A new pelvic health elearning module has been developed by Health Education England elearning for healthcare (HEE elfh), in partnership with Health Education England’s Maternity Team.

Introduction to the Pelvic Floor During Pregnancy provides midwives, health visitors and all other colleagues who work closely with new and expectant mothers, with a basic understanding of the pelvic floor, its function and how pregnancy affects it.

The module takes approximately 30 minutes to complete and covers the following topics:

• the structure and anatomy of the pelvic floor
• the mechanism and function of the pelvic floor, with reference to the antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal period
• the effects of pregnancy and childbirth on the pelvic floor mechanism during the antenatal, intrapartum, and postnatal period
• the principles of teaching pelvic floor exercises
• the importance of maintaining maternal levels of general fitness
• when to seek help

On completion of the module, learners should feel comfortable to initiate conversations with mothers about the importance of looking after their pelvic floor throughout the pre and postnatal period, the exercises they can do, what to expect in the weeks after birth and when and whom to ask for help if problems persist.

For more information and to access the module, please visit the Introduction to the Pelvic Floor During Pregnancy programme page.