Pelvic floor PT in the Lehigh Valley: when to go, who I refer to

Some postpartum symptoms are outside a coach's scope of practice. Pelvic floor physical therapy is the right level of care for them. Every new postpartum 1-on-1 client gets a verbal pelvic floor screen at session one — and if anything flags, you get referred to a pelvic floor PT before we add load to any program.

Here's exactly what flags a referral, what to expect at a first PT visit, and the Lehigh Valley pelvic floor PTs I send clients to.

What is pelvic floor physical therapy

A pelvic floor physical therapist is a licensed PT with additional specialty training in the pelvic floor — the layer of muscles that supports the bladder, uterus, and bowel. They can assess externally and (with consent) internally to measure tone, coordination, scar tissue, and prolapse stage. Treatment is hands-on, education-heavy, and almost always combines manual work with exercise.

A strength coach (me) does not do this work. I screen verbally for symptoms, program around limitations, and refer when warranted. The right combo for many postpartum moms is both: pelvic floor PT for the clinical work + NASM-credentialed strength training for the load progression.

Symptoms that flag a pelvic floor PT referral

Urinary symptoms

• ✓Leaking with cough, sneeze, laugh, jump (stress urinary incontinence)
• ✓Sudden urgency that's hard to control (urge incontinence)
• ✓Difficulty fully emptying the bladder
• ✓Frequent UTIs since giving birth
• ✓Pain with urination that isn't a UTI

Pelvic / vaginal symptoms

• ✓A sense of heaviness, pressure, or "falling out" through the vagina
• ✓A visible or palpable bulge
• ✓Pain with intercourse postpartum
• ✓Ongoing pain at a tear site or C-section scar after 6+ weeks postpartum
• ✓Numbness or unusual sensation in the perineum

Bowel symptoms

• ✓Difficulty controlling gas
• ✓Difficulty controlling stool
• ✓Persistent constipation that didn't pre-exist
• ✓Painful bowel movements

Strength / movement-related signals

• ✓Pelvic pain or pressure with strength training that doesn't resolve with modifications
• ✓A diastasis recti screen that suggests significant separation (4+ finger-widths, depth past the second knuckle)
• ✓C-section scar that's still tender, tethered, or restricted at 8+ weeks postpartum

Symptoms that should send you to your OB first

• ✓Heavy bleeding (more than a regular period) after the postpartum window
• ✓Sudden severe pelvic pain
• ✓Foul-smelling discharge
• ✓Fever
• ✓Signs of postpartum depression or anxiety that aren't resolving

What to expect at a first PT visit

Intake (~20 minutes)

Verbal review of your birth history, current symptoms, daily activity, anything that triggers or relieves the symptom. This is the same conversation I have in a coaching screen, with more clinical depth.

Movement assessment (~15 minutes)

Posture, breath pattern, hip/spine mobility, how you move basic patterns (squat, hip hinge, stand from sitting). External palpation of abdominal wall + pelvic structures.

Internal assessment (consent-based, optional, ~15 minutes)

The PT inserts a single gloved finger to assess pelvic floor muscle tone, contraction quality, coordination, and any prolapse staging. It's not painful when done by a trained PFPT, and you control whether it happens — many clients do it, some defer to a later visit. It's the single most informative part of the assessment.

Plan + initial exercises

You leave with a written plan: how often to come back (often weekly for 6–10 weeks), home exercises, and modifications for any strength training you're doing concurrently. Most plans pair seamlessly with what we're doing in a NASM postpartum program.

How long is a typical course of pelvic floor PT

Highly individual. Common ranges: 6 visits for mild stress incontinence, 8–12 visits for moderate diastasis + leaking, 12+ for prolapse work or after a difficult delivery. Many insurance plans cover it. Out-of-pocket rates in the Lehigh Valley typically run $150–$250 per visit.

Lehigh Valley pelvic floor PT options

This list isn't comprehensive — it's the practices I've sent clients to and gotten consistent positive feedback from. None of these are paid placements. Always verify current scheduling + insurance directly with the practice.

LVHN Pelvic Health

Part of Lehigh Valley Health Network. Multiple locations across the Valley. Strong fit for clients who want a hospital-system PT with a women's health specialty. Insurance friendly. Usually a wait — book early in pregnancy if you want a postpartum slot.

Good Shepherd Penn Partners — Pelvic Health

Locations in Allentown + Bethlehem. Well-regarded program with several therapists doing both prenatal + postpartum work. Good for clients who want continuity from late pregnancy through postpartum.

Total Performance PT (Bethlehem + Easton area)

Smaller practice with a pelvic floor specialist on staff. Strong fit for clients who want a private-practice feel with longer appointment windows.

Private practices in Saucon Valley + Center Valley

A few solo private-practice PFPTs operate in the affluent corridors south of Allentown. Cash-pay model usually but with detailed superbills for HSA/FSA reimbursement. DM me for the current short-list — these change.

How to choose between them

1. Insurance vs cash-pay — if you have good insurance, start with LVHN or Good Shepherd. If you're paying cash, the private practices often offer longer appointment windows and more individualized programming.
2. Location vs continuity — proximity matters when you're driving with a postpartum body and a baby. Pick something within 20 minutes if you can.
3. Specialty match — if your primary issue is prolapse or significant diastasis, ask the practice specifically who their go-to PT is for that issue. Not every PT is equally trained in every subspecialty.
4. The vibe — you'll be in vulnerable assessments with this person. If the first call doesn't feel right, call another practice.

What I do alongside a pelvic floor PT

If you're seeing a PFPT, I coordinate. We agree on what load is safe, which exercises support the PT plan, and which to hold back on. The clinical work is theirs; the strength progression is mine. Most clients move faster with both than with either alone.

FAQs

Do I need a referral to see a pelvic floor PT?

In Pennsylvania, direct-access laws let you see a PT for up to 30 days without a referral. Some insurance plans still require one for coverage — call your insurance to verify before the first visit.

When in pregnancy or postpartum should I go?

Anytime symptoms warrant. Many clients see a PFPT prenatally to prevent issues, again at 6–8 weeks postpartum for the postpartum check, and as-needed thereafter.

What if I don't have any symptoms but want to be checked?

A 1-visit postpartum pelvic check is one of the highest-ROI things a new mom can do. Even without symptoms, you'll learn coordination patterns you'd otherwise spend months trying to figure out alone. Worth the visit.

What if I'm not in the Lehigh Valley?

Pelvic Guru and the Herman & Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute both maintain directories of PFPTs by zip code. Ask any PFPT for a recommendation in your area — the network is small and they know each other.