Introduction

Women, during the antenatal and post‐partum period, report pelvic, low back pain, stress and urge urinary incontinence, colorectal dysfunction, and other co‐morbidities that negatively affect health‐related quality of life. Exercise and nutrition are important considerations for improving maternal health in this period. Purpose

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of a community‐driven nutrition and exercise programme focused on pelvic floor and core stability, healthy nutrition, and breastfeeding counselling over an 8‐week period on pelvic floor and urinary distress (UDI), prolapse and colorectal distress for antenatal and post‐partum women with limited access to health care, and low socio‐economic resources from a Midwestern Region of the United States. Materials and methods

Purposive sample of 35 females, ages 18–44, were recruited for this prospective, preintervention to postintervention study, following ethical approval from Institutional Review Board and voluntary written consent from participants. The Health History Questionnaire, SF‐36, Food Frequency Questionnaire, report of pelvic organ prolapse dysfunction (POPDI), colorectal‐anal dysfunction (CRADI), and UDI as measured by the Pelvic Floor Distress Inventory (PFDI) were completed before and after intervention. Results

Thirty‐five women (n = 35) 18 to 44 years old (mean age of 22.72 ± 3.45 years) completed the study. A significant difference was found from preintervention to postintervention scores means for PFDI total scores, CRADI individual scores, and UDI individual scores (p < .05). POPDI scores decreased preintervention to postintervention but were not significant. A significant improvement in healthy nutrition and breastfeeding postintervention was also found (z = 3.21, p = .001). Further analysis showed significant, but weak, correlation between parity and POPDI (r = .366, p = .033); between parity and UDI (r = .384, p = .03); and between parity and PFDI (r = .419, p = .014). Discussion

Our study found a significant reduction in pelvic floor dysfunction, urinary, and colorectal‐anal distress symptoms and improvement in breastfeeding and healthy nutrition following an 8‐week community‐driven nutrition and exercise programme focused on pelvic floor and core stability, healthy nutrition, and breastfeeding counselling.