The Pelvic Floor Before, During & After Childbirth

The Pelvic Floor Before, During and After Childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth are a huge physical achievement – for you, your body and especially your pelvic floor. Over the course of your pregnancy, the pelvic floor is put under increasing strain. During birth, it stretches considerably, and afterwards it needs time to heal and regain its function.

For some women, recovery after birth is fairly straightforward. For others, symptoms such as pelvic heaviness, incontinence, soreness or simply a feeling that things don’t quite feel the same down there can appear.

During pregnancy: As the strain increases

During pregnancy, your pelvic floor is put under increasing strain. As the uterus grows, it puts more downward pressure on the pelvic floor, while pregnancy hormones make the connective tissue more flexible. This is a natural part of how your body prepares for birth, but it can also change how supported your pelvic area feels.

Many women start to notice new symptoms during pregnancy. These may develop gradually and include urine leakage, a tired feeling in the pelvic area or more heaviness towards the end of the day. Getting the right support and guidance early on can help give your body the best possible conditions as you prepare for birth.

During birth: When muscles and tissues stretch

During a vaginal birth, your pelvic floor needs to stretch to allow the baby to pass through. Research suggests that some pelvic floor muscles can stretch to around three times their normal length during birth. That’s an incredible physical achievement – but it also puts the pelvic floor under considerable strain.

This stretching can affect the muscles, connective tissue and nerves. When the nerves are stretched, for example, it can temporarily affect both the strength of your pelvic floor contractions and how quickly the muscles respond.

Perineal tears can also happen during birth, and in most cases they heal well. But if healing takes longer or the tissues have been particularly affected, some symptoms may continue.

After birth: Healing and rebuilding

After birth, your body needs time to heal. While the skin may heal relatively quickly, the pelvic floor muscles, connective tissue and nerves often need longer to regain their strength and work together as before.

During this time, you may notice the effects of what your body has been through. Muscles that have been stretched considerably may feel weaker or respond more slowly, which can lead to urine leakage when you cough, sneeze or lift something. Changes in the connective tissue can cause heaviness or pressure in the pelvic area. If the nerves have been affected, the pelvic floor may be harder to feel or you may find it more difficult to control wind or bowel movements. Scar tissue can also cause soreness, e.g. during sex.

For some women, these symptoms gradually improve with time. Others may need extra support or treatment to feel comfortable and confident in their pelvic area again.