Pregnancy Physiotherapy & Birth Preparation
Personalised support to help you feel comfortable, stay active and prepare for birth.
Pregnancy changes your body, and often brings plenty of questions. Whether you’re experiencing discomfort, unsure about your pelvic floor or looking for practical birth preparation, I can help.
As a specialist pelvic health physiotherapist and Pilates instructor, I offer individual assessment, treatment and exercise advice tailored to your pregnancy, your symptoms and what matters to you.
How can pregnancy physiotherapy help?
You don’t need to be in pain to benefit from an appointment. You might want help managing symptoms, adapting your exercise or understanding how to prepare your body for birth.
I can support you with:
Pelvic girdle, hip and lower back pain.
Bladder leakage or concerns about your pelvic floor.
Constipation and difficulty emptying your bowels.
Staying active and adapting exercise as your pregnancy progresses.
Pelvic floor strength, coordination and relaxation.
Preparation for birth and early postnatal recovery.
Together, we’ll make a practical plan that fits into your everyday life.
Preparing for a vaginal birth
If you’re planning a vaginal birth, we can spend time exploring how your pelvic floor works and practising techniques you can draw on during labour.
Your sessions may include:
Understanding your pelvic floor
Learning how to engage your pelvic floor and how to let it fully relax and release.
Breathing and relaxation
Practising breathing techniques and becoming more aware of tension in your body.
Positions for labour and birth
Exploring positions such as kneeling, all fours and side-lying, with adaptations for your comfort and any existing pain.
Perineal massage guidance
Discussing whether perineal massage is suitable for you, when to begin and how to practise at home.
Preparing for recovery
Talking through early movement, pelvic floor care and a gradual return to activity after birth.
Pregnancy Pilates
Claire guiding a client through pregnancy Reformer Pilates.
Individual Pilates sessions adapted to your changing body.
Whether you already enjoy Pilates or would like guidance with exercise during pregnancy, sessions are tailored to your experience, comfort and stage of pregnancy.
We can focus on:
Maintaining strength for everyday activities.
Comfortable movement and mobility.
Pelvic floor awareness and coordination.
Breathing and relaxation.
Adapting exercises as your bump grows.
Choose mat-based or equipment-based sessions, subject to availability at your chosen location.
Single sessions and blocks of five or ten are available. Sessions can be arranged weekly, fortnightly or at a pace that suits you. Blocks must be used within one year of purchase. To arrange Pregnancy Pilates, email hello@fitzandphysio.com.
FAQs
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No approach can guarantee that you won’t tear or need an assisted birth. We can discuss preparation options, including perineal massage where appropriate, and practise breathing and relaxation techniques
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Yes. We’ll assess your symptoms and how they affect activities, and treatment may include tailored exercises, movement advice, hands-on manual therapy, and practical ways to make everyday tasks more comfortable.
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Not necessarily. An internal vaginal examination may sometimes provide useful information about your pelvic floor, but it is optional and only offered when appropriate for your pregnancy.
I’ll explain what it involves before asking for your consent. You can decline or stop at any point, and we can discuss other ways to assess and support you
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Yes. Pregnancy physiotherapy can still help with discomfort, pelvic floor symptoms and exercise advice. We can also discuss practical preparation for recovery after your caesarean.