October 23, 2020

Many people have never heard of a pelvic floor before pregnancy. And when they do, it’s just a term that’s mentioned at prenatal yoga or in your pregnancy app. But during pregnancy, so many things are glossed over if they don’t directly impact the health of the baby. So it’s possible that no one has taken the time to explain what your pelvic floor actually is and why it’s important.

What is a pelvic floor?

Your pelvic floor is the group of muscles surrounding your pelvis. You can think of it as a hammock that holds the organs in your abdomen, like your bladder, bowel, and uterus, in place. When you stop peeing mid-stream, these are the muscles you’re using.

What does your pelvic floor do?

Your pelvic floor is essential to everyday living, especially going to the bathroom and having sex. But it’s also part of your core, which provides stability and strength.

What happens to your pelvic floor during and after pregnancy?

Most young people haven’t given a lot of thought to their pelvic floor, especially when it’s functioning smoothly. However, pregnancy is a major event that directly affects your PF. During pregnancy, there is extra weight on your pelvic floor, thanks to your growing uterus, which may cause these muscles to become overstretched and weak. In addition, it’s common for these muscles to tear during childbirth.

Luckily, your body is amazing and can sometimes heal itself. But sometimes, pelvic floor disorders can develop. Common PFDs include:

• urinary incontinence (you leak a little pee sometimes)
• fecal incontinence (you leak a little poop sometimes)
• pelvic organ prolapse (when your organs start to fall through the bottom of the hammock).

If you’re experiencing any of these issues or feeling pain while going to the bathroom or during sex, or things just aren’t feeling right, talk to your doctor or get in touch with a pelvic floor physical therapist.

Related: Painful sex after childbirth