Pelvic Floor Considerations for 1st Trimester

Congratulations! This is a new and exciting experience and with it we may require a shift in mindset and in physical activity. Things to consider:

Are you interested in movement or exercise right now?

1st trimester can come with many unpleasant symptoms and exercise may not feel good for you right now. We need to shift away from feelings of 'guilt' or 'have to' or our ego's need to stay as fit as possible for our pregnancy.

Are you experiencing pregnancy symptoms?

Some symptoms women feel during 1st trimester include: fatigue, nausea, bloating, dehydration, breast soreness or sensitivity, dizziness, and frequent urination. These symptoms may affect our desire and ability to engage in physical activity during 1st trimester.

Are you fearful of exercise or movement causing a miscarriage?

In a review of 46 studies using moderate intensity exercise for a 60-min duration, it was found that prenatal exercise was not linked with miscarriage or perinatal mortality (Davenport et al., 2017).

PELVIC FLOOR PHYSIOTHERAPY CONSIDERATIONS

Gain knowledge about your pelvic floor and core anatomy, upcoming changes to this anatomy, and signs and symptoms to be aware of.

Get a baseline assessment of your pelvic floor muscle coordination, tone, strength and build your mind-muscle connection between your brain and pelvic floor muscles.

Learn how to breathe, engage your Transverse Abdominus and pelvic floor system together, and posture, positioning and pressure management.

Gain information about how and when to modify movement and exercises.