Pregnancy and post-natal (post-baby) issues commonly include pain in the low back, hips, groin and hands, as well as pelvic floor problems such as incontinence and prolapse. Pelvic floor muscle exercises are often an important part in helping many of these issues. Every person is different so finding out why you have a problem is essential to proper recovery. 
Common muscle and joint aches and pains in pregnancy, such as pain in the low back, hips, pelvis, hands, and neck can be relieved by physiotherapy treatments.

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These may include:

• Educating you on what is wrong and why.

• Advice on your posture.

• Assessment and exercises to help strengthen and coordinate your abdominal and pelvic floor muscles.

• Using certain belts or compression pants.

• Treatment  such as massage or ultrasound.

• Advice on using heat and ice.

• Activities and positions you should avoid to help decrease your pain.

 

After having a baby, there are a variety of other issues you may be suffering from. Physiotherapists can help by:

 

• Giving you a thorough assessment on your abdominal and pelvic floor changes that have occurred as a result of pregnancy, labour and delivery.

• Examining your bladder or bowel issues.

• Educating you about your problem and what treatment will be best to help you.

• Giving you exercises to improve posture, pelvic floor muscle function and coordination, and helping you return safely back to your sport or favourite exercise.

• Giving you breastfeeding support and treatment for mastitis and blocked ducts

• Supplying supportive braces or devices.

 

Elise runs the monthly West Gippsland Hospital Antenatal Physiotherapy classes over zoom. These classes are booked via the hospital midwives. Elise has experience in assessing and treating pregnant and postnatal women with pelvic girdle pain, pubic symphysis pain, back pain, carpal tunnel, DRAM etc as well as providing education on strategies to manage a variety of pregnancy induced issues. If you would like to see Elise for 1:1 advice, assessment and treatment please contact our clinic for an appointment.