Our Specialist Team can support you throughout your pregnancy, and beyond.
We aim to help treat and manage your symptoms and pelvic health concerns, offering the right advice and support.
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Perinatal Pelvic Health Services (PPHS)
Is your pelvic health problem limiting the life you wish to live?
Welcome to the Perinatal Pelvic Health Services (PPHS) at University Hospital of North Midlands NHS Trust based in Royal Stoke Hospital, Stoke on Trent and is also based at our sister site, County Hospital, Stafford.
Our dedicated team of healthcare professionals are here to support women and birthing people during their perinatal journey from pregnancy booking, through to 12 months months postpartum ensuring optimal pelvic health and overall well-being.
One of the less obvious consequences of pregnancy and birth is the impact it can have on your pelvic floor muscles. Throughout pregnancy, your baby is supported in the pelvis by your pelvic floor muscles. During delivery, the same muscles become very stretched, which can then cause many common pelvic floor problems including loss of bladder and/or bowel control, pelvic organ prolapse and reduced sensation or satisfaction during sex. Leaking urine can affect 40%-50% of women during pregnancy (ICS 2019). This is reduced following childbirth, but it is still a significant problem for 11% of women and up to 45% of women at some point in their lifetime.
Exercising the pelvic floor muscles during and after pregnancy can help to protect you from these problems, both in the short and long term.
The good news is that pelvic floor muscle exercises are easy to perform and can be done anywhere.
The Perinatal Pelvic Health Service offers specialist pelvic physiotherapy and midwifery input, helping birthing people understand their pelvic health and recognise symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, so that it can be managed with the right help at the right time. We understand the unique challenges that come with this phase of life, and we are committed to providing compassionate care and evidence-based treatments.
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Prepare: Our specialist team can help you to prepare your pelvic floor for pregnancy and beyond
Restore: Our specialist team will support you to rebuild and strengthen your pelvic floor
Our Specialist Team are also available to support with any perineal wound concerns such as healing issues including :
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Infection
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Pain
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Wound breakdown.
If you have any postnatal concerns regarding your perineal tear, our specialist midwives will be happy to help. For an urgent review, please contact MAU on 01782 672300.
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Recover: Our Specialist Team provides a variety of specialist treatment and advice
The following pelvic floor problems are common, but should not be considered as a normal part of childbirth or pregnancy.
All can be improved with the right conservative management and pelvic floor muscle exercises.
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What to expect from your appointment
Your appointment will always be treated with the sensitivity it deserves. We will always discuss if an internal examination is necessary, what it involves and the reasons why we feel it would be helpful towards a diagnosis and improved outcomes. A chaperone will always be available upon request. Privacy and dignity are of upmost importance. You do not have to have this examination and have the right to change your mind at any point.
Please feel free to contact the clinic to discuss your appointment if you have any concerns in relation to this. A detailed medical history will be taken, your pelvic floor will gently be assessed, and treatment options may include exercises, biofeedback postural advice, or muscle stimulation. Research shows that in many cases, physiotherapy can cure or dramatically improve pelvic floor problems. It is recommended first line treatment in incontinence. You will be seen by our specialist midwives for all wound care concerns. To get the most from treatment, we may ask you to follow advice and do exercises at home.
Following assessment and treatment we do have the options to liase with your GP or our consultants to consider further treatment if needed. Depending on your symptoms these are some charts that may be helpful to complete prior to your appointment, to give us more idea how your symptoms bother you.
• Bladder diary
• Bowel diary
Important Information