{"id":3939,"date":"2023-02-07T12:24:27","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T12:24:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.mutusystem.com\/en-us\/?p=3939"},"modified":"2025-06-17T17:34:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-17T17:34:01","slug":"your-pelvic-floor-after-a-c-section-or-vaginal-birth-possible-effects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mutusystem.com\/en-us\/pelvic-floor\/your-pelvic-floor-after-a-c-section-or-vaginal-birth-possible-effects\/","title":{"rendered":"Pelvic Floor After a C-Section or Vaginal Birth : Possible Effects"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

However your baby arrives, there may be some effects on your pelvic floor after pregnancy. Please know there is no \u201cright\u201d way to give birth! Whether we birth by Cesarean or vaginally is a decision made in the interests of our safety, or of free choice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You may be wondering if a c-section is ‘better’ for the pelvic floor than giving birth vaginally.  So how is your pelvic floor affected after c-section?.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Feeling Informed<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Every body is different and in the case of birth, there are (at least) two bodies at play here. This makes looking at statistics and research to tell what is \u201cbest\u201d a little tricky. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A baby with a weight of a larger size might have more of an impact in pregnancy and birth on a woman\u2019s pelvic floor than in other situations. Or, for example, a smaller baby sitting lower and for longer in the pelvic brim, or a birth with a longer pushing stage could have more of an impact on the pelvic muscles than a heavier baby born vaginally in an average amount of time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s helpful to think about your pelvic floor health during and after pregnancy no matter if you have a planned Cesarean, a small baby, multiple babies, a homebirth, are planning for a second or third birth, or are high-risk. A little preparation and awareness will help you to feel more empowered and in control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Impact of Pregnancy on Strength and Tone<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Pregnancy can change the tone and strength of your pelvic floor. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As your uterus does its incredible expansion and you grow a baby in there (or a few of them at once), it is obviously going to put some added strain on the soft tissue in your pelvic floor. They are responsible for holding up your organs and experience the added pressure of supporting the weight of a baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can read more about the changes to your pelvic floor in pregnancy<\/a>, including pelvic floor exercises<\/a> for pregnancy in our pelvic floor resources<\/a> section of the website.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vaginal Birth and Your Pelvic Floor : Tips for Protection<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Vaginal birth can cause strain to the pelvic floor in multiple ways. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Long pushing stages, prolonged labor, medications and other interventions (more below), baby not being in an optimal position, and lying in a position where you are tightening or pushing up against part of your pelvic floor in labor can all cause increase the likelihood of pelvic floor damage from vaginal birth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To potentially protect your pelvic floor and perineum in vaginal birth:<\/p>\n\n\n\n