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Mama Check-up

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Before Birth

During pregnancy, it's normal that many things change, both psychologically and physically. It's understandable that you might be unsure if certain activities are good or harmful for the baby or yourself. Common questions concerns exercising the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles during pregnancy and whether exercise is allowed during this time (1)(2).

Strain on the pelvic floor can often increase during this period leading to various discomforts such as incontinence, pelvic pain, and back pain (3).

Physiotherapeutic guidance on pelvic floor training can support birth preparation, reduce the risk of birth injuries (5)(7), and have a positive impact on the postpartum period. Women who train their pelvic floor muscles may be better able to assume different birth positions, which can can ease the labor and give them more control.

A physiotherapeutic examination can detect potential problems before the birth and propose appropriate treatments, as well as prevent their persistence or occurrence after the birth (3-12).

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After Birth

Female body undergoes changes even after the childbirth. The pelvic floor is heavily stressed, and body posture and perception change. Numerous studies demonstrate that one-third of women suffer from urinary incontinence after childbirth, and up to one-tenth suffer from fecal incontinence due to perineal tears and other injuries (7).
Organ prolapse can also occur as a result (9).
Physiotherapeutic treatment has numerous benefits for pelvic floor function and helps healing these injuries (1-10).
If you feel uncertain or want more information on this topic, you're not alone. Studies show that up to 75 percent of women are not adequately informed (10).
Overall, caring for your pelvic floor is important for general health and well-being. Seeking a therapy can help you regain control of your body.

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Why a Check-up?

A pelvic floor check-up is important for gaining a better understanding of how the pelvic floor functions, especially when signs of pelvic floor problems such as urinary, fecal, or wind incontinence, frequent urination, difficulty controlling bowel movements, prolapse, and pain during sexual intercourse arise (9).

Do you have questions or are you unsure if you're correctly activating and relaxing your pelvic floor?

Do you want to resume exercising during pregnancy and after childbirth and want to know if your pelvic floor is ready for it?

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What does the check-up include?

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  • Assessment of the pelvic floor muscles - A functional test of the pelvic floor muscles allows for the identification of abnormalities or potential dysfunctions through vaginal examination and biofeedback.

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  • Assessment of rectus diastasis - The abdominal muscles are heavily stressed during pregnancy, which can lead to the formation of a large gap between the two rectus abdominis muscles. Such changes can be identified and influenced through examination.

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  • Assessment of posture and breathing - Posture, statics, and breathing change during pregnancy and after childbirth. These changes affect the pelvic floor and abdominal muscles. Optimizing posture and breathing can make training more effective (11)(12).

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Notes

  • No pelvic floor check-up should be performed in the first trimester of pregnancy. An examination is easily possible afterward.

  • If you have your period, it's not a problem to still undergo the check-up.

  • Attention - The Mama Check Up does not replace gynecological control.

  • The check-up takes 1 hour and costs CHF 150,-

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Literatur:

  1. Syed, H., Slayman, T. & Thoma, K. D. (2021). ACOG Committee Opinion No. 804: Physical Activity and Exercise During Pregnancy and the Postpartum Period. Obstetrics And Gynecology (New York. 1953. Online)/Obstetrics And Gynecology, 137(2), 375–376. https://doi.org/10.1097/aog.0000000000004266

  2. Mottola, M. F., Davenport, M. H., Ruchat, S., Davies, G., Poitras, V. J., Gray, C., Garcia, A. J., Barrowman, N., Adamo, K. B., Duggan, M., Barakat, R., Chilibeck, P., Fleming, K., Forte, M., Korolnek, J., Nagpal, T. S., Slater, L., Stirling, D. & Zehr, L. (2018). No. 367-2019 Canadian Guideline for Physical Activity throughout Pregnancy. JOGC/Journal Of Obstetrics And Gynaecology Canada, 40(11), 1528–1537.  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogc.2018.07.001

  3. Moossdorff-Steinhauser, H., Berghmans, B., Spaanderman, M. E. A. & Bols, E. (2021). Prevalence, incidence and bothersomeness of urinary incontinence in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. International Urogynecology Journal.  https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-020-04636-3

  4. Romeikienė, K. E. & Bartkevičienė, D. (2021). Pelvic-Floor Dysfunction Prevention in Prepartum and Postpartum Periods. Medicina, 57(4), 387. ​

  5. Woodley, S., Lawrenson, P., Boyle, R., Cody, J. D., Mørkved, S., Kernohan, A. & Hay‐Smith, J. (2020). Pelvic floor muscle training for preventing and treating urinary and faecal incontinence in antenatal and postnatal women. Cochrane Library, 2021(3). https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd007471.pub4

  6. Woodley, S. & Hay‐Smith, J. (2021). Narrative review of pelvic floor muscle training for childbearing women—why, when, what, and how. International Urogynecology Journal. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00192-021-04804-z

  7. Milka, W., Paradowska, W., Kołomańska-Bogucka, D. & Mazur-Biały, A. (2023). Antenatal perineal massage - risk of perineal injuries, pain, urinary incontinence and dyspereunia - a systematic review. Journal Of Gynecology Obstetrics And Human Reproduction, 52(8), 102627. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jogoh.2023.102627

  8. Woodley, S., Boyle, R., Cody, J. D., Mørkved, S. & Hay‐Smith, J. (2017). Pelvic floor muscle training for prevention and treatment of urinary and faecal incontinence in antenatal and postnatal women. Cochrane Library.  https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.cd007471.pub3

  9. Romeikienė, K. E. & Bartkevičienė, D. (2021c). Pelvic-Floor Dysfunction Prevention in Prepartum and Postpartum Periods. Medicina, 57(4), 387. ​

  10. Neels, H., Tjalma, W., Wyndaele, J., De Wachter, S., Wyndaele, M. & Vermandel, A. (2016). Knowledge of the pelvic floor in menopausal women and in peripartum women. Journal Of Physical Therapy Science, 28(11), 3020–3029. ​

  11. Talasz, H., Kremser, C., Kofler, M., Kalchschmid, E., Lechleitner, M. & Rudisch, A. (2010). Phase-locked parallel movement of diaphragm and pelvic floor during breathing and coughing—a dynamic MRI investigation in healthy females. International Urogynecology Journal, 22(1), 61–68.​

  12. Hodges, P. W., Sapsford, R. & Pengel, L. (2007). Postural and respiratory functions of the pelvic floor muscles. Neurourology And Urodynamics, 26(3), 362–371. https://doi.org/10.1002/nau.20232

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