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 one year after giving birth. Pelvic health issues include problems with:
- urinary incontinence
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- bowel incontinence
- constipation
- episiotomy and perineal tears
- pelvic organ prolapse
- pain during or after sex (dyspareunia)
- back and pelvic pain and problems with your abdominal muscles
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 these conditions.
About the team
Our team includes pelvic health physiotherapists and pelvic health midwives. We work closely with maternity and other health services including:
- colorectal surgery
- general gynaecology
- pelvic health physiotherapy service
- perinatal mental health
- urogynaecology
- urology
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.
Further resources
Health information
- NHS London physiotherapists and healthcare professionals have developed a video series to provide information and useful 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.
- Pelvic, Obstetric and Gynaecological Physiotherapy offers a range of pelvic health advice. The website includes accessibility and language options and guides for trans men, trans masculine and non-binary people (who were assigned female at birth) and trans women, trans feminine and non-binary people (who were assigned male at birth).
- The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has developed a hub for perineal tears and episiotomies in childbirth. It provides information about the types of tears that can occur during childbirth, how to minimise your risk of deeper tearing, and what can be done to help your recovery if you do tear.
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
- The Birth Trauma Association supports parents who have experienced birth trauma.
- The Healing Experience of Loss and Trauma Service is a specialist therapeutic service for women and birthing people who live in Croydon, Lambeth, Lewisham or Southwark and who are experiencing emotional distress, or mental health difficulties following a perinatal loss.
- The MASIC Foundation offers support to those who have suffered severe injuries during childbirth known as OASI (obstetric anal sphincter injuries).
Share your experience
Let us know how we’re doing. If you have had a baby with us 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 (physiotherapist or midwife) through virtual clinics, group therapy or individual appointments since June 2022.
The surveys are anonymous, and your participation is voluntary.
Contact details
- Clinic hours: Monday to Thursday, 8.30am to 5.00pm
- Email: [email protected]
- Clinic: Suite 8, 3rd Floor, Golden Jubilee Wing, King’s College Hospital