Written by Helen Lo, Physiotherapist
Are you or is someone you know pregnant? If so, we have some exciting news to share!
Introducing… Peak Prenatal, a comprehensive Peak Program designed to empower women to conquer all stages of pregnancy from conception to delivery!
My name is Helen, and I am a pelvic floor physiotherapist at Peak Health Kids. Over the past several years I have worked with a number of women through pregnancy and a common theme I came across was how little people truly know about this process and how unsupported they feel throughout it.
From this came the idea of Peak Prenatal, a community for educating and preparing parents for what to expect with pregnancy, labour, delivery, and everything in between.
At Peak Prenatal, we understand that pregnancy is a time of great physical and emotional changes. That’s why we offer a comprehensive program designed to empower women to conquer all stages of pregnancy from conception to delivery.
Our prenatal physiotherapy services and pelvic floor therapy in Calgary are tailored to meet the unique needs of each woman throughout her journey.
Peak Prenatal will give you an all-access pass to:
– An initial 60 minute prenatal physiotherapy assessment and a 30 minute prenatal follow-up session to assess your pelvic floor issues, core, address pain, and prepare you for delivery
– A 45 minute re-evaluation after delivery to reassess your pelvic floor and determine a plan for your goals postpartum
– Four group education sessions and a take-home booklet filled with all you need to help you on your pregnancy journey
– Access to a private community forum to share common questions, concerns, tips, milestones, grief, and everything from prenatal to postpartum
– Access to a specialty referral network of massage therapists, chiropractors, trainers, naturopaths
– Access to a private library of YouTube videos demonstrating all the exercises that will be recommended
Will I need more than an assessment and follow-up before I give birth?
Potentially! If you struggle with engaging your pelvic floor muscles or would like some extra support managing pain through your pregnancy, you may benefit from additional sessions before delivery.
But don’t worry, with each assessment, you will have the opportunity to discuss your concerns and your goals with your pelvic floor therapist and come up with a plan that will work for you.
What will the education sessions include?
Education sessions will be 1 hour in length and offered in-person at Peak Health Kids in the evening. Each session is led by a pelvic health physiotherapist.
Session 1: This introduction to pelvic health physiotherapy will include information about the pelvic floor function and anatomy, pelvic muscles, changes that occur during pregnancy, the basics of pelvic floor engagement, normal urinary and bowel frequency, and reviewing common myths associated with pregnancy.
Session 2: We will cover common pregnancy concerns such as pelvic pain, pelvic floor dysfunction, abdominal separation (rectus diastasis), urinary incontinence, exercise and physical therapy.
Session 3: We will start to discuss labour and delivery, pelvic floor relaxation, and the perineal massage.
Session 4 will review all things after delivery such as when to see your pelvic floor therapist, exercise recommendations, bladder and bowel concerns, returning to sexual intercourse, C-section specific considerations, prolapse and pessaries, and what to consider with baby!
Can I use my health benefits to pay for this?
Absolutely! You will be able to bill these sessions through physiotherapy or any additional health spending account you have access to. Our team will be happy to help you navigate this.
Next steps
The prenatal period can be an exciting time but also can be a time filled with a lot of uncertainty. Peak Prenatal is a program designed to help ease your concerns, answer your questions, and provide a community to support you throughout your pregnancy. Book your discovery call today to speak with Helen and learn more about Peak Prenatal.