The new pregnancy package appointment.
I created this appointment for many reasons. Continuity of care throughout pregnancy has been shown to be beneficial for many reasons such as patient confidence, professional and patient relationship and birth outcomes. My most popular appointment is the post natal check up and I ask myself why this is? A lot of the time its due to the surprise and shock of how the fourth trimester feels physically and mentally. So I asked myself, what if mums to be were better prepared? Knew more about the physical changes in pregnancy, labour and what to expect from the fourth trimester before it actually arrives…. to be prepared. Would it be such a physical and mental shock?
A lot of mums say to me “I wish I had known”
Why does no one pre screen you for pelvic floor dysfunction at your first midwife appointment? As pregnancy is one of the main reasons for pelvic floor dysfunction such as pelvic organ prolapse and stress urinary incontinence. Pelvic organ prolapse you hear me say? what is that you ask? It frightens me that such terms can be heard for the first time by a new mum on diagnosis and no pre education as ever been given.
Pelvic floor dysfunction is one of the leading causes of post natal depression. Why is it that stress urinary incontinence, pelvic girdle pain or vaginal heaviness are brushed off as “oh that’s normal in pregnancy”? When in matter of fact they can be easily treated by a pelvic health physiotherapist and may be signs of pelvic floor dysfunction. If you have stress urinary incontinence in pregnancy it can be a high indicator that you will experience this in the post natal period.
Scare mongering online about exercise in pregnancy can lead many mums to give up what they love. However the current activity guidelines state that 150minutes of moderate intensity exercise a week and two strength training sessions a week.
Mums experiencing Pelvic girdle pain and low back pain in pregnancy are commonly told to rest, which can lead to muscle weakening, fear of movement, lack of confidence in themselves and mood decline. This is not the current guidelines in the management and treatment of pelvic girdle pain.
I am a huge advocate that prevention is much better than cure. So here is where the pregnancy package was born!
- Three appointments
- One for each trimester
- led by the knowledge I have on physical pregnancy changes and by your concerns
- Pelvic floor screening
- Do you need to do pelvic floor strengthening or flexibility?
- Do you know how to do your pelvic floor squeezes correctly?
- What exercise can I do in pregnancy?
- Birth preparation for vaginal or caesarean section
- What to pack if you are choosing a hospital birth
- Things to know for the fourth trimester
Additionally there will be stay in touch emails and also you will gain free access to my pre-natal health seminar and a discount code of 30% off my post-natal seminar.
The cost of the pregnancy package is £190 which can be spread out or paid in full. This is a saving of £100.
When you book the pregnancy package you can book all three appointments at one time which saves you having to go back again to book. You can mix and match the clinic you come to also.
I tend to advise booking
First appointment 12weeks-17weeks
Second appointment 20-27weeks
Third appointment 30-36weeks
See my services page to book.
