Prenatal & Postpartum
Prenatal physical therapy and postpartum physical therapy support you through pregnancy and after birth: easing back, pelvic and hip pain, preparing your body for delivery, then rebuilding your core, pelvic floor and strength once the baby arrives. Elevate615 provides prenatal and postpartum care in Franklin, Brentwood and Nashville, including a safe path back to exercise and running.
Pregnancy back pain, pelvic girdle pain and the other aches
Pregnancy hormones loosen the ligaments, and the weight of the baby shifts the load. Aches are common, but they are not something you have to simply put up with.
Back pain and sciatica
Pregnancy back pain and pain that runs into the leg often respond to better positioning, movement and strengthening. For back pain outside pregnancy, see back pain.
Pelvic girdle pain, SI joint pain and pubic bone pain
Pain at the sacroiliac joint in the back of the pelvis, or at the pubic bone in front, can make walking, stairs and rolling over in bed hard. We work out which joint is irritated and what movements to change.
Hip and knee discomfort
The hormone relaxin softens ligaments, which is a big reason many pregnant women feel hip, knee and back discomfort as pregnancy goes on.
Preparing for birth
Breathing and pressure
Breathing and core coordination, so pressure moves through your body well, in pregnancy and in labor.
Pelvic floor training
Pelvic floor muscle training and mobility work, plus positions and pushing strategies you can use in labor, prepare your body for delivery. Starting in the early second trimester gives time to build skill.
Lifting and gym changes
You do not have to stop training. We modify your lifting and strength work for each stage of pregnancy and plan your first weeks after birth.
After the baby arrives
Your body went through a lot. We look at the whole system, not one muscle.
Diastasis recti and core weakness
Ab separation is common during pregnancy. The question that matters is how well your core is working as a team of abdominals, diaphragm, pelvic floor, back and hips, so we build core retraining and strengthening around your assessment, not outdated blanket rules.
Leaking, pressure and prolapse
Postpartum pelvic floor problems such as leaking, heaviness or a dragging feeling are common after birth, and they are treatable. Read about pelvic floor physical therapy.
C-section recovery and scar mobility
After a C-section, the scar and the layers beneath need time to heal. We work on scar mobility and rebuild abdominal strength and movement when you are cleared to do so.
Painful sex and pelvic pain
Pain with intercourse and ongoing pelvic pain can follow birth, and they have causes we can look for. Pelvic floor care is covered on pelvic floor therapy.
When to start postpartum physical therapy
Many women come to us after their postpartum checkup because they still feel weak, leak, feel pelvic pressure or want guidance on returning to exercise. The right time varies, so call us and we will guide you on when to begin and what your doctor needs to be part of.
It is not too late either. Whether you are six weeks, six months or several years postpartum, we can help improve strength, mobility and confidence with exercise. If you would rather skip the trip, our concierge pelvic floor visits come to your home.
★★★★★
“I can’t say enough good things about Elevate615 Donelson! As a postpartum mom trying to get back into fitness, I was nervous about lifting weights again and wanted to make sure I was doing it safely. Working with Reina, Doctor of Physical Therapy, has completely changed my confidence and how I move. She helped me reconnect with my core and pelvic floor, fix my form, and build strength the right way. …”
Running after pregnancy: check these before you lace up
Return to exercise after baby is gradual, and running comes late in the plan.
- Give yourself time: returning to running before about three months postpartum is a common mistake
- Feed or pump first, and wear a bra that supports you
- Start slower than your old pace, because bones and tendons need time to adapt
- Check that your running shoes still fit, since feet can change in pregnancy
- Stop and get checked if you feel heaviness, pressure or dragging in your pelvis
Where this page ends and others begin
Leaking, prolapse and pelvic pain each have their own care on pelvic floor therapy, and back pain unrelated to pregnancy is on back pain. Strength and fitness for later stages of life are part of our women’s health care.
Pregnancy and postpartum reads from the Elevate615 blog
- Your Body Is Not Fragile: What Actually Happens During Pregnancy (And Why I Got Certified to Help You Through It)
- Do Crunches Cause Diastasis Recti? The Pregnancy and Postpartum Exercise Myth I Find Myself Debunking Most Often
- Five common postpartum return to running mistakes (and how to avoid them).
- The Concierge Difference: Why In-Home Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Is Changing Postpartum Recovery
Call your OB or midwife, or go to the ER, if you have
These signs need medical care before anything else.
- Vaginal bleeding or leaking fluid during pregnancy
- Sudden or severe pain, or a headache with vision changes
- After birth: heavy bleeding, fever, or a C-section incision that is red, hot or draining
You do not need a physician referral to start physical therapy at Elevate615: Tennessee allows direct access. If longer care later needs a physician involved, we coordinate with them.
Related care
Prenatal and postpartum physical therapy care in Franklin, Brentwood and Nashville
Elevate615 treats prenatal and postpartum physical therapy at our Franklin clinic in Cool Springs, and we also see patients at our Brentwood and Nashville clinics.
You do not need a physician referral to start physical therapy at Elevate615: Tennessee allows direct access. If longer care later needs a physician involved, we coordinate with them.
Meet the people who treat you on our team page.