This project is one of two projects supported through the 2025-2026 Health Research BC-Victoria Hospitals Foundation Health Equity Grants, co-funded by Island Health, Michael Smith Health Research BC, and Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
Pelvic pain can prolong labour and increase the use of interventions like epidurals or cesarean birth. Incontinence is also common during and after pregnancy, and can persist long-term if untreated. Research shows that pelvic floor muscle training can address both pelvic pain and incontinence during the childbearing year, but most studies have focused on private-pay services that aren’t widely available.
This project explores a new publicly-funded model of care: midwives with specialized pelvic health training who provide pelvic health services through home visits. This model can complement routine perinatal care by improving equitable access to pelvic floor assessment, education, and personalized muscle training during the childbearing year.
This research highlights both the benefits of timely pelvic health support and the significant barriers many people face when accessing care, including Indigenous people, people of colour, newcomers, and other equity-seeking groups. The current model (launched in April 2025) prioritizes people who have been unable to access pelvic health care due to cost, travel distance, wait-times, childcare needs, or other structural barriers. Using a mixed-methods approach, the project will collect data and experiences to enhance equitable perinatal pelvic health care.