What Happens to Your Pelvic Floor During Pregnancy & Postpartum? | What Every Mom Should Know

I sat down with pelvic floor physical therapist Ashlee Gendron, PT, DPT, PCES to talk about pelvic floor health throughout pregnancy, preparing for birth, and postpartum recovery. We talk about how the pelvic floor works together with your core, diaphragm, hips, and back, and why pelvic floor health is about so much more than Kegels. Ashlee shares what pelvic floor physical therapy can look like during pregnancy and postpartum, including preparing for labor, breathing and pushing techniques, birth positions, postpartum assessment, C-section recovery, and rebuilding pelvic floor and core function after birth. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome 00:22 What Is the Pelvic Floor & Why Does It Matter? 02:04 Pregnancy & Your Pelvic Floor 02:33 Preparing Your Pelvic Floor for Birth 03:21 Postpartum Recovery & the 6-Week Check 03:50 What Happens During Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy? 05:58 Pregnancy vs. Postpartum PT: Breathing, Pushing & Birth Positions 07:21 When Should You See a Pelvic Floor PT? 07:42 Insurance, Virtual Care & Access to Pelvic Floor PT 08:28 Pelvic Floor Myths: It’s Not Just Kegels 09:09 Daily Habits, Breathing & Bowel Health 10:00 What Partners Should Know About Postpartum Recovery 10:50 Signs You May Benefit From Pelvic Floor PT 11:22 Motherhood Wisdom & Final Thoughts ABOUT ASHLEE GENDRON, PT, DPT Ashlee Gendron is a Doctor of Physical Therapy and pelvic health specialist with 14+ years of clinical experience. She earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Western University of Health Sciences in 2011 and began her career in outpatient orthopedics. After experiencing significant urinary incontinence following the births of her own children—and struggling to find the pelvic health support she needed—Ashlee deepened her work in pelvic health physical therapy. Her personal and professional experiences now inform her mission to provide women with evidence-based, compassionate, and accessible pelvic health care. IN THIS CONVERSATION • Pelvic floor changes during pregnancy and postpartum • Preparing for labor: breathing, pushing & birth positions • Pelvic floor assessment and physical therapy • Internal and external pelvic floor assessments • Vaginal birth and C-section recovery • Pelvic organ prolapse • Urinary leaking and urgency • Constipation, bowel movements & pressure management • Pain with intercourse during pregnancy and postpartum • Diastasis recti, core function, back pain & hip pain • Why pelvic floor health is about more than Kegels • When to consider seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist • How partners can support postpartum recovery I also share a little about my own experience with pelvic floor therapy and how learning to breathe and connect with my pelvic floor became part of my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum experience. ABOUT DOULACTA Hi! I’m Annie, a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), birth and postpartum doula, mom of two, and founder of Doulacta. Raised in Bogotá, Colombia, and now based in San Diego, I support families in English and Spanish with evidence-informed education and compassionate support through pregnancy, birth, infant feeding, and postpartum. Subscribe for conversations about pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, pumping, newborn feeding, postpartum recovery, and the professionals who support families through this transition. EN ESPAÑOL ¿Estás embarazada o en posparto y te preguntas qué pasa con tu piso pélvico durante el embarazo, parto y posparto? En esta conversación con Ashlee Gendron, PT, DPT, fisioterapeuta especializada en salud del piso pélvico, hablamos sobre preparación para el parto, respiración, pujo, posiciones durante el parto, recuperación después de un parto vaginal o cesárea, prolapsos, escapes de orina, estreñimiento, dolor durante las relaciones sexuales, diástasis abdominal y otras señales que pueden indicar que vale la pena consultar con un fisioterapeuta de piso pélvico. Soy Annie, asesora certificada de lactancia (CLC), doula de parto y posparto, mamá de dos niñas y fundadora de Doulacta. Crecí en Bogotá, Colombia, y actualmente acompaño a familias en San Diego en inglés y español. EDUCATIONAL DISCLAIMER | AVISO EDUCATIVO This video is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice, diagnosis, evaluation, or treatment. Pelvic floor care is individualized. Please consult an appropriate licensed healthcare professional regarding your individual symptoms, concerns, and healthcare needs. Este video tiene fines educativos e informativos y no reemplaza una evaluación, diagnóstico, tratamiento o recomendación médica individualizada. El cuidado del piso pélvico debe individualizarse. Consulta con un profesional de salud calificado sobre tus síntomas, inquietudes y necesidades particulares. #PelvicFloor #PelvicFloorTherapy #Pregnancy #Postpartum #PostpartumRecovery #BirthPrep #WomensHealth #PisoPelvico #Embarazo #Posparto #Doulacta