Should you do pelvic floor exercises while pregnant?

This is a question continence and pelvic health physiotherapists are commonly asked, and it seems that there are a lot of mixed messages out there which we may encounter whilst scrolling through our social media feeds.

The short answer is yes, however there is no one-size-fits-all all training plan.

So the more exact answer is yes, provided that you are performing the exercises correctly and that they are individualised for you.

The appropriate approach to pelvic floor exercises

Appropriate pelvic floor muscle exercises during pregnancy are similar to those performed at other times of your life, meaning that the muscles are contracted and then relaxed in the appropriate manner for certain lengths of time.

However, any programs advised to you should be individualised following a continence and pelvic health physiotherapist assessment.

The difference is that pelvic muscle training programs during pregnancy will generally be adjusted depending on the stage of pregnancy.

We know that pelvic floor muscle training is recommended during pregnancy for the prevention of urinary incontinence also know that there is no reason to believe that pelvic floor muscle training will make childbirth more difficult.

Consulting a continence and pelvic health physiotherapist

Consulting a continence and pelvic health physiotherapist in the early stages of your pregnancy can be very helpful in giving you advice on general exercise as well as pelvic floor exercises.

We can also provide guidance around bladder and bowel health and any other concerns you may have regarding your pregnancy.

To learn more, read our pages on pregnancy and pelvic floor muscles for further information.

Written by Jenny Tweedie, Senior Women’s Health Physiotherapist, Lifecare Wembley Physio.

Jenny is a women’s health and clinical exercise physiotherapist with extensive qualifications and experience. She coordinates the Lifecare clinical exercise training program and has completed postgraduate studies in women’s health and pelvic organ prolapse management through Curtin University and the University of South Australia.

 Further resources

• Urinary incontinence – Lifecare
• Considerations for exercise during pregnancy – Lifecare