Pregnancy is an exciting time, but it also brings many changes to your body!
As your baby grows, your muscles, joints, and ligaments work harder than ever before. Many women experience discomfort that they assume is simply part of pregnancy. While some changes are expected, pain, leaking, pressure, and difficulty with everyday activities do not have to be something you simply live with until your baby arrives.
If you are searching for the best pelvic floor physical therapy for pregnancy in Wichita, KS, you deserve care from a provider who understands the unique physical demands of pregnancy and knows how to help you stay comfortable, active, and confident throughout every stage. At Empower Physical Therapy in Andover, KS, Dr. Demi Kraus, DPT specializes in pelvic floor physical therapy for women before, during, and after pregnancy.
Our goal is to help you move better, feel stronger, and prepare your body for both delivery and recovery.
Why Pregnancy Changes the Pelvic Floor
Your pelvic floor is a group of muscles that supports your bladder, bowel, uterus, and other pelvic organs. These muscles also play an important role in stability, posture, breathing, and core strength.
During pregnancy, these muscles experience increased demands because of hormonal changes, weight gain, and the growing baby. As your pregnancy progresses, the pressure placed on the pelvic floor continues to increase.
Many women begin noticing symptoms such as:
- Low back pain
- Pelvic pain
- Hip pain
- Pain while walking
- Pressure in the pelvis
- Urinary leakage
- Pain when rolling over in bed
- Difficulty getting comfortable while sleeping
- Pain during exercise
- Pain when standing on one leg
- Tailbone pain
Although these symptoms are common, they are not something you simply have to tolerate. Pelvic floor physical therapy can often help reduce discomfort and improve your quality of life throughout pregnancy.
What Is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized area of physical therapy that focuses on evaluating and treating the muscles, joints, connective tissue, breathing patterns, posture, and movement that affect the pelvis and core.
Treatment is always individualized. Your therapist develops a plan based on your symptoms, stage of pregnancy, lifestyle, and goals.
At Empower Physical Therapy in Andover, Dr. Demi Kraus, DPT works closely with expecting mothers to improve comfort while helping them prepare for labor, delivery, and postpartum recovery.
Every treatment plan is designed specifically for you.
How Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Can Help During Pregnancy
One of the biggest misconceptions about pregnancy is that pain is unavoidable.
While your body is changing, many painful symptoms can be improved through proper movement, strengthening, education, and hands on treatment.
Pelvic floor physical therapy may help with:
- Pelvic girdle pain
- Round ligament pain
- Low back pain
- Hip pain
- Tailbone pain
- Pubic bone pain
- Urinary leakage
- Pelvic pressure
- Core weakness
- Pain with walking
- Pain while exercising
- Difficulty changing positions in bed
Many women are surprised by how much better they feel after learning simple movement strategies and exercises that reduce unnecessary stress on their body.
Preparing Your Body for Labor
Another important benefit of pelvic floor physical therapy is preparing your body for labor and delivery.
Many people assume this only involves strengthening the pelvic floor, but that is only part of the picture.
Healthy pelvic floor muscles need to both contract and relax. Learning how to properly relax these muscles can be just as important as strengthening them.
Preparing ahead of time helps many women feel more confident and better equipped for delivery.
Is Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Safe During Pregnancy?
This is one of the most common questions we hear.
For most women with a healthy pregnancy, pelvic floor physical therapy is considered very safe when provided by a trained professional.
At Empower Physical Therapy, your care is always customized to your stage of pregnancy and any recommendations from your physician or midwife.
Treatment progresses appropriately throughout each trimester while prioritizing both your comfort and your baby’s safety.
What Happens During Your First Visit?
Your first appointment focuses on understanding your symptoms and learning about your goals.
Dr. Demi Kraus, DPT will discuss your medical history, pregnancy, activity level, and any discomfort you are experiencing.
Your evaluation may include assessment of:
- Posture
- Walking mechanics
- Hip mobility
- Core strength
- Breathing
- Balance
- Functional movement
- Pelvic alignment
An internal pelvic floor examination is not required for every patient. Your therapist will discuss your symptoms, answer your questions, and determine what evaluation is appropriate based on your comfort level and stage of pregnancy.
Many women appreciate having an open conversation about symptoms they have been hesitant to bring up elsewhere.
Exercises That May Be Included
Every pregnancy is different, so no two exercise programs look exactly alike.
Depending on your needs, your program may include gentle exercises to improve mobility, stability, strength, and coordination.
Your therapist may also teach you how to move more efficiently during everyday activities such as getting out of bed, lifting older children, standing from a chair, climbing stairs, and getting into the car.
Small adjustments in movement often make a significant difference in reducing pain throughout the day.
Common Pregnancy Symptoms That Should Not Be Ignored
Many women wait until after delivery to seek help because they believe their symptoms are normal.
However, symptoms that interfere with daily life deserve attention.
Addressing these concerns during pregnancy often helps improve comfort now while reducing the risk of ongoing problems after delivery.
Why Choose Empower Physical Therapy in Andover?
Choosing the right provider matters.
If you are looking for the best pelvic floor physical therapy for pregnancy in Wichita, KS, you want someone who understands the unique physical demands of pregnancy and provides individualized care.
At Empower Physical Therapy in Andover, Dr. Demi Kraus, DPT specializes in helping women safely manage pregnancy related discomfort while preparing for childbirth and postpartum recovery.
Our clinic emphasizes one on one care with treatment plans designed specifically for your goals. We take time to listen, answer your questions, and help you understand what is happening in your body so you feel confident throughout your pregnancy.
Whether you are in your first trimester or nearing your due date, pelvic floor physical therapy can help you stay active, reduce pain, and enjoy your pregnancy with greater comfort.
Many women tell us they wish they had started therapy sooner. The earlier you address discomfort, the easier it often becomes to continue doing the activities that matter most to you.
If you are experiencing pelvic pain, back pain, urinary leakage, pressure, or other pregnancy related symptoms, you do not have to wait until after your baby is born to seek help.
Click here to schedule.
Empower Physical Therapy
826 E. Founder Pkwy STE 100, Andover, KS 67002
316-348-2766
