Pregnancy & Postpartum Care

During Pregnancy

We are here to treat all the aches and pains that come with your pregnancy and strive to keep you comfortable and moving for as long as possible. Don't let pregnancy be the reason you stop doing the things you love! We also work with patients proactively to stay ahead of the pregnancy changes that occur to the body with planned visits at regular intervals.

During our sessions you will learn ways to care for your body at each stage of your pregnancy as well as how to prepare for the best delivery possible. Let us help you go into labor and delivery with a better understanding and connection to your pelvic floor.

Did you know...

In other countries, every single patient is sent to a pelvic floor therapist postpartum as a standard of care, whether they are having symptoms or not, as part of a holistic plan of care.

If you are currently pregnant, just delivered or had your babies years ago, you can benefit from pelvic floor therapy. We can help with the symptoms you thought were just your 'new normal' as well as aches and pains from head to toe including:

• neck, shoulder & upper back pain from carrying and feeding your little one
• diastasis rectus abdominis (or abdominal separation) which affects 2 in 3 birthing people (Read What Causes Diastasis Recti In Pregnancy?)
• pelvic pressure, heaviness, or prolapse (you know, that feeling like something is falling out)
• difficulty with bowel and bladder after delivery including urgency, frequency, and leakage
• pain or fear of returning to intimacy
• pelvic pain including pubic symphysis or sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain
• return to exercise including our comprehensive Return to Running assessment & training program
  

Everyone at this practice is welcoming, knowledgeable, and patient. The office space is clean and cozy. I began seeing Dr. Marlena while pregnant in my third trimester and I started again some months after delivery. Dr. Marlena addresses all of my concerns and uploads everything to a patient portal so I can access the notes. After the sessions and continuing to do exercises at home, I feel better. I highly recommend this practice!

I met Drs. Joy & Marlena at the Birth Fair in Patterson Park when I was ~7 months pregnant. I thought it was "too late" for pelvic PT but they assured me it's never too late. I saw Dr. Marlena up until delivery and then about 2 months postpartum when I realized things didn't automatically heal. Marlena was AMAZING. She let me bring the tiny human, rocking her stroller when she fussed and offering to hold her for me to complete my exercises. She made recordings of exercises when I couldn't remember them and had awesome hand outs. She never judged when I was honest that I didn't do my exercises and she made a point to figure out how I could easily incorporate them day to day.

Dr Joy is truly a joy to work with! She gave me great insight to understand my pelvic floor pre-birth so I had a better awareness of my starting point. I am thankful to have such a great resource in the Baltimore area and highly recommend those who need pelvic floor PT to book a consult with Pelvic Pride! It was easy to get an appointment, communication was fast and helpful, and I felt 100% comfortable getting my exam in the office in a somewhat sensitive and private area of my body.