What is your pelvic floor and why is it so important?
What exactly is the pelvic floor?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles, ligaments and fascia that run from the pubic bone at the front of your pelvis to your tailbone at the back, picture it kind of like a hammock. Its job is to support your bladder, your bowel and your uterus, the opening of these organs pass through your pelvic floor, so when you ‘hold on’ on your way to use the bathroom, you’re seeing it in action.
Your pelvic floor plays a number of roles in the body, like controlling bladder and bowel movements, contributing to sexual sensation and arousal during sex and orgasm, and supporting vaginal delivery during childbirth (all pretty darn important if you ask us!)
There are many factors that can impact your pelvic floor's health - pregnancy and childbirth are two of the biggies. It's super common for women to experience a weakened or damaged pelvic floor after becoming a mum, which can cause you grief when you’re already trying to navigate breastfeeding, sleep deprivation and wanting to spend hours upon hours staring at your perfect little newborn's face!
Signs you should see a physio about your pelvic floor
After pregnancy and childbirth, many women experience challenges because of a weakened pelvic floor, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept things the way they are.
If you’re experiencing any of the following, we want you to know you’re not alone and there is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about!
Seriously though, would you be embarrassed if you needed to see an optometrist for glasses? Of course, you wouldn’t. You’re a queen taking care of what her body needs, so you be proud of that!
Even more importantly, we want you to know there are things you can do to change what you’re experiencing.
Here’s what to look out for:
Leaking urine. Experiencing any kind of incontinence or bladder control, like when you laugh, cough, sneeze or exercise.
A frequent urge to pee can also be a sign to see someone.
Painful sex.
A feeling of pressure or heaviness in the pelvic region or rectum.
Frequent UTIs or thrush.
Accidental flatulence when lifting heavy objects or exercising.
If you’re ready to say goodbye to your pelvic floor issues, book now with one of our Perth physios.
Our team of women’s health physiotherapists get it and will support you to get your pelvic floor strength back with no awkwardness whatsoever. Seriously though, you’ll feel comfortable talking about all things bodily function with the Inlet team.
As with most things, the best cure is prevention, so if you’re pregnant or preparing to conceive it’s the perfect time to book and get to know your pelvic floor.
If you’re in that amazing post-partum period, it’s a great opportunity to ensure recovery is on, and staying on, the right track.
Book in with us for a comprehensive postnatal assessment today.