Overview
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 include problems with:
- urinary incontinence
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- third- or fourth-degree tears from childbirth
- bowel incontinence
- constipation
- episiotomy and perineal tears
- pelvic organ prolapse
- pain during or after sex (dyspaurenia)
- 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 of these conditions.
About the team
Our team includes pelvic health physiotherapists and pelvic health midwives. We work closely with other health services including:
Education and workshops
Our perinatal pelvic health service also offers classes and workshops. We run a pelvic health workshop during pregnancy.
You can find a full list of classes and information about how to book in our maternity section.
Health information
This series of videos developed by NHS Physiotherapists and Healthcare professionals and will 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 Health and Wellbeing during Pregnancy videos
Our online information gives trustworthy advice to help you with any changes or conditions. It will also provide information about when, where and why to seek help if anything worries you or does not get better.
View our information about pelvic health during or after pregnancy.
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
General information and support
Pelvic health advice from POGP
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
Support in other languages
Pelvic health advice from POGP includes a translation tool.
The NHS London pelvic health and wellbeing video series has been translated into several different languages.
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 Lewisham University Hospital 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.
https://letstalkhealthandcareselondon.org/embeds/projects/15673/survey-tools/14570
The surveys are anonymous and your participation is voluntary.
