You’re emotionally and financially ready (as much as one can be) for pregnancy. But before you and your partner follow through on your worthy ambition to conceive a child you want to know if you’re physically prepared to carry and give birth to a bouncing bundle of joy. We have covered the benefits of prenatal physiotherapy extensively, but what about pre…prenatal? Does it make sense to start physiotherapy before you conceive? Absolutely! Here’s why.
3 Big Reasons Why You Should Start Physiotherapy Prior to Getting Pregnant
Build Your Core
The importance of core strength and stability cannot be overstated when it comes to preparing your body for pregnancy. While it’s true that there will be unforeseen aches and discomforts to come, their prevalence through each trimester will be mitigated if you go into pregnancy with optimal core fitness. Let your physiotherapist know that you plan on getting pregnant, and they will place you on a customized program of exercises and movements to improve your core. Along with nutrition, this is the physical foundation of a successful pregnancy to come.
Correct Preexisting Conditions
Once that first trimester hits you’re going to start experiencing all kinds of discomforts and mobility issues. That’s what prenatal physiotherapy is for. But again, it’s important to start today because you may already have underlying injuries and malfunctions, some of which you don’t know about. Guess what will happen with these once you are pregnant? The symptoms (i.e. soreness, pain, immobility, etc.) will grow exponentially, and you’ll feel it unlike ever before.
By having a physiotherapist address and correct preexisting lower back pain, neck pain, shoulder pain, and/or leg pain. your body will be far better prepared for the added weight and physiological changes to come. The same is true of your gait. If you have any issues with your manner of walking, you will need to correct those through custom orthotics before that walk becomes a baby-carrying waddle. Biomechanics are just the tip of the iceberg, as any physical condition that you may live with right now will likely become more complicated with pregnancy, such as bladder leakage, which is yet another ailment physiotherapy may be able to address for you.
Correct Bad Sleeping Habits
We’re not going to sugarcoat the prenatal, postnatal, and the two year period after giving birth when it comes to your ability to get a solid 8-hours of sleep. Heck, your child will keep you up and night until they are at least 18. So if you currently have poor sleeping habits you will want to correct those right now.
It’s a fact that women are more likely to experience problems sleeping than the other half of the population. This is due to a variety of reasons, including but not exclusive to pelvic floor dysfunction, osteoporosis, osteopenia, menstrual cramping. and fibromyalgia. Physiotherapy is a discipline that is proven in the treatment of these women’s health concerns, and can help you develop proper sleeping habits and positions.
Beyond your current state of rest, your physiotherapist will be there for you through the first, second, and third trimester to ensure that you adapt your sleeping position (i.e. pillowing technique) as needed. After all, your growing baby will have a lot to say (i.e. kick and shuffle) about your preferred sleeping positions. We’ll help you and him/her accommodate one another accordingly. Having peace of mind that your physiotherapist will be there for you when the time comes, will help you sleep even better, today.
We are Burnaby and Greater Vancouver’s go-to specialist for women’s health, so let’s get your body ready for pregnancy. Contact us today at (604) 558-2273 to schedule your first (and exciting!) consultation.