Pre and Post Partum Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy for New and Expecting Moms

Pre- and post-partum physical therapy is designed to support your body through the physical changes of pregnancy and recovery after delivery. Pregnancy brings significant musculoskeletal, physiological, and postural changes that can contribute to pain, weakness, and long-term movement issues. With targeted physical therapy, many of these symptoms can be reduced—and often prevented—by preparing and restoring key muscle groups.

How Pregnancy Affects Your Body

As your baby grows, your body adapts in ways that place increased demands on your muscles and joints:

• Pelvic floor muscles lengthen and descend, often becoming strained
• Abdominal muscles stretch, frequently resulting in diastasis recti (abdominal separation)
• Postural changes shift your center of gravity forward, increasing stress on the lower back, hips, knees, and feet

These changes can inhibit normal glute activation, reduce core stability, and contribute to pain, weakness, and poor posture during and after pregnancy. Addressing these impairments early is key to restoring strength, alignment, and functional movement.

Understanding the Core During Pregnancy and After Birth

Your core is more than just your abdominal muscles. In physical therapy, we view the core as an integrated system that includes:

• The diaphragm, which supports breathing and pressure management
• The pelvic floor, which provides foundational support
• The abdominal muscles, which control stability and movement
• The back and gluteal muscles, which support posture and power

During pre- and post-partum physical therapy, your physical therapist evaluates how each of these components is functioning together. Based on this assessment, we create a customized treatment plan to improve coordination, strength, posture, and overall movement efficiency.

Pre-Partum Physical Therapy

Physical therapy during pregnancy helps prepare your body for the demands of childbirth and postpartum recovery. Treatment focuses on maintaining strength, mobility, and alignment while reducing common pregnancy-related discomforts such as back pain, hip pain, and pelvic pressure.

Your therapist will assess posture, breathing mechanics, pelvic alignment, hip mobility, and core function, then guide you through safe, pregnancy-appropriate exercises to support your changing body.

Post-Partum Physical Therapy

After delivery, physical therapy plays a critical role in restoring strength and confidence. Post-partum care addresses core weakness, pelvic floor dysfunction, abdominal separation, postural changes, and movement limitations.

Treatment progresses through activation, stabilization, and strengthening to help you return to daily activities, exercise, and caregiving tasks safely and efficiently.

Post-C-Section Rehabilitation

Physical therapy is especially important after a C-section. Because abdominal muscles are surgically affected, recovery often requires targeted rehabilitation.

Your physical therapist will assess scar mobility, abdominal and pelvic floor strength, posture, and movement patterns, then design a personalized plan to support healing and long-term function.

Support for Every Stage of Motherhood

Our physical therapists work closely with expecting and new moms to create individualized programs that promote recovery, reduce pain, and restore confidence in movement. Whether you are preparing for delivery or rebuilding strength after birth, pre- and post-partum physical therapy provides a safe, effective path back to feeling strong, supported, and capable.

Active Marin Physical Therapy
421 Miller Avenue (see map)
Mill Valley, CA 94941

Phone: (415) 388-8166
Fax: 415-388-8169
Email: activemarin@gmail.com

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00AM to 7:30PM
Saturday 9:00AM to 5:00PM
Sunday Closed