PRENATAL
PHYSIOTHERAPY
As a pregnant woman, your body is faced to several big changes in a short period of time. To experience less physical problems due to these changes, prenatal physiotherapy is incredibly important. During the prenatal sessions I will inform you with all kinds of tips & tricks so that your body will recover faster postnatally. Prevention is key here!
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These prenatal sessions are not the same as the sessions given by a midwife. Both sessions are an absolute must for every pregnant woman.
It consists of 3 as important parts:
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Treating any symptoms/problems of the pregnant body, such as back- and neck pain, Pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain, pregnancy-induced incontinence (urinary or faecal), fluid retention (oedema), etc.
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Preventive training of the pelvic floor muscles. Unintentional passing of urine is a common problem among women, both at the end of pregnancy (7/10) and after childbirth. Well-conducted studies showed that those who started pelvic floor training during pregnancy had a lower risk of urinary and fecal incontinence in the first years after pregnancy. Those who can properly monitor the pelvic floor during pregnancy will have a smoother delivery (shorter 1st and 2nd phase with 1st partus, less episiotomies, less artificial deliveries, less tears!)
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The practical side of the delivery itself. When do you go to the hospital? How does a delivery go in general? What is a contraction? How do you cope with these contractions? How do we need to push to be effective and kind for your body at the same time? What kind of breathing techniques do you need to do so that the delivery can go more fluent. This and much more will be discussed a session of 1h30. Your partner can certainly join you during this session.
POSTNATAL
PHYSIOTHERAPY
When are you supposed to start with postnatal therapy?
(Always advised by your gynecologist/doctor)
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After a natural birth (vaginal), you can start after 5 to 6 weeks.
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After a C-section (Caesarean) you can start after 7 to 8 weeks.
You can already start with pelvic floor muscle training a few days after your delivery if you already learned it with a physiotherapist.
What do we do during these postnatal sessions?
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Pelvic floor exercises: Intensive training of the pelvic floor to prevent or treat symptoms like urinary incontinence, prolapse, and more. This is done, with the agreement of the patient, via an internal palpation, with or without Biofeedback/ Electrostimulation.
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Strengthening of the abdominal muscles. (Closure of a possible diastases of the straight abdominal muscles.)
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Core stability training
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General reconditioning, progressive strength- and endurance training
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Treatment of eventual symptoms/problems.
Do you have any questions? Then you can always e-mail me and I will be happy to help you.
