Pelvic Pressure or Bulging? Here’s What Your Body Might Be Trying to Tell You
If you’ve ever felt a heavy, dragging sensation in your pelvis or a strange bulging feeling "down there," you’re not alone—and it’s not something you should ignore. Many people, especially women postpartum or in midlife, experience these symptoms but dismiss them as a normal part of aging or what happens “after kids.” While common, pelvic pressure is not something you just have to live with. These could be signs of pelvic organ prolapse, and there is help available.
What Does It Feel Like?
Pelvic organ prolapse can present in different ways. Some people describe a sensation of heaviness in the lower abdomen or pelvis, feeling like something is "falling out." Others may notice difficulty fully emptying their bladder, discomfort during intercourse or exercise, or even pressure that worsens after standing for long periods. These symptoms can impact your confidence, physical activity, and quality of life—but many are told it's just part of motherhood or aging.
What Does It Feel Like?
Pelvic organ prolapse symptoms can vary, but some of the most common complaints include:
A feeling of heaviness or fullness in the pelvis
Sensation of a bulge or pressure in the vaginal area
Difficulty emptying the bladder or bowels
Low back discomfort
Discomfort during sex or while exercising
Symptoms that worsen at the end of the day or after prolonged standing
These issues can interfere with your everyday life, physical activity, and confidence—but you don’t have to suffer in silence.
Why Does This Happen?
The pelvic floor is a group of muscles that supports your bladder, uterus, and rectum. These muscles—and the connective tissues they work with—can become overstretched or weakened by pregnancy, vaginal delivery, chronic constipation, heavy lifting, or hormonal changes (like those that happen during menopause). When this support system is compromised, the pelvic organs can begin to descend, creating that pressure or bulging feeling.
Whole-Body Pelvic Floor Therapy: It’s Not Just About Kegels
Many people think pelvic floor therapy is all about strengthening weak muscles with Kegels. But successful prolapse treatment takes a whole-body approach—because the pelvic floor doesn’t work in isolation. At ATL Pelvic Health, we look at how your entire body moves, breathes, and functions to get to the root cause of your symptoms.
Here’s how we approach it:
Breathwork & Pressure Management: Your diaphragm, core, and pelvic floor all work together. If you’re holding your breath, gripping your abs, or bearing down with every movement, you could be increasing downward pressure on your pelvic organs. We teach strategies to coordinate your breath with movement to reduce that strain.
Postural Alignment & Rib Cage Position: Your posture directly affects how your pelvic floor functions. Collapsed or overly extended postures can place undue stress on the pelvis. We assess and retrain posture and rib cage mobility to support more optimal alignment and reduce symptoms.
Hip & Core Strength: Weak or underactive hips and deep core muscles can shift excess load to the pelvic floor. We focus on building dynamic strength in your glutes, deep abdominals, and low back to share the load more evenly throughout your body.
Mobility & Tension Release: Sometimes the pelvic floor isn’t weak—it’s holding tension and can’t fully relax. We incorporate manual therapy, pelvic floor downtraining, and movement strategies to restore coordination and mobility.
Bowel & Bladder Habits: We also look at daily habits like how you go to the bathroom, lift your child, or even exercise. Learning how to move, lift, and go about your day without straining is key to long-term symptom relief.
Real Clients, Real Relief
We’ve had clients walk into our clinic overwhelmed and discouraged—struggling with daily discomfort and unsure if things would ever feel “normal” again. After consistent therapy, they’ve returned to running, picked up their toddlers without fear, and stopped planning their days around bathroom trips or clothing that “hides” their symptoms. With the right support, healing is possible.
You Don’t Have to Wait Until It Gets Worse
If any of this sounds familiar, don’t brush it off. Your pelvic health matters, and early intervention can lead to better outcomes. Whether you’re newly postpartum or years into dealing with these symptoms, we’re here to help.
Ready to feel more supported in your body? Schedule a pelvic floor evaluation with our team today.
