• Pelvic girdle pain/Sacroiliac joint dysfunction

• Urinary Incontinence

• Rib and thoracic pain

• Hip, groin and pubic symphysis

• Carpel Tunnel Syndrome

• Neck pain and headaches

• Round ligament pain

• Management of vulvar and leg varicosities

• Real Time Ultrasound to help train pelvic floor and core

We will start with taking a detailed history of your health and general wellbeing followed by asking specific questions that relate to your condition or concern. During the assessment we may ask personal and sensitive questions about your bladder and bowel health, lower back/hip/pelvic pain, sexual history and other questions related to general wellbeing. This is a really crucial part of the ‘conversation’ relating to pregnancy treatment/management and birth preparation. By asking you these sensitive questions we can potentially uncover further information to help you understand the onset and extent of your symptoms, and how we can determine the right treatment and management for you.

Depending on your concern the physiotherapist will assess your lower back, pelvis, hip and abdomen, asking you to perform functional movement patterns whilst observing how your body moves. We then can assess the pelvic floor complex via Real Time Ultrasound (externally) and via an internal examination. This provides important information regarding pelvic floor muscle tone, strength, endurance and coordination. Following this we can formulate a management and/or treatment plan with an individualised home program specific to your pregnancy concern.

*Note: Our Pregnancy Assessment may involve an internal examination. During our assessment we are able to modify or cease the assessment if you are feeling uncomfortable.

There is strong evidence that working with a womens health physiotherapist to help you prepare for birth can improve your birth, decrease the risk of tearing, and give you the best chance at having a good post-natal recovery. More importantly feeling educated and empowered going into pregnancy and birth can have a hugely positive effect on your wellbeing.

Birth preparation with a womens health physiotherapist will cover the following things:

• Assessing your pelvic floor

• Screening for a high tone pelvic floor that could impact your birth.

• Assessing the effectiveness of your bearing down manoeuvre and assist in training this to prepare for the second stage (pushing stage) of delivery.

• Teaching you and providing you with an individual pelvic floor exercise program leading up to birth.

• Discussion of different birth skills and ways of dealing with labour pain.

• Obstetric TENS: We have these TENS to hire out and can teach you how to use.

• Perineal massage/advice on Epi-no to assist reducing your chances of tearing and manage pain.

• Massage for you and your partner during labour

• Acupressure points for labour

• Visualisations and affirmations

• Active labour techniques and breathing

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Ideally, we want you to be going into your birth feeling empowered, educated and with the most optimal pelvic floor.

**Depending on your presentation we advise having a pregnancy assessment from 20 weeks gestation. This gives you an opportunity to discuss with your GP/Obstetrician regarding any specific issues or concerns you have, and for us to have enough time to formulate a management plan specific to you going forward.