Is This Normal After Birth? 5 Pelvic Floor Symptoms You Shouldn’t Ignore

Becoming a mom is one of the most transformative experiences of your life—but along with the joy of welcoming your baby, your body also goes through immense physical change. Some discomfort is expected during the postpartum period, but how do you know what's normal—and what isn’t?

As a pelvic floor physical therapist, I often hear women say, “Everyone told me this was just part of my new normal.” But the truth is, while these symptoms are common, they are not something you have to live with.

Here are five pelvic floor symptoms after birth that you shouldn’t ignore:


1. Leaking Urine
Accidentally leaking urine when you laugh, sneeze, cough or exercise is called stress urinary incontinence, and it's one of the most common postpartum complaints. But common doesn't mean normal. This leakage is a sign that your pelvic floor muscles may be weak or not coordinating properly after delivery. Most often, during pregnancy, the changes that occur in your posture, breathing patterns, and overall movement mechanics alter the way that your pelvic floor is able to work together with your core and your pressure system. I like to say that these components become “offline” from each other. The good news? With the right assessment and targeted therapy, most women see major improvement or full resolution.


2. Painful Intercourse
Pain with intimacy after having a baby can stem from hormonal changes, scar tissue from tearing or a C-section, pelvic floor muscle tension, or nervous system up-regulation (aka stress!). Many women are told to just “give it time,” but persistent pain should never be ignored. Especially because the longer you experience painful intercourse, the greater the risk of it becoming chronic or long-term pain. A pelvic floor physical therapist can help identify the root cause and guide you through safe and effective strategies to restore comfort and confidence in your body.


3. Pubic Symphysis Pain
If you feel sharp, stabbing, or achy pain at the front of your pelvis—especially when walking, rolling over in bed, or lifting your leg—this may be pubic symphysis dysfunction. This condition can be caused by shifts in your pelvic bones or muscle imbalances during and after pregnancy. Left untreated, it can linger for months or even years. Gentle, specific exercises and hands-on therapy can bring significant relief.


4. Pelvic Floor Pressure or Heaviness
Feeling like something is “falling out” or a sense of pressure in the vaginal area can be a sign of pelvic organ prolapse. This occurs when the bladder, uterus, or rectum shifts downward and puts pressure on the wall of your vaginal canal. While very severe prolapse may require surgical correction, most cases of prolapse can be managed conservatively with pelvic physical therapy. With treatment targeting pelvic floor strengthening, management of intra-abdominal pressure, breathing patterns, movement biomechanics, and lifestyle modifications—symptoms of prolapse can be dramatically reduced for a huge improvement in quality of life!


5. Tailbone Pain
Pain in the tailbone (coccyx) can occur following childbirth due to tension in pelvic muscles, ligaments or tendons, or due to shifts in the pelvic bones themselves. It may feel like a bruise, a sharp pain, or deep ache that just won’t go away. Tailbone pain often responds well to manual therapy, pelvic floor and glute strengthening, postural retraining, and corrective exercises.


You Deserve to Heal Fully
If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, know that you’re not alone—and you don’t have to suffer in silence. These issues are highly treatable with the right support. A pelvic floor physical therapist can provide a personalized plan to help you restore strength, function, and confidence in your postpartum body.
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Motherhood is hard enough—your recovery shouldn’t be.