Prenatal/Post Partum Program
Empowering women throughout their prenatal/post-partum journey
We developed the Calgary Core Physio Prenatal/Postpartum Program in order to provide clear guidelines to women on their prenatal/postpartum journey to provide clear guidelines for continuum of care. Our goal is to:
- Optimize care during pregnancy
- Provide trimester specific care
- Prepare for birth
- Enhance recovery & return to activity, safely, post-partum.
What does our Prenatal/Post Partum Program include?
The following recommendations are specific to each timeframe in order to guide women throughout their prenatal & post-partum journey. These are our basic guidelines, but follow up visits may vary based on individual presentation and needs.
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Initial pre-natal assessment (pregnancy weeks 12 to 15);
During your first prenatal assessment, we will identify any specific goals that you have for your pregnancy. This is a great time to discuss previous or ongoing issues that you are experiencing in your body so that we can address them. We will also review, in detail, the pelvic floor anatomy, and function. We will go over movement strategies & positioning for pregnancy, and discuss recommendations for aerobic and resistance exercise so that you are as strong and healthy as can be throughout pregnancy.
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Prenatal care visit (pregnancy weeks 22 to 24)
During your second visit, this is typically when an internal pelvic floor assessment is performed. This allows us to determine the strength, muscle length and coordination of your pelvic floor. We will also tailor your exercise program to your specific needs and provide treatment to any musculoskeletal areas required.
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Preparing for birth (pregnancy weeks 33 to 35)
During this visit, we will review recommendations for labour and delivery. This is a great visit to have your partner accompany you. In this visit, we will review labour positions, pelvic floor relaxation and pushing methods. We will also discuss what you can do early post-partum and what exercises are safe in the initial stages immediately after having baby, prior to your 6-8 week post-partum visit.
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Post-partum follow up (6 to 8 weeks after birth)
Congratulations on becoming a mama! You did it! We recommend following up 6-8 weeks after birth, as long as there is no active bleeding or infection, and you’ve been cleared by your doctor. This is applicable for both vaginal and caesarian births. We will reassess your movement, abdominals and pelvic floor. We will start with gentle movement and exercises with pelvic floor cueing. We will also review movement strategies for early motherhood.
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Ongoing support (12 weeks after birth and onward)
Our 12 week follow up will focus on further progression of pelvic floor and/or abdominal rehabilitation. Scar mobilization of C section scar and/or perineum may be applicable. We will also address any musculoskeletal concerns (ie. Low back, thorax, shoulder). Exercise progression and planning for return to activity/sport will be reviewed. Often times, further treatment is required beyond 12 weeks but this will be assessed on a case by case basis. We will discuss future care, if needed, to help you in any way as a new mother!
With a comprehensive approach, physiotherapy can effectively improve your prenatal and post-partum journey. If you’re expecting, or have recently given birth, schedule an assessment with our experienced pelvic health physiotherapist to develop a personalized treatment plan.
Interested? Want to book? Let's talk.
You can call us at (403) 455-4010, or use the form below. We'll reply within 1-business day.
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