Why get your tailbone checked before labour

As a pregnancy and postpartum pelvic floor physio, I get a lot of moms asking me to check their pelvic floor before labour. This is definitely important in preparing for birth. What most people are not aware of, is I also check the tailbone to make sure that it is labour-ready.

The tailbone is critical in birthing because in the last stage of labour, as the baby exits from the pelvis, the tailbone needs to shift slightly back in order for the baby to come out. However, if the tailbone is really stiff (eg, from previous trauma or repetitive strain), it may not be able to shift back. This can result in labour being stalled and mom needing to have an intervention such as a Cesarean.

Unfortunately tailbone stiffness does not go away by itself with time or stretching. The only way to release tailbone stiffness is through manual therapy. I use a super gentle technique to release the fascial adhesions around the bone, allowing it to restore mobility.

If you think there might be an issue with your tailbone, please don’t hesitate to contact me. I am here to support you in your journey to motherhood.

By Mia Dang, PT / a registered physiotherapist with extensive supplementary training in pelvic floor physiotherapy and perinatal care