The Fourth Trimester and Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy: When to See a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist in the Postpartum

I’m sure you’ve heard of the first, second and third trimesters during a pregnancy, but have you ever heard of the FOURTH trimester? This time period is considered to be the first 12 weeks after giving birth and is such a vital time in the birthing person’s postpartum journey. Receiving care during this fourth trimester can set the stage for long-term health and well-being, and this care isn’t (or maybe I should say shouldn’t be) just limited to your one, six week check-up from your healthcare provider. A pelvic floor physical therapist can also be a huge part in your recovery at this time (and beyond) due to the specific training and education directly correlated to postpartum health as well as their passion for helping postpartum individuals recover and thrive after the life-changing event of having a baby. 

When to See a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist After Giving Birth

We often get the question, “How soon after having my baby can I come in for pelvic floor physical therapy?”, and the answer is - really anytime! We usually encourage our patients to book a couple early postpartum visits at 3 weeks postpartum and then 6 weeks postpartum. Any ongoing visits after that are directly correlated to your INDIVIDUAL outcome goals and your progress towards those goals. As you progress through your early postpartum goals, you may find that you have further and more long-term physical therapy goals that you would like addressed as well - that is perfectly fine and NORMAL! We are here to help in the early postpartum time frame, but beyond that as well, as we understand that your goals are very individual to you as a whole person - even past the fourth trimester.

What is the Purpose of a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Visit for Postpartum Individuals?

The purpose of these postpartum visits are to educate, demonstrate and improve upon things like nursing and baby care postures, light strengthening, optimal sleeping and feeding positions, optimizing bowel movements, breathing techniques, pelvic floor activation, and to work on any ongoing pain or discomfort following your labor and birth experience. All of this treatment can be ongoing for as many months postpartum as needed, with each treatment growing and adapting with you to be individualized and specific to your growth and progress.

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy - Looking Beyond the Fourth Trimester

As mentioned above, seeing a pelvic floor physical therapist does not need to stop at a certain time frame. You are not limited to ONLY seeing a pelvic floor PT in the first 12 weeks after giving birth. We are here for you in the early days, but also in the months and even years after giving birth. Recovering from pregnancy and birth is not as simple as getting rid of various aches and pains, sometimes it can be ongoing and therefore require ONGOING support that builds on the foundations you create in the earlier days.

Aside from that, many birthing folks have high-achieving goals to either return to or start after having children. We have many patients who want to get back to running, weightlifting, hiking or other hobbies (you name it!) that my feel difficult to get back to independently, especially if they are also trying to heal from back pain, pubic pain, or nerve pain. The ultimate goal(s) of our patient’s will likely be predicative of the amount of visits they are seen for. It really just depends on you as an individual and your specific needs!

Advanced Pelvic and Spine Physical Therapy

Let’s shift the paradigm and help birthing folks get the ongoing and high quality care they deserve. Have you had a baby recently, are about to have a baby or had a baby years ago but never received the care that you needed? If so and you’re wondering if pelvic floor physical therapy is right for you and you are local to the Reno, Nevada area, book an appointment today or reach out with any questions.