Babies and Barbells LV · babiesandbarbellslv.com
Pelvic Floor Self-Screen
Name: ___________________ · Date: __________ · Weeks postpartum: ____
- Never
- Occasionally
- Frequently (weekly+)
- Always with effort
- Yes — normal warning + time
- Sometimes urgent, but I make it
- Sometimes I don't make it
- Difficulty emptying / weak stream / urinary retention
- None
- Mild end-of-day heaviness
- Moderate, limits activity
- I can see or feel a bulge through the vagina
- No pain
- Pain with intercourse
- Lingering scar / perineal pain at 8+ weeks postpartum
- Severe pain, fever, or heavy bleeding (urgent)
- Walking + light bodyweight work, no symptoms
- Walking, no jogging — light symptoms with heavier effort
- Walking is OK; symptoms with anything more
- Symptoms with walking too — significantly limited
01
Stress incontinence
Do you leak with coughs, sneezes, jumps, or laughing?
What this means: Occasional leaks postpartum are common but not normal long-term. Frequent or always-with-effort leaks warrant a pelvic floor PT assessment.
02
Urgency + retention
When you feel the need to pee, can you make it? Can you fully empty?
What this means: 'Sometimes I don't make it' = urge incontinence; warrants PFPT. Retention/can't-empty needs an OB visit promptly.
03
Pressure + prolapse
Any sense of pressure, heaviness, or 'something falling out' feeling?
What this means: Pressure that limits activity, or any visible/palpable bulge, warrants a PFPT (and OB) assessment promptly.
04
Pain
Pain you're navigating around right now?
What this means: Painful intercourse or lingering scar pain warrants PFPT. Severe pain, fever, or heavy bleeding = OB this week, not next month.
05
Functional check
Pick the one that best describes what you can do today without symptoms:
What this means: If the symptom floor starts at walking, see a PFPT before adding any load. Strength training waits until you have a baseline tolerance.
What to do with this
Take it to a clinician — here's the decision tree.
- ·Any “urgent” answer (severe pain, fever, visible bulge, urinary retention) → call your OB this week.
- ·Mostly “C” or “D” answers → schedule a pelvic floor PT visit before progressing strength training.
- ·Mostly “B” answers → book a free consult with me. We'll talk through whether coaching alone, coaching + PT, or PT first is the right next step.
- ·All “A” answers → you're a green-light for direct postpartum strength coaching. Book a free consult.
Lexi · the easiest path
Want me to walk through this with you?
Free 20-min consult call. We'll go through your answers together and I'll route you to the right next step — coach, PT, OB, or some combination. No commitment.