Troubleshooting Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

 

Pelvic floor dysfunction is a common pregnancy and post-pregnancy experience.

But this doesn’t mean it’s something you have to live with.

Believing that pelvic floor issues are just another “sacrifice of bringing your child into the world” is a misconception.

In fact, with targeted exercises and intentional care, we can give your pelvic floor more strength and functionality than ever before.

Whether you’re dealing with incontinence, painful sex, or general pelvic pain — you deserve to have an expert in your corner to guide you toward healing.

At Studio Bloom, we have a deep appreciation for pelvic floor therapists. (You’ll notice a lot of them in our videos.) But we also find that pelvic floor therapy has some gaps, and it’s common for women to reach out to us when they aren’t seeing the results they want.

It’s our mission to come alongside you and your pelvic floor therapist to enhance, customize, and quicken your pelvic floor healing. Here’s how this works…

What to Expect from Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

Hiring a pelvic floor physical therapist is one of the best decisions you can make for pregnancy and postpartum health. Here’s what to expect at your first session.

• A Physical Exam. We recommend getting a pelvic floor exam with your physical therapist. This can give you an idea if you have a tight, weak, or hypertonic pelvic floor. It can also point you toward the right Studio Bloom pelvic floor exercises for your needs.

• A Safe Space to Target Your Goals. Working with a pelvic floor therapist allows you to safely target specific goals and symptoms.

• Gentle Accountability. As a new mom, it’s helpful to have a reason to get out of the house and prioritize yourself. Scheduling a weekly pelvic floor therapy session helps you keep self-care at the center of your life.
  
  

Common Gaps in Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

We highly recommend working with a pelvic floor physical therapist as part of your pregnancy healing — even if you don’t have active symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction.

That said, pelvic floor therapy does have some blind spots. There’s just not enough education out there about women’s health or the nuances of the pelvic floor. If you’re not getting the results you want from a pelvic floor therapist, here are some gaps to be aware of:

• Little Emphasis on Pelvic Floor Lengthening

Pelvic floor healing usually centers around strengthening the pelvic floor muscles. But this is only part of the journey. A strong pelvic floor is able to engage and hold your organs in place during pregnancy. However, a flexible (or lengthened) pelvic floor is essential for the pushing phase of birth.

Your pelvic floor will need to move out of the way as you push your baby through the birth canal — and you need to build endurance and awareness to accomplish this.

Women with flexibility in their pelvic floor are less prone to injury and tearing.

Make sure your pelvic floor therapist focuses on balance by targeting both the strength and flexibility of your muscles.

• Undervaluing Endurance

Strength is great, but endurance is better.

Your pelvic floor holds up your pregnant belly for nine months. Then you go through hours of labor and delivery. After pregnancy, the physical demands on your body only increase as you care for a newborn.

Pelvic floor endurance is just as important as pelvic floor strength — and should be emphasized during your pelvic floor therapy sessions.

• Lack of Variation in Pelvic Floor Exercises

We have a lot to say about Kegel exercises. While they can be helpful, they usually don’t target the whole picture of pelvic floor health.

Ideally, pelvic floor exercises should harness your diaphragmatic breath and help you control transabdominal pressure. Your therapist should teach you how to recognize the difference between engaging your pelvic floor and engaging your core.

Pelvic floor exercises don’t need to be difficult. Most of them, you can do immediately after labor from the comfort of your bed. But they do need to be intentional.

Returning to Exercise After Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor exercises and therapy should help you return to your favorite activities. Whether that’s a stroller run with your toddler, a competitive bike ride, or jumping on a backyard trampoline with your middle-schooler. Imagine being empowered to live every day symptom-free. How much would your life change?

Remember, pelvic floor dysfunction is common, but it shouldn’t be accepted as your new “norm.” Your pelvic floor therapy sessions should meet you where you’re at with gentle but targeted exercises. You’ll work on symptom management while building strength and endurance for your favorite activities.

What You Get When You Combine Pelvic Floor Therapy with The Bloom Method

Combining your pelvic floor physical therapy with intentional Studio Bloom exercises is the best way to support your pregnant body and streamline postpartum recovery.

Women who work with Studio Bloom are more likely to…

• Avoid tearing and injury during childbirth
• Recognize their pelvic floor muscles
• Return to the activities they love
• Walk away from pregnancy and postpartum with zero symptoms
• Feel confident about their connection to their bodies
• Have a smooth and quick birth

Here’s why we recommend combining The Bloom Method with your pelvic floor therapy:

• Science-Driven Results That Are Fast and Long-Lasting

The techniques we teach in Studio Bloom are not taught anywhere else. We’ve pioneered these methods with woman-led science and years of experience in pregnancy pelvic floor health.

The results you get from The Bloom Method are quick and long-lasting. They’ve been developed by professionals to target multiple muscle groups and bring you real results.

• A Pelvic Floor Exercise Coach Dedicated to Your Success

The Bloom Method is unlike any other pregnancy fitness app. We include a one-on-one coaching component (a personal trainer in your corner) to answer questions, adjust your technique, and get you on a fast track to the results you want. Our coaches are pelvic floor therapists and pregnancy exercise experts who help you customize your healing plan to fit your individual needs.

• A Multi-Faceted Approach to Healing

You should never depend on one exercise (hint: Kegels) to heal your pelvic floor. This deeply misunderstands the unique needs of the pelvic floor — and doesn’t account for its multiple layers and muscle groups.

To promote real and lasting healing, you need a method that targets your entire pelvic floor. You need to promote balance by strengthening and lengthening these muscles, for endurance and power. Studio Bloom is your multi-faceted approach to healing that truly understands the nuance and unique needs of the pelvic floor.

The Bottom Line: The Bridge Between Pelvic Floor Therapy and the Results You Want

At Studio Bloom we combine years of women-led science, pelvic floor therapy, and personal experience to bring you the best pelvic floor exercise app available. We truly believe that our signature method is the resource you need to close the gaps in your pelvic floor therapy and experience the results you want.

 

Learn the Method That’s Helped Thousands of Women Heal from Home

Start the Pelvic Floor Basics with a 7-Day Free Trial