Is pregnancy perfect?

You’ll often hear people talk about how pregnancy was the most wonderful time of their lives. Me? I detested it.

When I was pregnant with my kid, I had what’s known as a “high risk pregnancy.” I battled pre-eclampsia, and had kidney and liver complications as a result. I only gained 17 pounds because I was so sick. I was grateful to be able to have a child, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I hated almost every moment of my pregnancy.

I think it’s important to talk about this for two reasons: First of all, we need to take the shame out of having anything less than a completely blissful or perfect pregnancy. You can be excited for your kid, but also feel like being pregnant with them is a living hell. Acknowledging this matters.

Secondly, it’s also important for people who are pregnant to be aware of the resources they have if they are experiencing a difficult or high-risk pregnancy. (And even the most textbook healthy pregnancies have their low points!) One of those tools can be pelvic health physiotherapy, which can support you through your pregnancy and post-birth.

Here are a few ways I work with pregnant women:

#1. We focus on building up a “physiological reserve”

This is all about keeping your physical energy tank full. You need to make sure you have the physiological reserve ready to care for yourself as well as this baby that’s on the way. Guard it! Don’t start doing anything new and intense - like, say, training for a marathon - when you’re pregnant. Be gentle, take care of yourself and do things that make you feel energised (like going for a walk, or some gentle yoga) and that will help you stock that tank for the marathon that can be labour and delivery.

#2. We do “movement therapy”

This can be as simple as just stretching, but pelvic health physios always focus on maintaining the pregnant person’s physical wellness. You’re not starting anything new (see above!) but if you were doing it before you got pregnant, you should try and keep it up while you’re pregnant. Your body will change, and you may find you have new limitations, but working with a pelvic health physio can help maintain your strength and flexibility, and put you in a great position for post-birth recovery. You don’t have to be a super-athlete, but a personalised plan can help you roll from where you are.

#3. We’ll work on birthing techniques

If you’re planning on having a vaginal delivery or C-section, working with a pelvic health physio can help you build skills that may make your preparation and delivery easier. We might talk through the different birthing positions, and practice controlling breathing during labour or simply prepare you for scar management. We can chat through what getting an epidural looks like, or how to push in a safe way, or be your own advocate during the labour process. It’s all about arming you with information and techniques to make sure you have the best birth experience possible, all while knowing there are so many things you can’t control.