When most women think about “preparing for birth,” they think about birth plans, baby registries, and maybe a few prenatal workouts.
But there’s one incredibly important piece that’s often overlooked…the pelvic floor.
And not just how strong it is, but how well it can relax, coordinate, and respond during pregnancy, birth, and labor.
Birth is not something you should push through with force. It’s something your body transitions through with rhythm, flow, and neurological coordination.
Your Pelvic Floor Is More Than Just Muscles
Your pelvic floor is a dynamic, responsive system that includes:
Muscles
Fascia
Ligaments
Nerves
And your brain!
It supports your bladder, uterus, and bowels…but during birth, it becomes the passage way for baby to move through, entering into the world.
A pelvic floor that is:
Too tight
Poorly coordinated
Too weak
Disconnected from the nervous system
Can contribute to:
Longer pushing phases
More tearing
Pelvic pain
Tailbone pain
Birth interventions
Longer postpartum recovery
This isn’t about “weak vs strong.”
It’s about whether your pelvic floor can lengthen, soften, support, and open when it needs to.
Why Kegels Aren’t Enough (and sometimes make things worse)
Many women are told to “do your Kegels” during pregnancy.
But here’s the truth most don’t hear:
A pelvic floor that is already tight or stressed does not need more strength or tightening.
It needs release, blood flow, nerve communication, and coordination.
If your pelvic floor doesn’t know how to relax, it won’t open easily during birth — no matter how strong it is.
That’s why pelvic floor prep should include:
Nervous system regulation
Breath work
Pelvic mobility
Core-pelvic coordination
And gentle tissue release
Birth Is Neurological, Not Just Mechanical
Your body does not push a baby out because you tell it to.
It does it because:
Your brain
Your nerves
And your pelvic floor
are in communication.
When your nervous system is stuck in stress mode, the pelvic floor naturally tightens.
When you feel safe, supported, and regulated, the pelvic floor softens.
This is why nervous system-focused chiropractic care and pelvic prep go hand in hand.
What Pelvic Floor Prep for Birth Actually Looks Like
True pelvic prep supports:
The way your pelvis moves
The way your baby descends
And the way your tissues stretch
This includes:
Pelvic mobility and alignment
Core-pelvic floor coordination
Breathing patterns that support pushing
Nervous system regulation
Hands-on techniques to improve tissue glide
And education so you understand what your body is doing
This is exactly what we teach inside our most popular workshop: Prepare Your Pelvis for Birth. We host quarterly workshops to support those preparing for birth. Our next workshop is Saturday, March 7 at 1:00pm.
This workshop is designed for:
All moms (whether it is your first baby or if you’ve had previous pregnancies
VBAC moms
Moms wanting a smoother, more connected birth
Anyone who wants to reduce tearing, trauma, and recovery time
You’ll learn:
How your pelvis and pelvic floor actually work in labor
How to use breath to help your baby descend
Positions that help your pelvic floor open
What tightness and tension really mean
How to prepare your body instead of just hoping for the best
Holistic tips to prepare body and mind for birth
Birth should be about feeling confident and supported: it’s about understanding your body and giving it the tools it needs to do what it was designed to do!
You deserve a birth that feels: supported, informed, and connected. When you prepare your pelvic floor, you aren’t just preparing for delivery…
You’re setting the foundation for:
Easier recovery
Better bladder control and function
Less pelvic pain
A stronger postpartum body
Your body was made to function and give birth…let’s help it work the way it was designed to!
Join us for our next quarterly Prepare Your Pelvis for Birth workshop, Saturday, March 7 at 1:00pm. This is a complimentary workshop; you do not need to be a patient to attend. Space is limited; reserve your spot today! https://clechiropractic.janeapp.com/#/discipline/12/treatment/46
For more information about how we can support you and your pelvic floor, visit https://www.clechiropractic.com/pelvic-floor-therapy-for-the-perinatal-period
In Health and Blessings,
Dr. Abbey
@clechiropractic
216-952-3830