Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Prenatal Physical Therapy
Prenatal pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized service that focuses on preparing and supporting a woman’s pelvic health during pregnancy. Our pelvic health physical therapist works with pregnant clients to assess, strengthen, or relax the pelvic floor muscles — the group of muscles, ligaments, and connective tissues that support the uterus, bladder, and bowels.
Why is this important? Pregnancy places extra pressure on the pelvic floor, which can lead to discomfort, urinary incontinence, pelvic pain, lower back or hip pain, and even impact birth outcomes. Prenatal pelvic PT helps by:
✔ Improving pelvic alignment and posture to reduce strain
✔ Teaching strategies to manage or prevent urinary leakage
✔ Supporting optimal baby positioning
✔ Preparing the body for labor with safe stretches and exercises
✔ Treating hip, back, and neck pain/strain
By addressing pelvic health proactively, prenatal pelvic PT not only helps relieve current discomfort but also sets the stage for smoother labor, easier postpartum recovery, and long-term core and pelvic function.
Postpartum Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Postpartum pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized service designed to help mothers heal, recover, and regain strength after childbirth. Whether you’ve had a vaginal or cesarean delivery, the postpartum period places unique demands on your pelvic floor and core — and targeted support can make a world of difference.
Our pelvic health physical therapist works one-on-one with postpartum clients to:
✔ Assess pelvic floor strength, function, and coordination
✔ Address issues like urinary incontinence, pelvic heaviness, or pain with intimacy
✔ Support recovery from perineal tears, episiotomy, or cesarean scars
✔ Rebuild core strength and address diastasis recti (abdominal separation)
✔ Improve posture, breathing patterns, and body mechanics for daily tasks and baby care
Postpartum pelvic PT empowers mothers to reconnect with their bodies, reduce discomfort, and restore function — helping them feel stronger, more confident, and better supported in their recovery journey.
Meet Rachel Gunnell, DPT
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist
Rachel practices a holistic approach to pelvic health by evaluating each person as a whole and providing evidence-based care and education to help women through their pregnancy and postpartum journey. Rachel really enjoys helping women prepare for birth. It is her goal to empower each woman she sees to understand her body’s unique capabilities during and after pregnancy and to find strength in each season of life.
She has always been in awe of God’s miracle of pregnancy and birth. Being a pelvic health physical therapist has given her the honor of caring for women through the lifespan with a special focus on pregnancy and postpartum. She considers it such a privilege to be invited into the tender season of life surrounding birth.
Rachel earned her Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration on Kinesiology from the University of Virginia in 2015 and Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in St. Augustine, Florida in December of 2017. She holds post-doctorate specialties in pelvic health through Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute and dry needling through the Spinal Manipulation Institute - American Academy of Manipulative Therapy. She also has advanced training in exercise prescription for pregnancy and postpartum.
When she is not at the birth center, Rachel can be found in the kitchen cooking food from scratch or spending time with her husband and three daughters.