Things I Wish I Knew Before My First Birth

Leaking Urine Isn’t Normal During Pregnancy Or Postpartum

Leaking urine is a sign of pelvic floor tightness, which stress, trauma, fitness levels, environment, and previous infections can cause. Because the muscles are already tight when we contract to cut off the urine stream, there isn’t enough length to clench. Leaking urine is called stress incontinence and is often triggered by sneezing or physical activity.

The most common suggestion for people struggling with stress incontinence is to do Kegel’s, which involves contracting the pelvic floor muscles. However, this often doesn’t work because the muscles are already tight. During pregnancy and postpartum, doing Kegel’s increases the tightness of the pelvic floor, worsening incontinence. The key is to relax the pelvic floor.

Coordinating the pelvic floor muscles to relax, contract, and bulge is essential for a birth, reducing push time and birth trauma and helping improve postpartum healing. Therefore, leaking urine during pregnancy and postpartum should not be normalized. It is a sign that the pelvic floor needs help relaxing and bulging for birth, which will improve postpartum healing.

Holding Your Breathe To Push During Labor Can Cause Birth Injuries

Breath-holding is commonly shown in media and can be an effective way to give birth in an emergency. If the baby needs to get out as soon as possible, you will do whatever is required. BUT breath holding does lead to more birth injuries because it forces not only the baby down it is applying immense pressure to all of the pelvic organs and can lead to those organs descending into the vaginal canal, which is known as a pelvic organ prolapse.

Breath-holding strains the pelvic floor muscles, which leads to more tears and scar tissue postpartum. Effective and safe birthing involves using the breath to guide the baby down and out. Diaphragmatic breathing uses the diaphragm to apply pressure to the uterus, bulge the pelvic floor muscles, and allow the body to open so uterine contractions are more effective.

Aches and Pains During Pregnancy Can Lead To A Longer Labor

Low back pain, hip pain, S.I. joint pain, Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction, and Pain during intimacy are all signs that the pelvic floor muscles are trying to support the body as much as possible during pregnancy as the body changes. A hormone called Relaxin is released in the body early in the pregnancy, and this hormone relaxes the joints to help facilitate the birthing process, allowing the baby through the hip bones.

However, because the joints are more relaxed, the pelvic floor muscles tighten to support the skeleton and absorb more force to protect them. If the pelvic floor muscles are tight during pregnancy, that force and strain will stay on the joints and skeleton, leading to physical pain.

The More Educated And Physically Prepared For Birth We Are, The Better Our Birth Outcomes

The baby’s safe arrival is always a top priority, and most people assume they have to give up all control over the situation because whatever happens happens. However, preparing for birth during pregnancy is key to executing your desired birth outcome. If something comes up and your birth plan has to change, then that’s okay, and we are all aware that that’s a possibility. However, giving up complete control creates more fear around the birthing process.

Extensive knowledge of the birthing process, how to best support and protect your body, and the steps you can take to give birth safely puts you in a better position to handle the experience.

Imagine you sign up for a marathon. In one instance, you prepare for months, gain endurance and strength, and learn the best routine for you. You address aches as they appear and learn how to prevent them from worsening. In the other instance, you sign up and wait until the race day. Your body knows how to run, so preparing isn’t necessary. Injuries will be expected, and if things don’t go as you hoped, it is what it is.

Things To Know Before Birth

Leaking urine and aches and pains need to be addressed during pregnancy and shouldn’t be accepted. They mean the pelvic floor is tight, and a tight pelvic floor leads to longer push times, more birth injuries, and an increased chance of c-sections.

Diaphragmatic breathing is a safe and effective way to give birth.

Preparing for your ideal birth outcome is encouraged and can help achieve your desired birth; you don’t have to go through your whole pregnancy with the mindset that you have no control.

Working with A Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist at Body Motion Physical Therapy allows you to receive the individualized support you need throughout your pregnancy to eliminate and prevent pain, learn to coordinate your pelvic floor muscles and your breath, address pelvic floor tightness, and understand the best birthing positions for your body and where you have the most control of these muscles.

Book A Free 30 Minute Discovery Visit With A Pelvic Expert At Body Motion Physical Therapy to start your journey toward your dream birth!