The pelvic floor and its changes during pregnancy, childbirth and afterwards.

The pelvic floor is a muscular plate that closes the abdominal area and pelvic organs from below and is curved upwards at its edges. It consists of muscles and connective tissue.

The muscles extend from the pubic bone backward to the sacrum and coccyx, and laterally the muscles attach to both ischial tuberosities.

The pelvic floor has 3 main functions: Tightening, relaxing, and holding.

The pelvic floor is part of the body, but it is rarely consciously noticed. Especially during pregnancy and childbirth it has an important role to play.

During pregnancy, the pelvic floor supports the uterus and helps to relieve pressure on the back. The pressure on the pelvic floor increases from one week of pregnancy to the next as the baby weighs more. If the pelvic floor is well trained, the spine is better supported and there is less back pain.

During birth, the pelvic floor is stretched to allow the baby's head to pass through.

The pelvic floor can be weakened, overstretched or injured by the effort of childbirth. Therefore, it is extremely important after birth to exercise the pelvic floor again appropriately so that no permanent damage occurs.

However, it is important to take your time after the birth and not to develop over-enthusiasm. The organs in the abdominal area must slowly but surely find their way back to their usual position and be held there by the muscles.

A complete postnatal training should be started at the earliest 6 weeks after the birth in case of a vaginal birth and after a caesarean section only after about 2-3 months. However, the first simple exercises for activation are already possible in the maternity bed.

Even after a postnatal training it is important to work continuously on strengthening the pelvic floor, because it strengthens from the inside.

If you have any questions and/or are interested in pregnancy Pilates or postnatal classes, please feel free to contact me.

Warm greetings,

Sabrina