Antenatal and Intrapartum Flashcards
What might you see in pregnancy at 10-15weeks
- Some may not look pregnant at this stage
- Change in posture
- May need general advice and education
- May complain about morning sickness
- May be going through behavioural changes
- Pelvic girdle pain
- Pelvic floor (if they ask for advice – generally wait until later on)
- Exercise education/guidelines regarding suitable activities this advice can carry through entire pregnancy but may need to be altered. Important to understand pre-pregnancy exercise levels. o Generally low-to-moderate exercise intensity only:
Some specialists will have HR/intensity guidelines, but these all differ
E.g. swimming, cycling, cross-trainer/elliptical machine, Pilates, yoga, - Always ask more specifics re ‘gym’ classes as generally will be generic and not targeted towards pregnant population
What might you see in pregnancy at 15-30 weeks
- Looks pregnant (usually) – may be difficult to tell if high BMI
- ‘Waddle’ walk sometimes
- Stress urinary incontinence (leaking) 30% of women may complain of this, particularly with cough/sneeze, exercise, picking up their children
What physiotherapy is involved in pregnancy at 15-30 weeks?
Physiotherapy:
* Increased lumbar lordosis/anterior pelvic tilt can give basic exercises, postural education, stretches etc. to make more comfortable
* Pelvic floor education (generally want to start PF ~ 12 weeks prior to delivery)
* Bladder/bowel education they will probably complain of increase in emptying bladder
* SIJ belts for PGP (not if symphysis pubis pain) ok for some but not others
* You will know fairly quickly if it aggravates
* Can use strapping tape to achieve similar result
* Test first – put on, then go for walk/roll in bed (for decrease in pain/symptoms)
* Proprioceptive input
* May also have a placebo effect
What might you see in pregnancy at 30-40 weeks
- Looks pregnant
- Increase in the lumbar lordosis/anterior pelvic tilt more pronounced and may now be causing pain
