The following are real life accounts of the physical problems encountered by women during, or after their pregnancy. Read how these women benefited from the simple advice and treatment by their Physiotherapist.

• Jessica's Story ~ How to reduce back and pelvic pain.
• Serena's Story ~ How to improve bladder control problems and weak tummy muscles.
• Samantha's Story ~ It won't happen to me! What can happen if you ignore troublesome symptoms.

Jessica's Story ~ The following story is retold with permission of "Jessica" (not her real name).

Jessica was twenty-nine years old and pregnant with her third child. Her eldest child was turning four and her second was just twelve months old. When she was twenty-seven weeks pregnant, Jessica began to experience a grinding sensation in her pelvis. The grinding feeling seemed to be coming from the front, at her pubic bone, as well as the back, in her sacroiliac joints, when she walked. She also felt it when she got up out of a chair and when she rolled over in bed. Her lower back had been sore for the past three months.

Jessica had also noticed that she had started to leak urine when she was going for a walk, and that it was getting harder to "hold on" when her bladder was full. Sometimes, to her embarrassment, she would not make it to the toilet on time.

Jessica spoke to her doctor about these problems. He sent her to see a Physiotherapist who worked in the area of women's health. The Physiotherapist gave her some advice about looking after her back during pregnancy and also taught her how to do "abdominal bracing" exercises. These were not easy to do at first and took a lot of concentration. Her abdominal muscles were weak as a result of her previous pregnancies, and the fact that she had never exercised them before. As she talked with her Physiotherapist, Jessica discovered the importance of pelvic floor exercises. No one had ever told her about them. The Physiotherapist helped her learn how to do the exercises properly and she began to do them each day.

On the advice of the Physiotherapist, Jessica began to use the booklet, As Your Shape Changes. This booklet contained back care tips and checks for her pelvic floor and abdominal bracing exercises. Using the charts in the booklet, Jessica was able to monitor her progress.

After only one week, she felt that there was less grinding in her pelvis. After three weeks of doing the exercises and keeping track of her progress in the booklet, Jessica's back pain had gone and the grinding feeling in her pelvis had completely disappeared. She found it much easier to hold her abdominal muscles in and to do her abdominal bracing. She had also stopped leaking urine when walking, and could hold on to a full bladder much more easily.

Through the advice and assistance of her Physiotherapist, Jessica had learned the importance of strengthening her abdominal and pelvic floor muscles to help support her baby and take the pressure off her back and pelvis. She continued with these exercises during her pregnancy, and then again after she had given birth, to help her get back into shape.

Jessica's story is similar to that experienced by many other women. She had no problems during her first and second pregnancies, but without specific toning and strengthening exercises, her muscles had stayed stretched and this eventually began to cause problems. Fortunately, Jessica's doctor knew that a Physiotherapist could help and, with the right advice and treatment, her muscles quickly regained strength and she recovered from her physical problems before they become severe.

Unlike Jessica, many women simply tolerate backache, pelvic pain and urine leakage during pregnancy without realizing that a great deal can be done to treat and prevent the problems associated with the physical changes of pregnancy and childbirth.

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Serena's Story ~ The following story is retold with permission of "Serena" (not her real name).

Serena was almost six months pregnant when she mentioned to a friend that she was having trouble with her bladder control. For the past three months, whenever she coughed or sneezed, she leaked urine. Her friend told her about a Physiotherapist who had helped her with pelvic floor exercises after her last baby was born. Although Serena was pregnant with her third child, she was not sure she knew how to do pelvic floor exercises.

Serena also felt "heavy" in her lower abdominal area. It seems as though her tummy rested on her thighs when she sat down. She was not aware of the bracing exercises she could do to help support her growing baby.

Serena's Physiotherapist explained how her poor muscle tone, weakened during her previous pregnancies, was contributing to the physical problems she was now experiencing. An assessment of her pelvic floor muscle function indicated that Serena did not know how to exercise her pelvic floor correctly. The Physiotherapist taught Serena how to perform both the abdominal bracing and pelvic floor exercise. Serena's Physiotherapist began to record Serena's progress using the charts in the booklet, As Your Shape Changes.

After further assistance from her Physiotherapist and a few weeks of performing her bracing and pelvic floor exercises, Serena began to notice a big improvement. She no longer leaked urine every time she coughed, or sneezed. Her tummy began to feel less heavy and her strengthened abdominal muscles were providing more lift and support for her baby. The more she did her exercises, the easier they were to perform. As Serena continued with these exercises, her physical problems also continued to improve.

Convinced of the value of the advice provided by her Physiotherapist, Serena determined to visit the Physiotherapist again after the birth of her baby. She had learnt that a simple assessment and some practical advice would quickly help her get back in shape and avoid the development of the physical problems that could occur as a result of her pregnancy.

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Samantha's Story ~ The following story is retold with permission of "Samantha" (not her real name).

Samantha was forty-five. She went to see her doctor because she was experiencing a "heaviness down below". The sensation was often worse at the end of the day and it was more uncomfortable when she sat in certain positions. It often felt better in the morning, or after resting on the weekend. Samantha was also troubled by "stress incontinence" ~ she frequently wet her pants when she coughed.

Samantha had strained to use her bowel for years. She usually only emptied her bowel about once every three days. The heavy feeling Samantha was experiencing was due to a prolapse, which would require surgical repair. The severity of the prolapse meant that alternate treatment options, such as strengthening the pelvic floor to help support her pelvic organs, would not suffice. Samantha was referred to a Physiotherapist who worked in the area of women's health for assistance with pelvic floor exercises to help with her bladder control.

Unfortunately, Samantha had never been told about the long-term effects of straining, or the benefits of pelvic floor exercises. Given the right advice and assistance during her childbearing years, she may have been able to prevent the development of these physical problems in her later years. Click HERE to view the resources available to help you avoid the physical problems Samantha experienced.