pelvic floor check during pregnancy can help manage these symptoms and prepare your body for birth and postpartum recovery.

To Set Yourself Up for a Smoother Recovery

Think of a pelvic floor check as pre-season training for your postpartum body. Knowing how your pelvic floor is functioning now helps you:

Recover more effectively after birth
More effectively manage the risk of prolapse or long-term pelvic floor issues
Speed up your return to exercise safely
Feel more confident in your body postpartum

What Happens During a Pelvic Floor Check?

A pelvic floor assessment usually involves a brief whole body external assessment followed by an internal pelvic floor examination.

An internal pelvic floor examination allows us to get the most detailed information about your muscle function, tension, and coordination.

What happens if I don’t want an internal pelvic floor examination?

Internal examinations are always optional. Your comfort and preferences are our top priority. If an internal examination isn’t for you, we can still help you support your pelvic floor through global movement assessment, stretches and education on a range of topics such as perineal massage, movement during labour, breathing during labour and preparing your mind for birth.

When Should You Book Your First pelvic floor check during pregnancy?

The ideal time for your first pelvic floor check is after your 20-week morphology scan. This ensures we have all the necessary information, including your placenta position, which influences the type of assessment we can provide. We usually recommend around 22-24 weeks, but it’s not too late if you’re only thinking about your pelvic floor later in your pregnancy!

For most women, we recommend a follow-up at around 32–34 weeks, but some people benefit from additional sessions to further optimize pelvic health for birth.

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Let’s Get Your Pelvic Floor Ready for Birth & Beyond!

Your pelvic floor is working hard to support you and your baby. Checking in on it during pregnancy is a small step that can have long-term benefits for birth, recovery, and overall well-being.

Got questions? Feeling unsure? That’s totally normal! Chat to us during your appointment, contact us or book an assessment today. Our Osteopaths Sarah and Elizabeth are both trained in pelvic health assessments during pregnancy. Let’s make sure your pelvic floor is as ready for this adventure as you are!

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Pregnancy, Pelvic Floor

Pelvic floor check-ups during pregnancy