Pelvic health during and after pregnancy

During pregnancy, your body goes through many changes to help you grow, carry and birth your baby.  It can sometimes be difficult to know what normal changes are, and when you should seek help.

Our perinatal pelvic health service can support you if you have problems with your pelvic floor during pregnancy or up to 1 year after giving birth.Pelvic health issues includes problems with:

 

Common issues

Please do not feel embarrassed to talk to us about your pelvic health problems. Research estimates that about:

  • 1 in 3 women experience urinary leakage 3 months after pregnancy
  • 1 in 5 women have accidental bowel leakage 1 year after pregnancy
  • 1 in 12 women report symptoms of pelvic organ prolapse (when 1 or more organs in the pelvis slip down from their normal position and bulge into the vagina)

We can offer treatment, advice and support for all of these conditions.

 

About the team

Our team includes pelvic health physiotherapists and pelvic health midwives. We work closely with other health services including:

·         Maternity Services | Lewisham and Greenwich

·         Bladder, bowel, pelvic services in Lewisham | Lewisham and Greenwich

·         Gynaecology Services | Lewisham and Greenwich

·         Urology | Lewisham and Greenwich

Education and workshops

Our perinatal pelvic health service also offers classes and workshops. We run a pelvic health workshop during pregnancy.

Find out more and book your place at:  http://tinyurl.com/y3kk4e7e 

 

 

Health information

This series of videos developed by NHS physiotherapists and healthcare professionals give  information and advice about the changes of the body before, during and after birth. From pelvic floor health and bladder care, to posture and returning to exercise.

 

This information leaflet provides useful information regarding perineal health in pregnancy, birth and beyond and gives helpful tips on preparing for a vaginal birth.

 

Pelvic floor exercises

How to do pelvic floor exercises  on the NHS website

Squeezy Connect app  used by all hospitals under South East London Maternity Neonatal System to help you do your pelvic floor exercises correctly and consistently.

Squeeze lift hold website  for hints and tips to improve your pelvic floor

 

 

Emotional support

MASIC  for women who have suffered severe injuries during childbirth known as OASI (Obstetric Anal Sphincter Injuries)

Birth Trauma Association  for parents traumatised by birth

Healing Experience of Loss and Trauma Service  at South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust

 

 

General information and support

Pelvic health advice  from POGP -  Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy, a UK-based Professional Network of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy.

A guide for trans men, trans masculine and non-binary people (who were assigned female at birth)  from POGP

A guide for trans women, trans feminine and non-binary people (who were assigned male at birth)  from POGP

 

Share your experiences

Let us know how we're doing! If you had a baby at Guy’s and St Thomas', King's College Hospital, Princess Royal University Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Hospital (Woolwich), or University Hospital Lewisham since June 2022, please complete our survey to tell us how we are doing in supporting your pelvic health:

We'd also like to hear from you if you received care from the perinatal pelvic health service (physio or midwife) through virtual clinics, group therapy or individual appointments since June 2022:

The surveys are anonymous and your participation is voluntary.