Pelvic Health and Wellbeing during Pregnancy and After Birth (English)
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These videos have been developed by NHS Physiotherapists and Healthcare professionals and will provide information and useful advice about supporting your body’s journey through pregnancy and beyond.
Find a POGP physiotherapist
POGP are hosting these videos in support of the educational value and relevance of the content, this does not imply direct involvement in its development.
1. Pelvic floor exercises
POGP leaflets and useful links
POGP leaflet - Pelvic floor muscle exercises and advice - A guide for trans men, trans masculine and non-binary people (who were assigned female at birth)
POGP leaflet - Fit for pregnancy
Further information on pelvic floor muscles
Further information on advice and guidance for exercise in childbearing years
2. Back and pelvic pain during pregnancy
POGP leaflets and useful links
POGP leaflet - Pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain for mothers to be and new mothers
POGP leaflet - Fit for pregnancy
Further information on pelvic girdle pain and low back pain during pregnancy and after having a baby
Further information on other musculoskeletal symptoms in pregnancy
3. Posture and positioning during pregnancy and following birth
POGP leaflets and useful links
POGP leaflet - Fit for pregnancy
POGP leaflet - Pelvic floor muscle exercises and advice - A guide for trans men, trans masculine and non-binary people (who were assigned female at birth)
Further information on advice and guidance for exercise in childbearing years
4. Exercise during pregnancy
POGP leaflets and useful links
POGP leaflet - Fit and Safe – Exercise in the Childbearing Year.
POGP leaflet - aquanatal guidelines: guidance on antenatal and postnatal exercises in water
Further information on advice and guidance for exercise in childbearing years
5. When to start and how to to do perineal massage
POGP leaflets and useful links
POGP leaflet - fit for birth
Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists - Perineal tears and episiotomies in childbirth
6. Bladder and vaginal problems
POGP leaflets and useful links
POGP leaflet - Promoting continence with physiotherapy
POGP leaflet - Pelvic Organ Prolapse – a physiotherapy guide for women
POGP leaflet - Pelvic floor muscle exercises and advice - A guide for trans men, trans masculine and non-binary people (who were assigned female at birth)
Further information on bladder and bowel incontinence during pregnancy and after having a baby
7. Constipation during and after pregnancy
POGP leaflets and useful links
POGP leaflet - Improving your Bowel Function
POGP leaflet - Fit for the future
Further information on bladder and bowel incontinence during pregnancy and after having a baby
Further information on good bowel health
8. After week one: Pain management and wound care
POGP leaflets and useful links
POGP leaflet - Fit for the future
Further information after having a caesarean section
Further information on perineal healing after vaginal birth
9. After Birth: Week One Bladder care
POGP leaflets and useful links
POGP leaflet - Fit for the future
Further information on bladder and bowel incontinence uring pregnancy and after having a baby
10. After Birth: Your Stomach muscles
POGP leaflets and useful links
POGP leaflet - Fit for the future
POGP leaflet - Pilates in women’s Health Physiotherapy
Further information on tummy muscle separation (DRAM) in pregnancy
Further information on advice and guidance for exercise in childbearing years
11. After birth: return to exercise
Companion guides, POGP leaflets and useful links
Gradual return to exercise companion guide
Return to exercise companion guide
POGP leaflet - fit and safe: exercise in the childbearing year
POGP leaflet - fit for the future
POGP leaflet - Exercise and advice after pregnancy
POGP leaflet - Pilates in women’s health physiotherapy
Further information on advice and guidance for exercise in childbearing years