Birth Preparation: Physiotherapy Assessment & Support
Preparing your body for childbirth can reduce risks, improve confidence, and support recovery. At Fit 2 Function Allied Health, our birth preparation physiotherapy helps women optimize pelvic floor and abdominal wall function, practice safe birthing positions, and reduce the likelihood of perineal trauma.
We also partner with Born Ready - Better Births, delivering their practical workshops for comprehensive education, strategies and support.
Why birth preparation matters
Pregnancy and childbirth place significant demands on the pelvic floor, abdominal wall, and surrounding muscles. Proper preparation can help:
- Assess risk factors and inform
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Reduce the risk of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASI)
- Reduce the risk of levator ani trauma
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Support optimal birthing positions and pushing technique
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Improve postnatal recovery
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Increase confidence and reduce anxiety around labour
Evidence shows that targeted physiotherapy and perineal preparation can significantly reduce perineal and pelvic floor trauma.
Key strategies in birth preparation
Perineal Massage
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Gentle, regular massage of the perineal tissues in late pregnancy can increase elasticity and reduce the likelihood of tears during birth.
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Can be performed at home with guidance from a physiotherapist or in clinic by our expert physiotherapists.
Pelvic Floor Down training
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Learning to relax the pelvic floor at rest and during pushing is critical.
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Techniques include deep breathing, pelvic floor “release” exercises, and awareness of tension vs relaxation.
Positions, Breathing & Movement
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Practicing upright positions, supported squats, and side-lying options for labour.
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Coordinating breath with pushing to reduce strain on the pelvic floor and abdominal wall.
- Understanding how the pelvis mobilizes during delivery and how to influence this.
Evidence & Statistics
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Research indicates that structured perineal preparation and pelvic floor guidance significantly reduce the risk of OASI and other forms of pelvic floor trauma.
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Relaxation, position awareness, and muscle control contribute to safer and more effective labour, reducing the need for interventions.
Born Ready - Better Births Workshops
For a broader educational experience, we recommend the Born Ready - Better Births workshops:
These workshops cover:
- Comprehensive labour and birth education delivered by Pelvic Health Physiotherapists
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Practical birth preparation techniques
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Hands-on strategies for labour positions
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Partner support and birth planning
Booking a Birth Preparation Physiotherapy Consult
Our birth preparation physiotherapy consults are personalised for your pregnancy stage, concerns, and birth plan. We guide you through perineal massage, pelvic floor downtraining, and safe movement strategies.
Learn more about women’s pelvic health & physiotherapy
Explore our other pelvic health condition pages to understand evidence-based assessment, rehabilitation, and life-stage–specific care:
Urinary Incontinence | Pelvic Organ Prolapse | Overactive Bladder & Urgency | Pelvic Pain | Pregnancy Physiotherapy | Birth Preparation | Postpartum Recovery | Constipation & Bowel Dysfunction
Our expert pelvic health physiotherapists provide private, individualised care focused on restoring comfort, confidence, and long-term pelvic health across pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond.
