Pregnancy and childbirth bring incredible changes to your body. While these transformations are natural and beautiful, some postpartum moms may notice lingering discomfort or difficulty returning to their pre-pregnancy activities. One often-overlooked cause of postpartum pelvic floor issues is the "open birth pattern."
In this post, we’ll explore what the open birth pattern is, how it can impact pelvic floor muscle function, and why manual therapy for the pelvis and sacrum can be a game-changer in recovery.
What Is the Open Birth Pattern?
The open birth pattern refers to the postural and structural changes that can persist in the pelvis and sacrum after giving birth. During delivery, the pelvis naturally widens, and the sacrum—the triangular bone at the base of your spine—moves to accommodate the baby’s passage through the birth canal. This is a necessary process, but for some moms, these bones and tissues don’t fully return to their optimal positions after birth, leaving the pelvis in an “open” state.
When the pelvis remains in this open pattern, it can:
Disrupt the alignment of the pelvic bones.
Overstretch or weaken pelvic floor muscles.
Cause joint instability or discomfort in the lower back, hips, or sacroiliac joints.
Delay recovery of core strength and function.
These imbalances can result in persistent symptoms such as pelvic pain, urinary leakage, a feeling of heaviness or pressure, and difficulty engaging your core muscles.
How Can You Tell If You’re Stuck in the Open Birth Pattern?
Many moms experience some level of postpartum discomfort, but if you’re stuck in the open birth pattern, you may notice specific signs, including:
A sense of instability: Your pelvis or lower back may feel weak or wobbly when walking, standing, or performing daily tasks.
Pelvic or sacral pain: Discomfort may occur in the pubic area, hips, tailbone, or sacroiliac joints.
Lingering core weakness: Despite doing postpartum exercises, you might struggle to regain core strength or feel like your abdominals aren’t engaging properly.
Pelvic floor symptoms: This can include urinary leakage, pressure, or difficulty activating pelvic floor muscles during exercise.
Posture challenges: You may notice a persistent “tilted” posture or that your body feels out of alignment.
If any of these sound familiar, it’s worth consulting a provider who specializes in postpartum care and manual therapy.
Why Manual Therapy for the Pelvis and Sacrum Is So Effective
Traditional pelvic floor therapy often focuses on strengthening, stretching, and performing intravaginal techniques to improve muscle tone and function. While these methods are highly effective, adding manual therapy for the bony structures of the pelvis and sacrum can significantly enhance your recovery.
Manual therapy targets the root cause of the open birth pattern by:
Repositioning the pelvic bones: Gentle mobilizations help restore the natural position of the pelvis and sacrum, reducing strain on the surrounding muscles and tissues.
Relieving tension: Myofascial release and other hands-on techniques release tightness in the ligaments and fascia supporting the pelvis.
Improving joint stability: By addressing the alignment of the sacroiliac joints and pelvic girdle, manual therapy can reduce pain and improve movement.
Optimizing pelvic floor function: When the pelvis is in proper alignment, the pelvic floor muscles can activate and coordinate more effectively, speeding up recovery.
By addressing both the muscular and skeletal components of postpartum recovery, you can achieve faster resolution of symptoms and better overall function.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Pelvic Alignment in Postpartum Recovery
When the pelvis remains in an open birth pattern, your body may compensate in ways that create long-term issues, such as chronic back pain, poor posture, or recurring pelvic floor dysfunction. Early intervention with a provider trained in manual therapy can prevent these compensations and help you feel strong and supported in your postpartum journey.
Empower Your Recovery with Comprehensive Postpartum Care
At Foundation Physical Therapy, our goal is to help moms rock their pregnancy, postpartum, and motherhood journey. We specialize in addressing the open birth pattern through a combination of manual therapy, intravaginal techniques, and tailored strengthening and coordination exercises. We believe in treating the whole body to ensure you achieve faster recovery and lasting results.
Don’t let lingering discomfort hold you back from enjoying motherhood to the fullest. If you’re experiencing signs of the open birth pattern or struggling with pelvic floor symptoms, schedule an appointment today. Let’s work together to restore balance, strength, and confidence in your postpartum body.
Interested in setting up a session? Click the link below to be taken to our scheduling page.

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